Watch Previous Meetings
Mindfulness Interventions for Autistic Children
Tatyana Kochergina: E-500 RYT Founder and President of Balance with TK
Yoga provides a calming atmosphere, allowing children to slow down. Breathing strategies help reduce irritability, regular heart rates and release emotions. Mindful breathwork also serves as a self-soothing tool and potential replacement behavior for other obsessive, aggressive or self-stimulatory behaviors.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Unlocking Expression: The Impact of American Sign Language on Non-Verbal Communication in Autism and Speech Disorders
Farida Rodriguez: ASL Employment Counselor
American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-gestural language used by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as by non-verbal individuals with conditions like autism or speech disorders. It provides a structured and visual means of communication, which can be easier for some individuals with autism to understand compared to spoken language. ASL relies on handshapes, movements, and facial expressions to convey meaning, offering a more accessible, concrete and empowering way for non-verbal individuals to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs effectively, and to better interpret and express emotions and ideas.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Estate Planning - “Planning for Who and What?”
Katherine Aquino-Melendez: Senior Attorney The Arkontaky Law Group
Katherine Aquino-Melendez, Senior Attorney at the Arkontaky Law Group will present on the importance of planning for your family and mostly your family members with special needs and/or disabilities. It is imperative to understand the significance of planning for the future and also understanding what mechanisms exist for planning. A lot of times we overlook the planning aspect, but it is extremely important and essential to protect your children and/or family members with special needs.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Financial Empowerment: Small Steps for Big Results
Robert Sbordone MSOL: Director of Workforce Development
People with disabilities need the same financial knowledge and skills as those without disabilities – to manage money, create a spending plan, effectively use banks, reduce debt, and use credit wisely. This session provides tips and tools to help build or expand financial literacy that is inclusive of people with disabilities.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Behavioral Support
Kristin Finch LMHC: Supervisor of Behavior Specialists
Behavioral Support focuses on utilizing the most proactive interventions
to minimize the risk of crisis scenarios and helpful techniques to de-escalate situations. The primary goal of Behavior Support is to assist individuals back to self control to encourage community inclusion and promote independence through skill building and emotional regulation.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Pathway to Employment - Build your Dream Team
Presented By: Daniel Moldovan - Disability Resource Coordinator
Join Daniel Moldovan, New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (NY SCION) Disability Resource Coordinator for Rockland County, in a discussion about ‘Building Your Dream Team’ to identify necessary steps and organizations in your area to assist you in reaching your goals. Topics to be discussed: utilizing online and local resources available in the community, an overview of Social Security Administration work incentives helping beneficiaries return to work, and successful strategies for carving your pathway to employment.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Pragmatic Language
Presented By: Jamila Astwood
Overview of how communication coaching supports to assist individuals in their understanding of implicit versus explicit rules, perspective-taking and turn-taking in speaking, the use of small-talk, conventional gestures, and emotional expression. Communication coaching employs techniques to compensate for inflexible thinking, slower-working memory, and impulse control, as well as how to build meaningful relationships.
Autism Friendly Travel
Presented By: Dawn M. Barclay, Family Travel / Special Needs Travel Contributing Editor
Author Dawn Barclay will explore how to improve travel and vacation preparation with individuals with Autism. This presentation will focus on creating a child-centric vacation, evaluating Autism friendly destinations & venues, Certified Autism Travel Professional designation, vacation suggestions. Dawn offers tips to families and caregivers on how to utilize social stories and predictability to prepare for travel experiences.
Sexual Capacity Assessment + Social Skills and Development
Presented By: Dr. Arnie Cabasso & Tobi Makinde, MS Behavior Specialist
Sexual Capacity Assessment: All people are entitled to sexual expression, including those with developmental disabilities, like ASD. But we need to assess whether an individual can stay safe from disease, pregnancy, or exploitation. We review, in a standardized format, anatomy, intimacy, pregnancy, disease, birth control, infant and baby care, and appropriate boundaries.
Social Skills and Development: We will cover a variety of social skills training that will include public vs private, boundaries, sexual development, consent, and social media. The purpose is to introduce you to effective appropriate interpersonal skills.
Benefits Advisement
Presented By: Scott Barber-Weiser
This presentation will give a better understanding of the process of applying for SSI SSDI Medicaid and Medicare as well as how benefits are affected by work income and other resources.
Estate Planning/Guardianship
Presented By: Lauren Eisen, Esq
Your Child’s Planning:
- What to think about before your child turns 18.
- Is guardianship appropriate?
- If not, what documents should your adult child have after turning 18?
- Is he/she applying for ssi?
- If working, should he/she use an able account?
- What is an able account?
Your Planning:
- How can you provide for your child when you are gone and make sure they maintain all their government benefits?
- Discuss basics of special needs trust and benefit of a standalone trust instead of testamentary and using life insurance to fund.
- Back up trustees and guardians, how to choose their importance, and corporate trustees familiar with snt’s.
- Letter of Intent.
Communication for Non-Verbal People
Presented By: Stacey Kantrowitz
Overview and contrast of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) Systems, including the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and American Sign Language (ASL). ACC Systems help: Develop intentional communication. Reduce negative or challenging behaviors caused by frustration. Increase opportunities for interaction and learning. Develop social skills and the ability to build meaningful relationships. Improve spoken language skills.
Recent Advance in Diagnosis and Treatment
Presented By: Dr. Russell Tobe
Dr. Tobe is a board-certified adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist. He is Director of the Clinical Evaluation Center at the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research where he works with a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, clinical evaluators, and research support assistants to study brain development and autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Tobe will discuss advances in the diagnosis of and treatments for autism spectrum disorders. Specifically, Dr. Tobe will review efforts to better detect symptom response in clinical trials while presenting novel medication approaches currently under investigation that modulate ‘social’ hormones, the gut microbiome, and the endocannabinoid system.
Future Planning
Presented by: Sara Trowers, Carol St. John, Stacey Kantrowitz, and Mitch Spiegel
Overview of Day Habilitation Services:
Day Habilitation Without Walls, Positive Adult Community Experience (PACE) Program, Seniors Program, Sunrise Court, Nyack Studio Arts, Lifelong Experiences and Academic Program (LEAP), After the Day Respite Services, Pre-Vocational Work Program, and all related eligibility. Overview of recreational activities
Success Story: Anthony Mundy
Overview of Community Living Services:
Success Story: The Masons
Overview of Community Employment Services:
Vocational Assessments, Job Exploration Counseling, Work Readiness Training, Self-Advocacy, Community-Based Assessments, Work-Based Learning Experience, Counseling on Post-Secondary Educational Options, Wage- Reimbursed Internships, Employment Training Program, Job Development Services, Long-Term Supported Employment Services, Educational Coaching, Tutoring, Travel Training, Benefits, Advisement, Communication Coaching Supports (Pragmatic Language Therapy), and all related eligibility.
Success Story: Thomas Nordstrom
Overview of Article 16 Clinic Services:
Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work, and all related eligibility.
Behavior Planning
Presented by: Dr. Arnie Cabasso and Chuck Mastro
We discuss when a behavioral intervention is called for, the A*B*C Chart, target behaviors, the functional analysis, contextual factors, pro-active strategies, teaching alternative behaviors, re-active strategies, reinforcers, de-escalation techniques, and data collection.
Health & Wellness for Individuals with Autism
Presented by: Sharon O’Dowd, RN, and Tobi Makinde, M.S Senior Behavior Specialist
In our presentation, we will discuss the benefits and the impact a healthy lifestyle can produce in the lives of individuals with Autism. We will touch on topics such as nutrition, the impact of food on the body, the benefits of routines and rules, and finally how physical activity and exercise can develop and enhance your child’s life not only physically but socially.
Understanding the Diagnosis
Presented by: Dr. Arnie Cabasso and Kristin Kiggins, M.S Supervisor of Behavior Specialist
Audience: Community Organizations
Understanding the Diagnosis will go in-depth on understanding intellectual disabilities, more specifically autism spectrum disorder. Identifying what might we expect will assist us in how to support individuals with behaviors and work towards establishing a better quality of life.
Rehab and Recovery for Behavioral Changes
Presented by: Dr. Joseph Zweig/Peers
Audience: Adults
ASD is not a static state for those on the spectrum. Change and growth is a realistic and achievable goal and as the only PROS (Personalized Recovery Oriented Service) Program in New York State that is authorized to provide these recovery services to those whose primary challenge is ASD, Jawonio PROmiSe has been involved in this innovation for several years. Our staff and participants will describe how a recovery-oriented program can contribute to the achievement of life goals identified by our members.
Partnering With Your School District to Support Your Child’s Needs & Advocacy and Entitlements
Presented by: Dr. Heidi McCarthy & Jane Mullin, LCSW-R
Audience: Adults
First Responders/Community Organization
Presented by: Jane Mullin, LCSW-R and Kristin Kiggins, M.S, Jon Ginsburg, Incident Manager
Audience: Community Organizations & Parents
Community Organization will outline and describe resources for a variety of first responders and community-based organizations who may encounter individuals in crisis or need of redirection and/or optimum referral resources. First Responders & Autism will focus on educating emergency service professionals on how to work effectively with individuals with Autism. Proactive interventions, both from emergency service professionals and families will help facilitate a better relationship with the individuals they serve in the community.
For more information, please contact:
Kristin Finch LMHC, Supervisor of Behavior Specialists
Kristin.Finch@jawonio.org
845.708.2000 x8334
