Easterseals Midwest wraps up its statewide 2018 Autism Conference Series in St. Louis Nov. 16 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at St. Louis Community College, Bridgeton Campus. Designed for individuals, parents, educators, and professionals, the annual conference unites nationally recognized developmental disability and autism experts.
The 2018 Autism Conference Series held events in Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Columbia, and Kansas City in October and November.
Dr. Michael Mohrland, keynote presenter, is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri-Columbia. As a nationally recognized leader in his field, Dr. Mohrland will discuss how executive functions play a significant role in functional outcomes. He will share how understanding the assessment and treatment of executive skills in children-adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) holds promise for predictive and practical outcomes. Dr. Mohrland gives his keynote address from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
The rest of the conference is comprised of workshops. The presenters include:
- Lea Ann Lowery, OTD, OTR/L – An Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Occupation Therapy at the University of Missouri, Lea Ann will discuss common causes of picky eating in children with disabilities and discuss ways for parents and providers to improve their child’s eating habits.
- Karen Cooper – Karen works for Family Advocacy and Community Training (FACT), a non-profit, family-run organization in St. Charles, MO. FACT provides Education Advocacy Services and Parent Support Partners to families who have children with developmental disabilities and / or mental health diagnoses. Karen, a parent of an adult child on the autism spectrum, will provide information about the parent’s rights and child’s rights when a child is disciplined and placed on an Individualized Education Program.
- Jennifer Haughey, BA; and Randy Sanders, MA / BCBA – Jennifer has worked with Easterseals Midwest for almost 30 years in a variety of roles with the most recent as a Family Navigator developing plans for parents of newly diagnosed children and older children in need of support and services. Randy is a certified speech and language therapist for K-12 and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has more than 25 years of experience working with children and adults with autism. Their breakout session, “Strategies for Teaching Social Skills,” will cover key social skills, how to determine social goals, and provide strategies for teaching social skills.
- Ann Schad, LCSW; and Jen Hyde, BS – Currently 90% of individuals with autism are unemployed or underemployed. Over the next decade, half a million teens with autism will become adults. Ann, Easterseals Midwest Family Navigator; and her colleague, Jen, Supported Employment Manager, will discuss strategies families and caregivers can take to guide an adolescent or adult with autism to seek, find and maintain employment.
- Todd Gentry – A Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Financial Consultant with more than 20 years of financial services experience specializing with serving individuals and families with developmentally disabled loved ones. He will discuss Missouri ABLE, (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts.
- Jennifer Haughey – Jennifer will explain what the ASD is and how to support students with ASD. She also goes into the important and growing role paraprofessionals take in the education and care of a students with ASD.
To register for the Nov. 16 Easterseals Midwest Autism Conference Series in St. Louis, please click here.
Parents of children with autism who receive services from Easterseals Midwest and reside in St. Louis County are eligible for 2 free tickets. Tickets are $75 for parents who are non-St. Louis County residents. Tickets are $100 for a professional to attend, and with a group of 4 or more, tickets are $90 per person. (Online registration available for group rates)
Media Contact: Ann Marie Mayuga, 314.485.9499, annmarie@ammcommunications.com
About Easterseals Midwest
Easterseals Midwest is a nonprofit organization changing the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day. The organization employs nearly 2,000 employees delivering services to more than 4,800 individuals statewide through four divisions: Autism Services, Community Living Services, Early Childhood Services and Employment Services.
To register for the Nov. 16 Easterseals Midwest Autism Conference Series in St. Louis, please click on the following link, http://www.easterseals.com/midwest/get-involved/events/autism-conference-series-2.html.
