FREE WINTER WORKSHOPS AT ACHIMOTA CENTRE
Posted by Achimota BarrieACHIMOTA CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM is pleased to offer a three part series of
FREE WINTER WORKHSHOPS for families with AUTISM!
Register today for one or more of these winter workshops. You may reserve your seat my emailing cindyd@achimota.ca Workshops are open to the autism community including families, extended families and support workers. SPACE IS LIMITED
1) Workshop Description – Sexuality and Individuals with Complex Needs
Thursday, January 22, 2009 (6:30 pm – 9:00 pm)
The session will focus on individualized sexuality curriculum and specific teaching strategies for children and adolescents with complex needs incuding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Resources and methods for intervention and remediation for common sociosexual difficulties will be presented. As a result of participation in this seminar, each participant should be able to a) reduce or alleviate some of the anxieties related to the expression of sexuality b) begin to foster acceptance of appropriate sexual expression by learning that sexuality is part of being human irrespective of whether a handicap is present or not c) formulate realistic goals for appropriate sexual expression at different ages throughout the person’s life d) develop strategies for working with sexual behaviour that is a concern for the individual or inappropriate for society.
Presented by Don Salmon, M.A., Registered C. Psychological Associate – Mr. Salmon has a B.A. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Western Ontario, and a M.A. in Applied Psychology (Special Education) from the University of Toronto. He is a Registered C. Psychological Associate with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and has a private practice in Counselling and Behavioural Psychologists based out of Orillia. Don has over 25 years experience providing services to children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, psychiatric disorders, and acquired brain injury His clinical focus is primarily behavioural, including Intensive Behavioural Intervention for young children with autism; individual and group based Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment; and Applied Behavioural Analytic programming. Specific components of his practice include: agency nd school consultants, psychological an psyco-educational assessments; sexuality assessments and treatment; and training seminars and workshops for staff, parents and professionals. As well as yearly sexuality workshops for the Geneva Centre, Don regularly does staff and parent seminars throughout the province of Sexuality & Intimacy, Applied Behavioural Intervention, Acquired Brain Injury, Developmental Disordes, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alchohol Spectrum Disorder, and Dual-diagnosis (psychiatric disorder and intellectual disability).
2) Workshop Description – Autism Simulation and Strategies for Families
Monday, February 23, 2009 (6:30 pm – 8:00 pm)
This presentation will introduce families, extended families and support staff to Autism Spectrum Diagnosis. There is an impactful Sensory Simulation, followed by a discussion of what it might be like to live in a world that is constantly offending one’s ability to sort out the world around them. Strategies are also reviewed to help people supporting an individual with an ASD, learn to be more effective in their interactions.
Presented by Janice Bell – Janice Bell has been with Kerry’s Place for over 7 years. Janice’s experience at Kerry Place includes being an Autism Support Associate, Autism Consultant and presently she is the Community Coordinator for Central East Region. She has ran and presented numerous workshops including Sibling Workshops and has extensively presented the “Walk in My Shoes – Simulation Workshop” to family members and mediators within York Region and Simcoe County. Janice currently sits on many community committees related to ASD services in Simcoe County. Kerry’s Place Autism Services is a charitable, non-profit organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They offer a comprehensive range of individualized support to children, adolescents, adults and their families who have a diagnosis of ASD. Supports include consultation services, respite funding, respite training, educational workshops, Parent Support groups, and social groups. Resources such as social stories, visual schedules, picture communication symbol (PCS), social scripts are also available. Families may access our Resource Centre which includes access to computer and internet service, Boardmaker, and the lending library.
3) Workshop Description – Make & Take to Regulate & Motivate for Children with ASD
Monday, March 30, 2009 (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)
This session will be designed for frontline staff/parents/educators who deal with children with sensory processing challenges on the Autism Spectrum. Families understand that self regulation is a top priority for children to successfully integrate into the community and for success at home and school. Children with limited verbal skills benefit from non-language based approaches. Having simple low cost games and activities is helpful to promote co-regulation and self control. Simple equipment and visuals will be demonstrated. Participants are “recommended” to have completed a previous workshop in sensory intergration/processing, or to have read the opening chapters of ”Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration” (contact Shirley for a copy or borrow if from the library, or Achimota).
Presented by Shirley Sutton – Shirley Sutton B.Sc. OT Reg. (Ont.) is an Occupational Therapist with 31 years experiences working with children with special needs (infants through teens) and adults with significant disabilites. Her specialty training areas include sensory integration, early intervention and developmental disorders. She brings extensive clinical experience including managing a private practice, working for Children’s Therapy Services (part of Simcoe County Early Intervention Services) consulting t the Achimota Centre for Children with Autism, various Community Living Associations, and to the Board of Consultants with School Specialty (a sensory equipment company). She also presents workshops at conferences across Canada to a wide variety of audiences including Autism Ontario, Geneva Centre for Autism, and the Autism Awareness Centre. She co-authored the book “Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration – Occupational Therapy for Children with Autism and other Pervasive Disorders”, (now in 3 languages and 2nd edition, with Yack & Aquilla) and the workbooks “Learn to Print and Draw – A Visual-Kinesthetic Approach” and “My ABC and Number Book”. Her clinic is located in her home in Collingwood.
All workshops will take place at the Achimota Centre for Children with Autism, 65 Cedar Pointe Drive, Unit 809 in Barrie. You can contact us at (705) 735-2336.
