Applied Behavior Analysis is the science that helps us understand why behavior happens, both in general and specifically related to your child. Fortunately, the major causes of behavior are external, and thus subject to your direct control. Dr. Marone will discuss underlying concepts and specific aspects that will allow you to better determine why your children do the things they do. Parent skills and strategies for promoting behavior improvement at home, using strictly positive means, will be discussed. Critical skills to teach your children will be specified. Simple but effective ways of measuring change will be presented. Please bring your questions and real life examples.

Assistive Technology helps children of all abilities access the world around them.  With the appropriate technology, children with disabilities can access computers, turn radios on and off, make electronic toys go and so much more!  In this workshop, Jennifer  McDonald-Peltier will provide a presentation and  hands-on demonstrations of different types of technology tools.

This workshop will focus on available, affordable, and easy-to-make tools for communication for young children. Parents and professionals will receive a guide for an accessible augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) toolkit to use anywhere.

This workshop will provide a discussion of strategies and things parents can do to greatly help their young children with autism. A parent discusses her use of a developmental approach, peer play facilitation, and IEP considerations and tips.

Children with the diagnosis of ADHD have difficulty self-regulating their behavior. Participants in this workshop will learn strategies to successfully support students with executive functioning challenges and interrupt the cycle of failure typically experienced in school.

Students, teachers and parents are often frustrated when students are reading below grade level. This workshop will explore the factors that contribute to struggling readers’ performance. The presenters will also discuss what parents should look for in classroom instruction that will accelerate reading progress, and how they can continue to support that progress at home.

The promise the state has made to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families is more important than ever.  In recent years, legislation, funding shortfalls and bureaucratic policies have chipped away at the Lanterman Act.  We need to understand what is happening before we reach a "Tipping Point" – a point when all the power to make decisions through the IPP (and IFSP) process is in the hands of the state. This presentation explores some of the unique features of the Lanterman Act and how we can begin to use it for our individual benefit by better understanding our IPP/IFSP rights.  Additionally, we will explain why we need to work together to rebuild something that parents, over 40 years ago, created as the best legislation ever enacted for people with developmental disabilities.

Navigating the health insurance maze can be challenging for any family, but it can be even harder for families with children on the autism spectrum.    With regional centers and school districts suffering drastic budget cuts and the majority of states adopting autism mandates, many are looking to the health insurance industry to step in. Come to this HANDS ON presentation on how to get your health plan or health insurance companies to pay for medically necessary interventions such as speech, occupational therapy and applied behavioral analysis (ABA).

A Limited Conservatorship is designed as a protective proceeding for those individuals whose developmental disability impairs their ability to care for themselves or their property, but is not severe enough to require a full conservatorship. Attend this workshop and learn more about this important option for families of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

A family reading together sets in place many literacy skills that will benefit all preschool children, including those with special needs. In this workshop, we will explore ways to make regular reading a habit in your family’s life. We will also look at all the important ways that you are already sharing your literacy skills with your children, so we can build on the literacy experiences that are already present in your daily lives to benefit your child’s literacy skills.

How to make the most of your doctor's visits, ask for second opinions, perform intelligent health research, create a medical notebook that is "doctor friendly" and learn a little about different tests that are commonly performed.

Representatives from various community agencies that provide services to young adults and adults with disabilities will provide an overview of their transition programs, including information on eligibility criteria and how to access services for youth ages 14 to 24.

This workshop will provide an in-depth review of the legal requirements for student discipline for students with disabilities, including both suspension and expulsion from school and school activities.  In addition, workshop participants will learn what behavioral support services are available to students and how to work with the school district to include those services in your child's Individual Education Program (IEP). 

Assembly Bill (AB) 3632 is California’s statutory system for implementing educationally-related mental health services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). In many districts this has been an interagency agreement between local educational agencies (school districts) and county/community mental health programs. On October 8, 2010, AB 3632 was removed from the state budget. In response to that California passed Assembly Bill 114. Come and learn how these changes will affect mental health services for students protected under IDEA.

This workshop will focus on commonly occurring difficulties that arise in special needs families. Dr. Marone has spent 35 years assisting parents in fixing these problems, over and over. He can describe for you directly and concisely exactly what to do to overcome any one or more of the problems listed. As time permits, Dr. Marone will address other troublesome behavior presented by members of the audience. Attendance at the morning session on Applied Behavior Analysis is recommended.

Is your child is a target of bullying, harassment or threats?  Come to this workshop to find out what right you have as a parent and what responsibilities the school district has.   Attorneys from Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights will give a presentation on what rights parents have and what responsibilities fall upon the school district under federal civil rights regulations regarding threats and harassment by peers or school staff. The workshop will focus on federal civil rights laws that prohibit harassment against students based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability, and what you can do if your child is being harassed or bullied for any of these reasons.

This workshop will give an overview of the importance of oral health care, and give parents and professionals valuable information on how to prevent and treat tooth decay. Included in the presentation will be an explanation of the science behind cavities, tips and tricks for brushing, and information on special equipment and resources for children with special needs.

The promise the state has made to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families is more important than ever.  In recent years, legislation, funding shortfalls and bureaucratic policies have chipped away at the Lanterman Act.  We need to understand what is happening before we reach a "Tipping Point" – a point when all the power to make decisions through the IPP (and IFSP) process is in the hands of the state. This presentation explores some of the unique features of the Lanterman Act and how we can begin to use it for our individual benefit by better understanding our IPP/IFSP rights.  Additionally, we will explain why we need to work together to rebuild something that parents, over 40 years ago, created as the best legislation ever enacted for people with developmental disabilities.

Setting up Estate Plans for Loved Ones, Maximizing Government Benefits, Using Special Needs Trusts and Memos of Intent, and Understanding Limited Conservatorships

Starting in July 2012, more California families will find it easier to access insurance coverage for autism treatment such as ABA; speech, occupational, physical therapy; social skills; psychotherapy evaluation; etc. The passage of SB 946 (Autism Insurance Coverage Act), affirms the rights of families to access medical treatment for autism. Is your plan covered by the new law? How can you access care? What can you do now to make sure your insurance plan covers all medically-necessary treatment? Learn the ins and outs of your rights under new and existing California laws concerning autism treatment and be prepared to secure all the treatment your child needs and deserves no matter which health plan you have. If you are a provider, come and learn how you can set your practice up to work with insurance and support your clients as they access their healthcare benefits.

Panel Discussion: Parents and educators share information, ideas & anecdotes about how we can achieve truly inclusive school communities.

This workshop will provide parents and professionals with the tools needed to improve children's sleep schedules.  The workshop is appropriate for caregivers of children of all ages.  Behavior Analyst Kelly Flavin will describe a variety of tactics used to promote good sleep habits. Participants will leave the workshop with an outlined plan of action for their child.

Is ADHD real? What is it like to have ADHD? How are girls with ADHD different than boys with ADHD? What can I do to help a child with ADHD? This workshop will address these questions and many more. It is designed to provide guidance in the area of understanding, recognizing, and supporting those with ADHD. Topics will include prevalence, symptoms, impairments, treatments, interventions, strategies for home, and classroom accommodations for children with ADHD. Participants will leave the workshop with hundreds of strategies to help children with ADHD not just survive, but thrive.

Panel discussion: Parents and educators share information, ideas, and anecdotes about how we can achieve truly inclusive school communities.

A group of individuals with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome will talk about what they wished their parents knew. In this session, participants will gain insight from individuals on the spectrum regarding the issues that matter most to them and how caregivers can best address these issues.