Program Calendar 2007-2008
Please save the dates, more information will be coming soon
Advocates, other professionals, and parents are welcome to attend any workshop
Program fees for 2½ hour programs: $15.00 for members; $25.00 for non-members
All day workshops: Fees vary and will be announced with program information
Printable Pre-registration forms: please click on this link: Pre-Registration
Full-day workshop: Full-Day Pre-registration form
Locations Program Format Cancellations Topics/Speakers Certificates of Attendance
Programs
Friday, September 7th - ORIENTATION TO ADVOCACY
"How to Setup Your Advocacy Business"
Presenters to Be Announced
Program designed for: Both newly trained and experienced advocates
Coordinators: Andrew Brown, Shelly Greene, Lynn Kreutz
RSVP: Shelly Greene, 617-244-2350, 401-339-0658, shellygreene1@verizon.net
We invite all advocates, and parents as well, to our opening program on Friday, September 7th, at which time we are delighted to welcome advocates who are new to the field to come and learn with and from our more experienced advocates. The content of the program will focus on areas such as best practices in beginning a business, how to attract and retain clients, business ethics, how to maintain one’s professional development in terms of education and understanding of current legal and educational practices, as well as how and where to find resources on all areas of special education. We will also address issues such as the cycles and rhythms of being in one’s own business, working with school-based Teams, listening and responding effectively to parents and their family’s needs, and utilizing skills in negotiation and strategies for navigating the educational system.
Our hope is that both seasoned advocates as well as those new to the field will benefit from learning together. Whether you participate in this program to share your knowledge and skills or learn from others who may serve as mentors, this program and all of SPAN’s offerings enable all of us to be part of an ongoing and dynamic community of teachers and learners. We know that all who attend our third annual Orientation will become enriched by acquiring new insights, perspectives, and ideas – and deepen their understanding of the important work we provide as educational advocates.
As part of an outreach effort for this workshop only, we are offering it for free to both new advocates; those trained in the last year or so by the Federation, as well as trained and experienced advocates.
Friday, October 12th - Mediation Works – Full day Program:
10:00 am-3:00 pm & Annual Meeting
Papa Razzi's 16 Washington St (Rt. 16) Wellesley, MA 02481 (781) 235-474 Directions
NEW FORMAT!
Moshe Cohen from Mediation Works, Inc. returns once again for our October program, but with a different format. This season, Moshe and Shelly Greene, SPAN's VP of Programming/Professional Development and Special Educational Advocate, will co-present a workshop on communication and negotiation skills, utilizing both an instructional and role-playing approach. Workshop attendees will have a chance to learn negotiation theory and then apply their skills by participating in scenarios designed by and specifically for special educational advocates. The development of such skills is crucial to all aspects of effective advocacy, and experienced and new advocates alike
will benefit from this hands-on learning opportunity.
Coordinator: Lynn Kreutz, 978-443-1378
Friday, November 9th - Current Legal Topics and Questions
Presenters:
Connie Hilton, Esq. and Tim Sindelar, Esq.
Ames, Hilton, Martin & Sindelar
Learn about the specifics of the IDEA 2004 regulations and about the various experiences with the implementation of IDEA during the past year. If you have had the pleasure of participating in a workshop with Connie and Tim, you know it will be thorough as well as entertaining, as they sometimes have different views on strategies, which makes for a very enriching experience. They will also discuss how an advocate should prepare a case for referral to a lawyer to prepare for a hearing.
Coordinator: Shelly Greene, 617-244-2350
Friday, November 16th - Peer Consultation
The purpose of Peer Consultations is to enable experienced advocates and newer advocates:
1. To share a range of case/client situations and challenges
2. To exchange ideas about the nature and content of the work of advocacy
3. To utilize the resources of each advocate’s knowledge, skills, experiences, and insights
4. To problem solve and to generate strategies with one another in order to assist parents and students in effectively navigating the educational process so that students will receive services and supports to maximize their unique needs
There will be no charge for attending this session.
Friday, December 14th - Chapter 688, Transition Planning for Students Turning 22
Presenter: Elizabeth (Betty Anne) Ritcey, MS, RN
Director of the Bureau of Transitional Planning and Director of Service Planning and Coordination at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
This presentation will include a review of the Turning 22 688 law, how the law is implemented, and a review of what happens when a student completes 766 services but requires on-going support after aging out. The presentation will include a discussion of the relationship between school systems and the Bureau for Transitional Planning.
Pre-payment required by 12/11/07
Coordinator: Ruth Smith, 617-965-4568
Friday, January 11th - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - Attorney Daniel Ahearn, M.A. J.D.
PLEASE NOTE NEW PAYMENT DEADLINE: JANUARY 5TH
An annual favorite, Dan will return to give us his comprehensive summary of BSEA cases Hearing Decisions over the past year as well as specific focus on certain decisions which may have significant interest for advocates. He will also update us on any current legal issues with particular emphasis on children with learning disabilities.
Each year Dan provides substantive information in a very understandable and organized presentation, with great handouts, making the workshop fairly easy to follow, as well as material to access at a later time
Coordinator: Noreen Curran, 617-489-2745
Friday, February 8th - Neuropsychological Assessment:
Requesting, Understanding and Utilizing Neuropsychological Testing in the IEP Process
Presenter: Reva Tankle, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist and Special Needs Advocate
PLEASE NOTE NEW PAYMENT DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 2nd
The objectives of this presentation will be to explore:
- When a neuropsychological evaluation is warranted
- What a comprehensive evaluation should cover
- Specific tests used to assess different cognitive functions
- How to understand the scoring (scaled scores, standards scores and percentiles)
- How to use the data in the IEP process for eligibility and development of accommodations and goals.
Coordinator: Shelly Greene, 617-244-2350
Friday, February 15th -Peer Consultation
The purpose of Peer Consultations is to enable experienced advocates and newer advocates:
1. To share a range of case/client situations and challenges
2. To exchange ideas about the nature and content of the work of advocacy
3. To utilize the resources of each advocate’s knowledge, skills, experiences, and insights
4. To problem solve and to generate strategies with one another in order to assist parents and students in effectively navigating the educational process so that students will receive services and supports to maximize their unique needs
There will be no charge for attending this session.
Friday, March 14th - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon - Understand Asperger’s SyndromePresenter: Alex Michaels, Executive Director of Educational Consultants of New England, The School for Accelerated Learning, Camp Good Times and the Center for Developmental Medicine
PLEASE NOTE NEW PAYMENT DEADLINE: MARCH 8TH
Presentation will include a review of students diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and educational strategies that assist such students so that they have a successful school experience.
Ryan Kreutz, a seventeen year old with Asperger's, will share some of his experiences and perspectives on surviving middle school and high school while facing the challenges of AS. He will discuss issues of what is known as the 'Hidden Curriculum,’ a social understanding within the school setting, as well as share pointers on how to best assist students with AS in social and academic instruction.
Coordinator: Ruth Smith, 617-965-4568
Friday, April 11th - Understanding Issues and Practices in Caring for Children with Special Health Care Needs in the School Setting
Presenter: Stephanie Porter
PLEASE NOTE NEW PAYMENT DEADLINE: APRIL 5TH
The presentation will review hospital laws, policies and practices which affect the provision of care and education to children in the school setting who have special health care needs. She will discuss the challenges encountered in addressing the needs of these children.
Stephanie Porter, MSN, RN, Nursing Faculty for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Medicine at the Institute for Community Inclusion at Children's Hospital. She has extensive experience working with children with special health care needs and their families and educating school personnel about children with complex medical conditions including ventilators and feeding tubes.
Coordinator: Ruth Smith, 617-965-4568
Friday, May 9th - Chapter 688, Transition Planning for Students Turning 22
DUE TO CONSIDERABLE CHANGES UNDERWAY TO CHAPTER 688, THIS WORKSHOP WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR EARLY FALL
Locations: SPaN programs are held at the Charles River Arc with the exception of our all day programs. There is free parking and it is handicap accessible. Directions to Charles River Arc, click here
Program Format: Hospitality & Networking: 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Programs: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Note: January and March Programs, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon) Beverages and pastry are also available.
Pre-registration: for a printable form, please click on this link: Pre-Registration ; All day workshops require separate registration, please click here for full day workshop Full-Day Pre-registration form
Cancellations: If there is a question regarding a workshop or Board meeting being canceled due to weather please call the SPaN office at 508-655-7999 for a recorded message. Of course this may not always be possible due to circumstances beyond SPaN's control. Please do not call hosting facility.
Certificates of Attendance: SPaN provides certificates of attendance.
Workshop Topics and Speakers: SPaN is dedicated to promoting a functioning and supportive network for advocates. If there is a topic or speaker you would like to suggest, please email to Shelly Greene at shellygreene1@verizon.net