*REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED*

**5 CEUs HAVE BEEN APPROVED

“This conference is supported by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services”

 

DWMHA 2019 Autism Conference

When: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 – 9:00am – 4:00pm

Where: Burton Manor, 27777 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia 48150

Registration is required

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Overview

DWMHA invites you to attend the 2019 Autism Conference. The event will include a keynote presentation and breakout sessions with participants from many of our valuable Autism Partners. The conference will bring together providers, professional staff, direct care staff, advocates, educators, researchers, community leaders and health professionals.

It is important to develop and implement autism treatment services that can effectively address individual and family needs. The goal of this conference it to advance the development and implementation of evidence-based behavioral health treatment and applied behavior analysis services to individuals served by the public behavioral health system.  

Who should attend?

Those currently working with or interested in increasing their knowledge about adults and children who have autism. This includes administrators, clinicians, behavior analysts, behavior technicians, support coordinators, case managers, counselors, social workers, university faculty, and community members.

Cost:

Early Bird (ends 3/13): $30 per person

After 3/13: $40 per person

Payment Options:  

Online Credit Card (VISA and MASTERCARD only) 

Online E-check 

Agency Check or Money Orders (made payable to DWMHA, Attn: Andrea Smith) sent to 707 W Milwaukee, Detroit, MI 48202

CERTIFICATES: Please be advised that Hard copies of Certificates will not be available for distribution at the conclusion of the conference. Certificates will be available to print from your DWC training user account within 24 hours after conference attendance has been verified.

8:30am - 9:00am	Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00am - 9:15am	Welcoming Comments: Mr. Willie Brooks, President & CEO of DWMHA
9:15am - 10:15am	Keynote Presentation: Kara Brooklier, Ph.D., Pediatric Neuropsychologist A Lifetime of Autism: A Developmental Understanding of ASD and Notable Transition Periods
10:15am - 10:30am	Break/Vendor Stroll
10:30am - 12:00pm	Morning Breakout Sessions
12:00pm - 1:00pm	Lunch and Networking
1:00pm - 2:00pm	Afternoon Keynote: MDHHS/BHDDA Children & Adults with Autism Section Staff Medicaid coverage of Behavioral Health Treatment, including Applied Behavior Analysis, Services to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Michigan
2:00pm - 2:15pm	Break/Vendor Stroll
2:15pm - 3:45pm	Afternoon Breakout Sessions
3:45pm – 4:00pm	Evaluations and Closeout

 

Morning Keynote

Kara Brooklier, PhD

Pediatric Neuropsychologist

A Lifetime of Autism: A Developmental Understanding of ASD and Notable Transition Periods

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that must be identified with understanding of the individual’s developmental level.  Although the goal is early identification, it is essential for evaluators to be aware of ASD symptom presentations beyond the early years. This presentation will focus on key symptoms of ASD throughout the lifespan from toddlerhood through adulthood.  Highlights for diagnostic identification at different ages and developmental presentations will be emphasized. Further, individuals with ASD often show notable struggles at specific developmental transition points.  Major developmental transition points and ways to ease these transitions will be highlighted.

 

Dr. Kara Brooklier has been a practicing pediatric neuropsychologist for over 15 years. Her specialization is in the area of neurodevelopmental disorders and specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is Director of Neuropsychological Services at the Children’s Center of Wayne County and is clinical training faculty at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences. Dr. Brooklier works with her team of staff psychologists, doctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows to conduct neuropsychological and differential diagnostic evaluations of Autism Spectrum Disorder and associated neurodevelopmental conditions.

 

Afternoon Keynote

MDHHS/BHDDA Children & Adults with Autism Section Staff

Medicaid Coverage of Behavioral Health Treatment, Including Applied Behavior Analysis, Services to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Michigan

Michigan is making tremendous progress in providing evidence based services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through amazing growth of available behavioral services, providers, university leadership, array of professional development and many collaborations. This session is intended to provide attendees with an introduction to current services, supports, and resources in Michigan for individuals with Medicaid, birth to twenty-one diagnosed with ASD, including the topics of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, provider capacity, and the importance of system collaboration to effectively serve the individual in their home and community settings. The presenters will share the quality clinical and professional surveys conducted in 2018 and action items being addressed to meet the needs in Michigan.  From early education to employment and throughout life, coordination, collaboration and communication are key for individuals to experience their maximum quality of life and happiness. 

 

Morning Breakouts

1. “Autism, Motivation & Overcoming Depression” with Ron Sandison

• Parents and professionals will learn practical methods to motivate children and young adults with autism to learn new life skills, prepare for transition, and gain independence. Ron examines common hindrances to growth, decision-making, and independence and ways to overcome them. Many students and young adults with autism experience severe depression and anxiety due to their lack of social interaction, a failure complex, perfectionist mindset, and sensory issues. Educators and parents will be equipped to help these individuals deal with his or her depression and anxiety, and gain self-confidence. Sandison shares inspiring stories from his interviews and articles throughout his presentation like Armani Williams, the first NASCAR driver with autism, Peter Lantz, a professional video game designer, Tarik El-Abour a professional baseball player, Walker Aurand, a division 1 college hockey player, and many more. Ron also shares his own personal struggles with depression, anxiety, motivation from autism and how he was able to overcome and become a dad, author, professional, and motivational speaker.

2. “Feeding and Swallowing Intervention for Pediatric Clients - A Behavioral and Physiological Overview” with Allison Holecek, Carla McNamara, & Dakota Gunter

• Feeding and Swallowing Intervention for Pediatric Clients - A Behavioral and Physiological Overview will discuss the specific and overlapping roles of the Speech-Language Pathologist, Registered Behavior Technician, and Occupational Therapist in the evaluation and implementation of pediatric feeding and swallowing. Each discipline will present evidence-based interventions within their field to aid with pediatric feeding disorders. A case study in which these three professionals collaborated to increase feeding tolerance for one mutual patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder will be presented.

3. “Support Services for Adults with Autism” with Anne Akinfenwa

• This training will provide effective strategies directly applicable to adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Although ABA services are ending, behavioral intervention does not have to end when an individual turns 21. The main focus will be to explore issues that might present after ABA services have been discontinued.  Strategies will be offered on how and when to start a transition process into other services as ABA services come to an end.  Resources will be offered as well as strategies to follow through in working with community agencies.

4. “ABA Intervention Plans for Consumers with Significant Cognitive Impairments” with Krista Clancy, Ph. D., BCBA, LLP & Michelle Fuhr, MS, BCBA, LLP

• Presenters will provide attendees with background on research in ABA related to outcome and prognosis to assist with assessment and treatment planning related to consumers with severe cognitive impairment in addition to ASD.  Topics covered include early developmental milestones (birth-18 months) and how understanding those milestones can assist behavior analysts in the development of treatment goals and strategies that will help consumers who are significantly impaired make better progress in ABA intervention at any age.  Additionally, presenters will discuss program development based on early development skills and how targeting these skills in ABA with older children with severe cognitive impairment can lead to greater treatment gains than just using a preschool based ABA curriculum.

Afternoon Breakouts

1. “Sexuality and Healthy Relationships for Individuals with ID/ASD” with Shelby Wilson-Drummond, TLLP & Gina Ambrogio, LMSW, BCaBA

• Sexuality and healthy relationships between individuals and their friends, families, and significant others are associated with greater quality of life. This holds true for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These individuals face unique challenges in developing these qualities and at are greater risk for associated problems than individuals without ASD. This training will outline current understanding of sexuality and healthy relationships in ASD as well as approaches for addressing the needs of this population. Skills to be targeted, specific interventions, and curriculum will be described, and common issues that may arise during treatment will be discussed.

2. “Navigating Special Education as a Behavioral Professional” with Dawn Montroy, MA-ASD, BCBA & Dawn Babich, M.ED, QBHP

• This presentation will focus on the role of a BCBA/QBHP in supporting families of school aged children through the special education process. Topics to be covered include information regarding 504 Plans, Individualized Education Plans, School-Based Behavior Intervention Plans and strategies to effectively partner with a school to affect progress across settings.

 

3. “Vocational Skills Assessment and Training for Individuals with ASD” with Erin Burnette, M.S BCBA, Terrie Hylton, Ph.D., and Steve Slayton

• Successfully obtaining employment is a pivotal developmental milestone for many young adults, yet for some, is beyond reach. Students on the Autism Spectrum are not always able to familiarize themselves with career options before they graduate from high school. This presentation will present how STEP and Merakey have collaboratively addressed this milestone with job explorations, workplace learning experiences, tours of post-secondary institutions, career readiness workshops, and employment programs as well as explore Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy as a tool in assisting individuals in learning the skills necessary to engage in competitive work activities.  The AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills) will be reviewed as a tool to identify strengths and weakness as well as assist in identifying treatment goals.  Teaching strategies, including task analysis, shaping, and behavioral rehearsals, to assist consumers in meeting identified treatment goals will be reviewed. Collaboration with other providers is necessary to assist consumers into adulthood after aging out of ABA services; therefore, this is a collaborative presentation with Merakey & STEP.

 

4. “Easy and Effective Ways to Enhance Language and Social Skills of Young Children with ASD” with Dr. Sarah Dunkel-Jackson, PhD, BCBA-D

• Behavioral interventions that are provided early and intensively and are focused on enhancing social communication and social interaction have proven the most effective for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Language and social skills are enhanced while challenging behaviors that interfere with learning are reduced. Skilled behavior analysts work collaboratively with families since parents and caregivers play a critical role in supporting their child to develop, pursue, and achieve their own goals and dreams. For families of young children with ASD, there are easy and effective ways to enhance early language and social skills that promote optimal outcomes as their child ages. This presentation will highlight a variety of strategies that families can implement with their own child as they wait for or are involved with early intensive behavioral interventions and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. A discussion of family engagement and education will be included.

 

Registration/Walk-In Policy: Registration is required. Walk-ins WILL NOT be permitted. Register to ensure your attendance.

Photo Consent: By joining us at this event, attendees consent to Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority's Detroit Wayne Connect photographing, videotaping and using your image and likeness.

ADA Accommodations: If you have individual requirements or need special services to participate in this training, please notify Sabrina Bergman at sbergman@dwmha.com. Please make arrangements at least two weeks before the event date.

Please pay prior to your arrival by entering your credit card information when the registration process asks for it. You may also bring a company check or money order for the full amount with you to the registration table at the event as well. All checks/money orders can be made out to ‘DWMHA’. Receipts will be available upon request.

Substitutions are permitted at any time. No Shows will be billed at the same rate. Cancellations must be received in writing no later than 7 business days prior to the training to asmith1@dwmha.com in order to obtain a full refund. If cancellation is received less than 7 days prior to the training, no refund will be issued.