EVENTS

Webinar: “Is My Child a Picky Eater or Problem Feeder?”

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM ET

NESCA Presenters: Abigael Gray, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist; Feeding Specialist

Lauren Zeitler, MSOT, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist; Feeding Specialist

Description: This free webinar will help parents/caregivers and professionals understand the difference between picky eaters and problem feeders.

Participants will learn the signs of these issues and address concerns surrounding both. Panelists will also discuss when feeding therapy is warranted and what that may look like.

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://nesca-newton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sQyYom2OSXSuVbreZ6tXLw

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Webinar: “Supporting Students with ASD during Remote & Hybrid Education”

Date: Thursday, October 22 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM

NESCA Presenter: Dot Lucci, M.Ed., CAGS, Director of Psychoeducational and Consulting Services, NESCA

Description: This webinar, led by NESCA’s Director of Consultation and Psychoeducational Counseling Services Dot Lucci, M.Ed, CAGS, will help parents, caregivers and educators support their students with High-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses.

Topics include:
-Managing Zoom behavior and challenges, such as interruptions and perseverative questioning
-Teaching flexibility in the midst of frustrating times
-Building self-awareness
-Maintaining connections virtually
-Identifying and fostering student strengths

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://nesca-newton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BvOAc6BSQ323sQW1WZBgQA

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Supporting Students Emotionally as they Return to School: Signs They May Need Extra Support Webinar

Date: Tuesday, September 29 from 4:00 – 5:00 PM

NESCA Presenter:

Pediatric Neuropsychologist Moira Creedon, Ph.D.

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://nesca-newton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PrIqM2c1QwqzLd7Au8gZsg

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Autism Educator Hangout

Date: October 7, October 21, November 4, November 11, November 18 and December 2, 2020 from 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Description: The Autism Educator Hangout is for educators and related service providers who serve students with ASD. All are welcome to join – classroom teachers, special educators, OTs, PTs, school psychologists, SLPs, BCBAs, etc. This group of diverse professionals highlight the fact that it takes a village to educate students with ASD. If we work together and learn from each other, ultimately the students are better served.

In this “new world” of hybrid, in-person and virtual learning, students with ASD may be presenting us with challenges. Some students may be doing better working remotely while others are struggling and won’t even attend “Zoom” classes. Some have heightened anxiety as they try to navigate in-person and remote learning.

These topics as well as inclusion, disclosure, transition, girls with ASD, stress management, strengths-based instruction, generalization of social skills/thinking and more will be discussed in our online meetings. NESCA’s Autism Educator Hangout will meet every other week and provide staff working with students with ASD an opportunity to network, learn together and from each other, share resources, ideas and perspectives and build a community of service providers who are passionate about serving this unique population of students.

The Facilitator will provide an overall structure and approach for a safe learning community where all are valued and have a voice. There will be a specific topic for each discussion with shared resources, articles, tools and more, as well as time for discussion for “hard to solve” cases. This is a rich opportunity for providers to come together to learn from each other and share ideas.

Participation in each session is appreciated.

NESCA Facilitator: Director of Consultation and Psychoeducational Counseling Services Dot Lucci, M.Ed., CAGS

NESCA’s Autism Educator Hangout will be facilitated by Dot Lucci, M.Ed., CAGS, who was trained as a special educator and school psychologist. Dot has taught students with ASD, designed programs for them, worked with parents and served on the Board of Directors of AANE and the May Center Early Childhood Human Rights Committee. She is a national consultant, speaker and author. Prior to joining NESCA as its Director of Consultation and Psychoeducational Counseling Services, she was the Director of the Partners Program/EDCO Collaborative and Program Director of Aspire/MGH.

Reserve free tickets in advance for this recurring seminar and discussion group:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/autism-educator-hangout-tickets-122562825711

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Early Signs of Reading Challenges Webinar

Date: Thursday, October 15 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM

NESCA Presenter:

Pediatric Neuropsychologist Alissa Talamo, Ph.D.

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://nesca-newton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4XOoaw4IS-e8xEkHt6ev_A

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Creating Roadmaps for the Lifespan 

Date: Monday, March 9th, 2020; 6:30 PM — 8:00 PM

Location: NESCA Plainville, 60 Man Mar Drive, Plainville, MA

NESCA Presenters:

Pediatric Neuropsychologist Erin Gibbons, Ph.D.

Transition Specialist/Consultant Becki Lauzon, M.A., CRC

To learn more about this event, visit: http://www.needhamsepac.org/calendar

To register for this event: Email: jhauser@nesca-newton.com

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Intelligent Lives – Film Screening and Panel Discussion — POSTPONED

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 7:00pm

Location: Pollard Middle School Auditorium, Needham, MA

Intelligent Lives challenges perceptions of intelligence as it profiles three pioneering young adults with intellectual disabilities, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment and relationships. The film highlights the important role that educators, employers, friends and family can play in supporting successful inclusion.

A panel discussion will follow the film featuring:

• John Byrne, Senior Director of Employment and Day Services, Charles River Center
• Erin Gibbons, Ph.D., Pediatric Neuropsychologist, NESCA
• Brian Ziman, BCBA, Needham High School

We hope you can join us as we consider what we can do to make our community more inclusive for people of all abilities. For more information, please visit NeedhamSEPAC.org.

Presented by Needham SEPAC in partnership with Needham Diversity Initiative and Needham Human Rights Committee.

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LIFE ANIMATED Movie and Expert Panel Q & A — POSTPONED

Inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young Autistic man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films.

Expert panel will answer questions after the movie.

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2020; Event starts at 6:30 PM (movie screening followed by Q & A session)

Location: Nashoba Regional High School Auditorium, 12 Green Rd, Bolton, MA

Presenters:

Jacki M. Reinert, Psy.D., LMHC, Nashoba Regional Parent and practitioner who maintains a private therapy practice in Stow

Renee Marchant, PsyD Pediatric Neuropsychologist, NESCA

Rebecca Marie Gerard, LICSW

Donna Shea and Nadine Briggs, accomplished social educators, public speakers, authors as well as founders, operators and friendship facilitators at the Peter Pan Center in Boxborough, MA

Lucille Lee, owner and operator of Adaptive Fitness & Movement, LLC in Boxborough, MA an all-inclusive fitness facility providing fitness classes to individuals of all needs and abilities

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AANE Webinar: Transition Planning: Skills that Make a Difference in Long Term Success

Transition Planning is a journey, not a race. It requires a steady pace and a great deal of optimism, creativity and flexibility. Maintaining this mindset is much easier when we know, and focus on, the skills that will most impact postsecondary adult life outcomes. Join NESCA Director of Transition Services, Kelley Challen, as she explains why transition planning for adulthood needs to start early, describes the skills known to make the biggest difference in postsecondary transition, and provides tips on what you can do to build these skills.

Date: Monday, April 27, 2020; 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Location: Online

NESCA Presenter: Kelley Challen, Director of Transition Services

To register: https://www.aane.org/event/aane-webinar-transition-planning-skills-that-make-a-difference-in-long-term-success/

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AANE Webinar: Transition Planning: Guidelines and Timelines for Supporting an Individual with Autism

Every adolescent develops uniquely and every family has its own culture and preferences. However, some aspects of transition planning can take nearly a decade to complete and other aspects may include accessing time- or age-limited resources. For these reasons, it is helpful to have guidelines regarding when to focus on what and what to focus on when. Join NESCA Director of Transition Services, Kelley Challen, as she discusses a suggested timeline for carrying out transition planning activities in order to best support a young person with Autism across life domains as they transition toward postsecondary adulthood.

Date: Monday, May 18, 2020; 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Location: Online

NESCA Presenter: Kelley Challen, Director of Transition Services

To register: https://www.aane.org/event/aane-webinar-transition-planning-guidelines-and-timelines-for-supporting-an-individual-with-autism/

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AANE Webinar: Transition Planning: Understanding and Accessing IEP Transition Services

Students with autism who participate in special education are entitled to an education that is designed to both meet their unique educational needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living afterward. The way that schools assist students on IEPs with postsecondary preparation is through “transition services.” But, what are transition services? And, where do they go in an IEP? Join NESCA Director of Transition Services, Kelley Challen, as she provides some basic information about how the law describes transition services, how an IEP team determines what transition services a student needs, and provides examples of transition services that are commonly useful and necessary for students with autism.

Date: Monday, June 22, 2020; 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Location: Online

NESCA Presenter: Kelley Challen, Director of Transition Services

To register: https://www.aane.org/event/aane-webinar-transition-planning-understanding-and-accessing-iep-transition-services/

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