Directions to the Gray Center at the University of Hartford
200 Bloomfield Ave
Hartford, CT 06117
From: I-84 East, exit 41 –
At the end of the exit ramp -Turn Left onto S. Main (becomes N. Main)
3.5 miles - Turn right onto Rte. 44 (east)
1.7 miles – turn left onto Rte. 189 (north)
Campus is 1/2-mile on right
From: I-84 West, exit 48
Go straight from the exit ramp to the first traffic light
At that first light turn right onto Asylum Ave (west)
1.5 miles – Turn right on Scarborough (north)
0.6 miles - Turn left onto Rte. 44 (west)
0.3 miles - Turn right onto Rte. 189 (north)
Campus is 1/2-mile on the right
From: Farmington Valley
Proceed East on Route 44
1.7 miles past Bishop’s Corner (route 218) left on Route 189.
Campus is 1/2-mile on right
- or East on Route 185 to Route 189
Bear right onto Rte. 189
Campus is just ahead on left
Free On-Campus Parking:
Follow directions to lot K.
On-line map of the University of Hartford Campus is available at: http://www.hartford.edu/about/map/UofH_Map.pdf
Weather related cancellations/questions: www.ctfeat.org or 860-571-3888
CT FEAT
PO Box 370352
West Hartford, CT 06137-0352
CT FEAT Presents
Advances in Autism in Connecticut 2011
March 29, 2011
8:30 to 4:00
The Gray Conference Center at the University of Hartford
200 Bloomfield Ave, Hartford, CT 06117
Presentations:
Dealing With Difficult Behaviors At Home And In The Community:
The Pyramid Approach To Education
Andy Bondy, Ph.D.
Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc.
This talk will present a behavioral perspective on difficult behaviors in the home and the
community, demonstrating how parents and professionals can cope with challenging behaviors
in various natural settings. This approach considers factors related to what to teach as well as
how to teach. The presentation reviews the critical communication skills that must be present in
order to develop a comprehensive intervention and prevention plan and considers a number of
visually mediated communication skills that can be implemented at home and in the community
with all children regardless of their mode of communication.
How To Teach Children With Autism To Ask For What They Want
At School And At Home
Kathleen Dyer, CCC-SLP, Ph.D. BCBA-D
Clinical Director, River Street Autism Program at Coltsville
This workshop provides participants with field-tested procedures for increasing requesting in
school and home programs. The participants will learn to identify the forms and modes of
manding to be used by the children, and then how to train staff to facilitate these requests in the
context of a school day. Hands-on strategies to insure maintenance of these gains through
ongoing data collection, staff feedback, and data review systems by supervision teams will be
discussed. Finally, specific strategies to generalize treatment gains to family members will be
described.
iPad Applications To Use With Individuals With Autism
Carolann Cormier, M.S., CCC-SLP, A.T.P.
Education Specialist, TABS- Special Services Support Team
Capitol Region Education Council (CREC)
Even though the iPad has only been in use for less than a year, a wealth of applications (apps)
have become available to use with individuals with autism and other disabilities. This workshop
will focus on some of the apps being used in the areas of receptive and expressive
communication, including augmentative alternative communication tools, as well as social and
play skills . This fast paced workshop is appropriate for those already familiar with the basics of
iPad/iTouch technology who would like to preview a variety of applications and related
resources.
Kathleen Dyer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCBA-D
Dr. Kathleen Dyer received her doctoral degree in Speech and Hearing
Sciences at the University of California and her training for her Speech
Pathology certification at Temple University. She has over 35 years of
research and intervention experience in autism, and has collaborated
with many pioneers of the field including Drs. O. Ivar Lovaas, Robert
Koegel, Stephen C. Luce, and Andrew Bondy. Along with Tom
Parvenski and the Capitol Region Education Council, she was instrumental in the establishment
of the River Street Autism Program at Coltsville in 2000, where she now serves as Clinical
Director. She is also an Associate Clinical Professor of the Communication Disorders
Department at Elms College, which offers a Master’s of Science in Autism Program, and a
BCBA-approved course sequence. She was awarded the CT FEAT Foundations and Innovations
Award for her exceptional contributions to the education of children with autism.
Video Modeling And Video Self-modeling
Greg Smith, M.S., BCBA
Consultant and Trainer with the River Street Outreach Program
This presentation will provide an overview of research findings on the use of video modeling and
video self-modeling. Practical applications in supporting individuals with autism spectrum
disorders will be presented and discussed.
About Our Presenters:
Andy Bondy, Ph.D.
Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc.
Andy Bondy, Ph.D., has over 40 years’ experience working with children and adults with autism
and related developmental disabilities. He and his wife, Lori Frost, pioneered the development
of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). He designed the Pyramid Approach to
Education as a comprehensive combination of broad-spectrum behavior analysis and functional
communication strategies, to help professionals and parents design effective educational
environments for children and adults with developmental disabilities. He is the co-founder of
Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc., an internationally based team of specialists from many
fields who work together to promote the integration of the principles of applied behavior analysis
within functional activities, with an emphasis on developing functional communication skills
independent of modality.
Greg Smith, M.S., BCBA
Greg Smith has worked since 1981 supporting children and adults
with special needs, and consulting with staff and family members
who educate and care for them. He received a B.A. from
Connecticut College in Psychology and Human Relations and holds
an M.S. in Psychology from the University of Alaska,
Anchorage. Early in his career, Mr. Smith worked in residential
treatment programs as a Teaching Parent, certified by the National
Teaching Family Association. Currently, he is a Board Certified
Behavior Analyst and holds a position as a Consultant and Trainer with the River Street
Outreach Program. Mr. Smith has been a guest lecturer and an adjunct professor at local
universities. He has a particular interest in the use of self-modeling video in teaching students
with autism spectrum disorders.
Carolann Cormier, M.S., Sixth Year, CCC-SLP, ATP
Carolann Cormier is an education specialist who is a speech-language
pathologist and assistive technology professional (ATP), with over 25
years’ experience working in the assistive technology field with
individuals of all ages. She specializes in providing assistive technology
(AT) services for students with disabilities in order to enhance
communication and/or gain access to the academic curriculum. Ms. Cormier has presented
locally, nationally and internationally on a variety of topics related to augmentative alternative
communication (AAC) and assistive technology. She has also taught graduate courses at a local
college and universities on augmentative alternative communication and communication and
technology with a focus on autism. She has worked at CREC for over 15 years.