2016 Breakout Sessions Include:
“Typicals” Talk: Teen Sibling Panel
Presenter: Dr. Eric Endlich
Dr. Eric Endlich is a Boston-area clinical psychologist and special needs parent. He works
with high-functioning teens and adults with autism--and knows firsthand what it's like to
be in a "spectrum family." He has assembled a panel of delightful teen siblings eager to
share their experiences.
Summary: Teen siblings growing up with autism in the family present a lively panel
discussion of their experience. Parents, professionals, and especially other siblings will
benefit from learning about what life is like for the siblings of children on the spectrum.
Audience interaction is welcome.
Apps as Assistive Technology for Living, Learning and Working
Presenter: Kathy Adams
Kathy Adams is an Occupational Therapist and certified as an AT Professional. Kathy is
the Director of Maine CITE, the state’s Assistive Technology (AT) Program. Through
Maine CITE Kathy works in collaboration with many Maine AT providers to promote
access and the acquisition of AT in Maine. She has done many workshops in Maine and
nationally on AT for community living, education and employment as well funding
strategies. Kathy serves in the Maine OT License Board, the Maine Care Advisory
Committee, and the Maine AT Consortia.
Summary: Technology has become universal in our lives. This workshop will explore
how apps can be used to accommodate disability. Numerous apps, used as assistive
technology (AT), will be featured that enhance function in the areas of education,
community living and working. AT resources for devices, providers and funding will be
shared.
Arranging the Environment to Evoke Positive Behavior Change: Concrete
Strategies for Success
Presenters: Nicholas Hammond, MA, BCBA & Allyson Lowell, LCSW
Nicholas Hammond, MA, BCBA is the Director of In Home Support and Day Treatment
Programs at Woodfords Family Services. Prior to joining Woodfords in January 2015,
Nick spent 10 years working in the greater Chicagoland area, providing behavior analytic
services to children and adults on the autism spectrum in home, school, vocational, and
residential settings. In his current role, Nick supervises behavior analysts and field
supervisors who provide behavioral support to families of children on the autism
spectrum. Nick’s primary interests as a behavior analyst include functional assessment,
verbal behavior, functional communication training (FCT), parent education, and
precision teaching. Nick is finishing his doctoral dissertation as the final requirement of
his Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Allyson Lowell, LCSW has worked with and advocated for children, youth and adults
with special needs in Maine communities for more than 20 years. She is the Director of
Program Services at Woodfords Family Services, and oversees all agency clinical and
behavioral health programs.
Previously, she served as the Director of Case
Management Programs at Woodfords for more than 10 years. She holds a Bachelor of
Arts in Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maine.
Summary: Managing a child’s behavior can be challenging for parents and caregivers.
This presentation will help attendees understand how the many facets of a child’s
environment can influence behavior positively or negatively. Attendees will learn how
to recognize factors in the environment that influence behavior and how to create
environments that help children engage in appropriate behaviors throughout the day.
The presenters will provide concrete, evidenced-based strategies to promote positive
behaviors and minimize unwanted behaviors in a variety of scenarios that are often
sources of frustration for families. Among many other topics, presenters will address
what to do and what not to do about unwanted behaviors, how to replace negative
behaviors with more desired ones, and how to create patterns of positive behavior. This
presentation will also acknowledge the real challenges parents and caregivers face on a
daily basis, and provide strategies for mutual support and working as a team to best
meet the needs of the child and family. Attendees will receive a packet of tools and
resources to take home to support the implementation of the strategies discussed in the
session.
Dual Diagnosis and Implications for the Family
Presenters: Cathy E. Dionne and Laurie Raymond, LCSW
Cathy E. Dionne started with the Autism Society of Maine (ASM) in 1996 first as a
member of the Board of Directors, and then became Vice President. She became
involved because she has a 21 year old son with autism. She has been with ASM for 19
years and currently is the Director of Programs and Administration. Over the past 19
years she has been instrumental in expanding the resources and programs which ASM
provides for both children and adults with autism, and has been responsible for
developing ASM’s fundraising efforts such as the Ride for Autism and the Walk for
Autism. In thirteen years this fundraiser has grown from 200 attendees to over 1200.
She was also instrumental in initiating the summer camp program based in Farmington
at the University of Farmington. Each year she organizes the Annual Autism Family
Retreat Weekend held in Standish, and sits on several committees with the Department
of Health and Human Services and collaborates with other agencies.
Laurie Raymond is an LCSW currently employed at Port Resources as the Director of
Clinical and Residential Services. In addition, Laurie serves as the President of the
Autism Society of Maine’s (ASM) Board of Directors and has been an active member of
the Board for over 5 years. Over the past 30 years, Laurie has been a social worker in a
variety of settings—residential, corrections, schools, home care, and mental health
center. Additionally, Laurie provides clinical consultation to school and community
based providers and is active in a variety of committees to include National Association
for Dual Diagnosis Family Issues Committee, Maine Parent Coalition, Blueprint For
Transition Work Group and the Continuum of Care Implementation Stakeholders
meeting. She is also parent of a 26 year old son with autism.
Summary: This session will explore in depth the implications of having a dual diagnosis
(developmental/intellectual disability and mental health disorder) for the individual and
family.
There is current research that indicates 40-50% of individuals with an
intellectual/developmental disability have a co-occurring mental illness.
This session will explore the following:

Intellectual and developmental disorders-definitions and description under the
new diagnostic manual (DSM 5)

Prevalent Mental Health Diagnoses (i.e. Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
etc.)

Implications to the family-siblings, stigma, work/home life impact, and making it
all work

Support Services: overview of Section 21, Section 29, Section 17 and Section 65
of the Maine Care Manual

Identifying a treatment provider and getting support

Getting active in our state and community to insure social policy and services
meet the needs of our loved ones.
The presentation will provide information, but also allow time for questions/discussion
as issues and concerns are raised.
Navigating the New Journey Following the Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum
Disorder
Presenter: Jean Youde
Jean Youde is the Programs Coordinator at the Edmund Ervin Pediatric
Center/MaineGeneral Medical Center. She has over 25 years’ experience working with
families of children with developmental disabilities and has a special interest in parent
empowerment. As the parent of a son with autism, Jean has been navigating the service
system for many years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services and a
Master’s degree in Leadership Studies
Summary: This presentation will give parents information, resources, and hope as they
navigate their new journey. The intended audience is parents of children newly
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and providers working with these families.
Other parents and providers will gain new information as well. Learning objectives:
Participants will be able to 1. Describe essential features of Autism Spectrum Disorder 2.
Identify the role of various types of providers 3. Better understand the difference
between educational/medical/in-home services and 4. Understand the importance of
parent empowerment. The level of information will be basic 101-intermediate.
Autism & Safety: A guide for educators, case managers, families and other
community partners
Presenter: Matt Brown
Matt Brown is a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, and the dad of a teenage son with
ASD. He has trained over 5,000 first responders in Maine and across the country on ASD,
and in partnership with the Autism Society of Maine, was behind the successful effort to
make autism training mandatory for all law enforcement officers in Maine, and a
standard part of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, where he is the instructor on ASD
for every cadet class. Additionally, Matt and his wife Nancy operate ASET (Autism Safety
Education & Training), in an effort to bring autism safety training to first responders all
over the U.S.
Summary:
This presentation is designed for parents, case management agencies, educators, and
other groups that work with, or advocate for, individuals living with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD). The training program focuses on the specific characteristics of ASD that
directly impact the safety of this vulnerable population. Issues such as sensory and
processing overload, wandering, bullying, meltdowns and other risky situations
occurring at home, school and community are discussed in detail. Emphasis is placed on
strategies to prevent, recognize and safely deal with these scenarios. Matt also
discusses the issues and potential dangers relating to persons with ASD interacting with
law enforcement and other first responders.