2009 Michigan POHI/SXI Conference
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Download: [ Conference Brochure ] [ Registration Form ]
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2009 Michigan POHI/SXI Conference
Schedule and Session Descriptions
Thursday, November 12, 2009 - Morning
7:00 REGISTRATION TABLE opens - Remains accessable through the conference
7:30 – 8:30 BREAKFAST
8:15 – 8:30 Welcome
Stacie Sexton, Chairperson
8:30 – 12:00 FEATURED SPEAKER -Session (A)
R. J. Cooper
R.J. Cooper & Assc., Laguna Niguel, California
AT: LASTS Project Elementary Students
Meet R. J. Cooper and watch as he works with students to evaluate and determine optimal means to access their learning environments. Using a “hands on” approach, he will demonstrate strategies, hardware, and software adaptations that teachers, therapists and caregivers may be able to incorporate into their daily routines with these elementary students. R. J. has drawn on requests from actual people and actual settings to research and develop materials that address the needs of students covering severe/profound to mild developmental delays and learning disabilities.
8:30 – 10:00 Session (B)
Lori Eshenroder, Teacher
Monroe ISD
Got a Job! Vocational Skills for Post Secondary Students
This will be an overview of a program established to give students job experiences to learn the skills they will need to be successful in the world of work. The presenter will explain how she and the staff secured jobs for these students – the contacts and resources that were used, the networking that took place, and how the relationships were formed to have these students employed in various job experiences in their community.
8:30 – 10:00 Session (C)
Melody Perrin, Teacher - SXI
Bovenschen School, Macomb ISD
Toileting for Children of All Disabilities
This session will explore the wide range of students who can be taught to use the toilet. Most students can be toileted to some extent. The presenter will describe strategies and techniques that can be utilized, such as charting and the like, leading to successful toileting on a continuum from time-trained to totally trained individuals.
10:00 – 10:30 BREAK and opportunity to VISIT EXHIBIT AREA
10:30 – 12:00 Session (D)
SandCastles Staff
Hospices of Henry Ford Health System, Detroit
SandCastles Grief Support Program
This program provides grieving children and families the opportunity to come together for nurturing and strength as they learn to cope with the loss of a loved one or a friend. SandCastles works to provide a safe and nurturing environment for participants to grieve their loss and to find the capacity to heal using group activities with peer supports. Come to this session to learn ways to help students and yourself deal with death, loss, and serious illness. Participation is LIMITED.
10:30 – 12:00 Session (E)
Christine Lamb, Teacher
Skill Center Huron Valley School District
Pictures Worth a Thousand Words that all Students will Understand
This session is designed to give an overview from a teacher’s perspective of how to visually represent directions, tasks, and organizational concepts to post secondary students who may be non-readers. Using pictures of actual students, complex tasks involving multi-step directions are broken down to individual components for optimal success.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 - Afternoon
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH and VISIT EXHIBIT AREA
1:00 – 4:30 FEATURED SPEAKER - Session (F)
R. J. Cooper
R.J. Cooper & Assc., Laguna Niguel, California
AT: LASTS Project Secondary Students
Meet R. J. Cooper and watch as he works with students to evaluate and determine optimal means to access their learning environments. Using a “hands on” approach, he will demonstrate strategies, hardware and software adaptations that teachers, therapists and caregivers may be able to incorporate into their daily routines with these secondary students. R. J. has drawn on requests from actual people and actual settings to research and develop materials that address the needs of students covering severe/profound to mild developmental delays and learning disabilities.
1:00 – 2:30 Session (G)
SandCastles Staff
Hospices of Henry Ford Health System, Detroit
SandCastles Grief Support Program
This program provides grieving children and families the opportunity to come together for nurturing and strength as they learn to cope with the loss of a loved one or a friend. SandCastles works to provide a safe and nurturing environment for participants to grieve their loss and to find the capacity to heal using group activities with peer supports. Come to this session to learn ways to help students and yourself deal with death, loss, and serious illness. Participation is LIMITED.
1:00 – 2:30 Session (H)
Christine Lamb, Teacher,
Skill Center Huron Valley School District
Pictures Worth a Thousand Words that all Students will Understand
This session is designed to give an overview from a teacher’s perspective of how to visually represent directions, tasks, and organizational concepts to post secondary students who may be non-readers. Using pictures of actual students, complex tasks involving multi-step directions are broken down to individual components for optimal success.
3:00 - 4:30 Session (I)
Joanne Cwiklinski, Consultant - ASD, POHI,
Macomb ISD
Kelly Mills, Teacher - POHI,
Royal Oak Public Schools
Caseload Management Networking
Join presenters and colleagues to share experiences with managing caseloads, classrooms, and developing plans to meet individual students’ needs across all grades and levels. Realize this will be a participation-driven session. Come prepared to share with others --- issues, problems, concerns, questions, and answers. Give fellow teachers examples of what has worked well for you.
Dinner on your own.
See the HOSPITALITY TABLE for establishments and options.
Friday, November 13, 2009 - Morning
7:30 – 8:30 BREAKFAST
8:15 – 8:30 Welcome
Stacie Sexton, Chairperson
8:30 – 12:00 Session (J)
Dawn Malek,
Co-owner C.C. Plus – Dance – Fun - Fitness
Peggy DiMercurio,
MCTD Program Coordinator/Instructor
My Chance to Dance
This is a dance exercise program specifically designed for those with special needs, whether cognitive or physical including autism. My Chance to Dance specially created to avoid failure and build on success. It relies on repetition, movements that are simple to follow, and hands-on activities; all set to music the dancers thoroughly enjoy. Even those with profound disabilities benefit from the stimulation and social interaction the program provides. The training is an interactive, hand-on experience that includes:
• Introduction to the My Chance to Dance Program
• Introduction to choreography
• Tips and ideas to create you own class
• Introduction to 6-8 dances
• Learn these dances, learn to teach them, then present dances to entire groups
8:30 – 10:00 Session (K)
Melody Perrin, Teacher - SXI,
Bovenschen School, Macomb ISD
Working with your Paraprofessionals
Seldom do universities prepare teachers to work with paraprofessionals. These support staff are valuable additions to the classroom when used to their maximum potential. This session is designed to help teachers build effective working relationships with paraprofessionals -- when to delegate, what to delegate and what to manage on your own. Time will be spent discussing how to deal with conflicts between staff, addressing philosophical differences and providing strategies for attaining resolution and/or compromise.
10:30 – 12:00 Session (L)
Kathleen Winkler, J.D., LLM
Staff
Attorney, ARC of Oakland County, Troy
Planning for the Future
This presentation by Association for Retarded Citizens staff will concentrate on providing relevant and critical factors used planning for the futures of exceptional students as they become adults. The emphasis will be on abilities parents and guardians can exercise in ensuring that their wishes will be followed in providing financial stability so their loved ones will be taken care of in the future, particularly when it comes to SXI, SCI and POHI students.
Friday, November 13, 2009 - Afternoon
12:00 -1:00 LUNCH
1:00 – 3:00 KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Session (M)
Dr. Mohammad Salameh
Chief Medical Office for the Mid-West Region
Sound Physicians
Side Effects of Medications
Dr. Salameh will review the medications most frequently used for certain diseases, their side effects, the advantages of certain medicines over others, the use of combinations of various ones, and contraindications that may occur. He will also explain the positive effects of various medical protocols and certain treatments that benefit students with disabilities. There will be a question and answer period for the audience at the end of this session.
3:00 pm Travel home safely
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Download: [ Conference Brochure ] [ Registration Form ]
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