Autism Society of Utah
2003 Annual Conference
November 13th – 15th
Larry H. Miller Campus of S.L.C.C.
9570 South 300 West, Sandy, Utah 84070 (Map)

ASU 2003 Annual Conference Highlights

• Pre-Conference Workshop on Building Social Relationships
• Keynote Address by Temple Grandin’s Mother, Eustacia Cutler
• 33 Breakouts with the Following Tracks:
Friday and Saturday Only
Education Family Issues
Parents & Professionals as Partners Medical Issues
Transition Social Skills
Advocacy

Who Should Attend?

The ASU Annual Conference will have workshop sessions, breakouts sessions and a keynote address that will provide attendee with information from experts in the field autism, practical experience and knowledge, hands on skill building, as well as make-it and take-it teaching aids.

Pre-Conference Workshop Thursday, November 13th
Sponsored by The Utah State Office of Education
Schedule for the Day

8:00a.m. - 8:30a.m. - Registration

Noon-1:00p.m. -Lunch
8:30a.m. - 12:00 -Morning Session

1:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. -Afternoon Session

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
and the Development of Social Competence

Tyler Whitney, Psy.D.
Mountain States Counseling and Psychological Services, Boise, Idaho

Dr. Whitney will review current practices for screening, diagnosis and assessment of ASD. He will focus on the critical components of experience sharing from a relational perspective (Stanley Greenspan, M.D., Steven Gutstein, Ph.D.), and he will propose factors to consider in developing a relationally based intervention program that would incorporate these essential components. These factors are important because intervention research in the area of social development points to a primary deficit in a key area of social development-experience sharing.

The hallmark of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), specifically, high functioning autism (HFA), asperger’s disorder (AS), and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is a failure to develop social competence despite relative growth in other areas, such as language and cognition. New research in this area, Simon Baron-Cohen’s work (The Essential Difference) suggests that behavioral traits expressed in ASD result as an imbalance between two kinds of intelligence: empathizing and systematizing. However, in cognitively higher functioning individuals, Baron-Cohen’s research further suggests that ASD are not just “diseases in need of a cure”, but are “mental styles” or processing patterns that people can learn to accommodate. These conditions, autism spectrum disorders, are now seen by experts, as “spectrum disorders”, in which affected persons differ from the rest of us only by degrees.

Dr. Whitney has conducted outcome research and published on ways families can help their children cope with medical and developmental crises. Dr. Whitney is currently on staff at Mountain States Counseling and Psychological Services in Boise, Idaho. He consults and lectures throughout the state and region.

2003 ASU Annual Conference Friday, November 14th
Schedule of the Day

8:00a.m.-8:30a.m. -Registration

12:15p.m.-1:15p.m.-Lunch
8:30a.m.-10:15a.m. -Session I

10:15a.m.-12:15p.m. -Session II

1:15p.m.-3:00p.m. -Session III

3:15p.m.-5:00p.m. -Session IV

Breakout Session I

Breakout A - Teaching Strategies: Helping Students Understand What We Teach- by Kit Giddings- Education

Adapting and accommodating curriculum to fit the instructional needs of students with disabilities is a challenging task. Students have a variety of learning strengths and styles. This presentation introduces teachers and parents to different teaching strategies geared to help students understand academic instruction. Teachers who deliver information using one format loose a considerable percentage of the class. Ideas and suggestions for teaching to all student needs will be given.

Kit Giddings M.S.
Kit Giddings taught students with autism and learning disabilities in self-contained and inclusive settings before joining the faculty at the University of Utah. Her interests are teaching strategies and reading interventions. Kit is currently a doctoral student at the University of Utah and the Distance Education Coordinator. Kit is the parent of a grown daughter who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury as a child.

Breakout B - Tools for Effective Communication-You CAN Do This-by Helen Post- Parent and Professional Partner

Some of the most important skills- or tools- needed by parents and professionals as team members are good communication skills. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn and practice 5 basic skills that can lay the foundation for the effective exchange of ideas and information. Meaningful relationships often employ constructive communication-the kind that builds effective teamwork. Everyone will want these tools in their toolbox!

Helen Post
Helen Post is the parent of a young daughter who is profoundly deaf. Helen has 26 years of experience in disability related issues. She has been affiliated with the Utah Parent Center* since before 1987 and has served as the executive director since 1989. She is deeply involved in her community and has been recognized by several organizations for her many years of services on advisory councils and governing boards relating to disability issues. Helen is recognized nationally as a skilled trainer, presenter, consultant and mentor on a variety of topics.

*The Utah Parent Center is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide training, information, and support to parents of children and youth with disabilities and special needs throughout the state of Utah.

Breakout C- Transition Specialist Panel-by Transition Specialists from School Districts in the State of Utah and the Utah State Office of Education-Transition

Mary Ann Branson & Christine Timothy
Mary Ann Branson has worked for the Jordan School District as a Transition Specialist for 7 years. She shares the position with Christine Timothy. Both Mary Ann Branson and Chris Timothy are also Special Education Technical Assistants for Jordan School District. They work with special education teams in elementary, middle school, and high school. Each is responsible for 20 schools. Mary Ann previously taught 18-22 year olds in transition at South Valley School. Chris taught resource at Jordan High School. She was also the team leader.

Kitty M. DeJarnatt
Kitty M. DeJarnatt is a special education teacher and has assisted in coordinating the Davis School District’s transition program, STEPS, for the past 5 years. She has been on the District Autism Team for the past 7 years.
Kitty is the mother of 9 children- one of whom has an autism spectrum disorder and others with OCD. Her experiences as a mother and a wife in the Air Force has been an excellent foundation for becoming a teacher of students with special needs and a grandmother with a granddaughter who is deaf. For Kitty continued education and learning is a life long process.

Susan Loving

Susan Loving is the Education Specialist for Transition for Students with Disabilities (ages 3-21) at the Utah State Office of Education. She has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in three states and was most recently employed by a Utah school district as an SLP/Transition Specialist. Susan feels that helping students achieve their post-school goals provides a focus for middle and high school education programs. She is interested in interagency collaboration, increasing the knowledge base of parents and educators regarding transition issues, and improving the quality of transition services for Utah students with disabilities.

Breakout Session II

Breakout A - Beyond ABA- Structuring a Class to Support Students with ASD- by Doreen Snyder- Education

Breakout B - Autism Specialist Panel- Autism Specialists from School Districts in the State of Utah and the Utah State Office of Education- Parents and Professionals as Partners

Breakout C - Transition Services with Vocational Rehabilitation and Easter Seals Projects With Industry (PWI) Grant- by Paul Parkin, Jennifer Smart and Beverly Ferguson- Transition

This break out will discuss eligibility, appropriate referrals, individual plan development, outcome orientated goals, and the process to employment. Timeline will be covered: When to apply and what is needed for eligibility. They will also cover types of services offered: training, restoration, life skills and job sampling.

Beverly Ferguson

Beverly Ferguson is the Projects with Industry Director for Easter Seals Utah. She graduated from Ohio State University with a BS degree in Secondary Education and certification in English. She has 15 years of teaching, training, and instructional design experience.

Paul Parkin

Paul Parkin is a transition counselor with USOR. He works with youth corrections and Granite School District.

Jennifer Smart

Jennifer Smart is a transition counselor with UROR She has been with VR for about 25 years and has worked with Granite and Jordan School Districts.

Breakout Session III

Breakout A - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-101 An Introduction to ASD-by Judith Miller, PhD- Education

This breakout will give a general overview of autism spectrum disorders including characteristics and associated problems. It is appropriate for parents or professionals who do not have a background knowledge of autism spectrum disorders.

Judith Miller

Judith Miller is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Utah. She has been working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder for 12 years. She is currently part of two research programs: The Utah Autism Research Project at the University of Utah and the Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Breakout B - Social and Emotional Development through “Floortime”-by Megan Heath- Parents and Professionals as Partners

This presentation will discuss the importance of social-emotional development in communication and how to use relationship based interventions to promote language development. Ms. Heath will also introduce 5 steps in Floortime and the basic nuts and bolts of establishing circles of communication.

Megan Heath
Megan Heath is the mother of 3 children and the oldest one has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is currently employed by Kids on the Move part-time as a parent trainer in Floortime and other issues in autism.

Breakout C – Make-it and Take-it: Portable Daily Schedules- by Sue Sanft (Pre-registration and special fee required) - Transition

Portable Daily Schedules - This spiral-bound book is designed to provide a transportable schedule for use at home or school. Using the concepts of top-to-bottom and left-to-right, this book helps individuals move activities from the "To Do" list to the "Finished" list, using velcro and pictures or written words.

Breakout Session IV

Breakout A- Make-it and Take-it CD Spinners and Crown Spelling-by Rebecca Rich and Joan Wayment-(Pre-registration and special fee required) - Education

CD Spinners - This shiny, shimmering CD is a great way to let kids
spin for their reinforcers. Made of a CD, arrow spinner, and picture icons, it is
colorful and fun. Just spinning it may be reinforcing enough!

Crown Spelling - Children use clothespins to match uppercase letters
to lowercase letters and place them on their crowns. A royal way to learn
their names, or other spelling words!

Breakout B - Ticket To Work and Other Work Incentives- by Ester Medina Transition

This will be an overview of SSA'S Ticket To Work Program which will roll out in Utah November 2003. This is a program to help individuals receiving SSDI or SSI get the needed assistance to go to work. There will also be an overview of other work incentives.

Esther Medina
Esther Medina has been with Social Security for 13 years. For most of those years she was a claims representative. For 5 years she specialized in processing disability claims. For the past 18 months she has worked as the Employment Support Representative (ESR) for the state of Utah. Just this month she was selected as the area Work Incentive Coordinator (AWIC) for the Denver Region Area I. She specializes in all SSA work incentives and promoting their use.

Breakout C - Project GAAMES: A Social Skills Generalization Program- by Susan Blackham and Robyn Crowther-Anderson Parents and Professionals Partners

The Project GAAMES Model is a method of social skills instruction designed to assist teachers in effectively organizing social skills groups. The model utilizes teaching strategies that have proven to be effective when children with autism and related disorders are targeted. The model includes the most important part of social skills instruction, generalization.

Robyn Crowther-Anderson

Robyn Crowther-Anderson has worked with children with autism since 1996. She is the co-founder of ASD Connections and currently works with the Autism Team at Davis County School District.

2003 ASU Annual Conference Saturday, November 15th
Schedule of the Day

8:00a.m.- 8:30a.m.- Registration

8:30a.m.- 11:00a.m.- Keynote Address

11:15a.m.- 12:45p.m. - Session I

12:45p.m.- 1:45p.m.- Lunch

1:45p.m.- 3:15p.m.- Session II

3:30p.m.- 5:00p.m.- Session III

Keynote Address
Autism and the Family Identity: Preserving the Core
Eustacia Cutler

Identity is made up of moments when we feel most ourselves, work we're proud of, love we give freely and love we feel in return. Where does autism fit in? Family genetics can sometimes explain autistic traits, but family identity determines the way we see our children and how we help their personality to grow. Autism is a family story.

Eustacia Cutler, the mother of Temple Grandin, is a graduate of Harvard and has written school lessons for the major television networks. Her studies in children with mental retardation and emotional disabilities led to two television documentaries: THE DISQUIETED on children with emotional disabilities and THE INNOCENTS, a prize winning first on children with mental retardation.

Breakout Session I

Breakout A - Love and Grief: The Process of Accepting the Diagnosis- by Barbara Lester LCSW -Family Issues

This will be an experimental workshop for parents to assist them with the process of coping with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. We will explore the grieving issues involved and look at accepting and loving our children with autism spectrum disorders. This is designed for parents who have been recently informed of an ASD for one of their children, or for parents who are experiencing a difficulty in their adjustment to the diagnosis.

Barbara Lester LCSW

Barbara Lester LCSW is a counselor at Primary Children's Center for counseling. One of her areas of interest is working with children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She conducts social skills groups for children and teens with ASD, and teaches a class targeted for parents who have children with High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome. She is a mother of two sons who have Asperger Syndrome.

Breakout B – ASD 101: An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - by Judith Miller Ph.D. -Medical Issues

This breakout will give a general overview of autism spectrum disorders including characteristics and associated problems. It is appropriate for parents or professionals who do not have a background knowledge of autism spectrum disorders.

Judith Miller

Judith Miller is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Utah. She has been working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder for 12 years. She is currently part of two research programs: The Utah Autism Research Project at the University of Utah and the Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Breakout C - Children @ Play- Karen Jones OTR/L and Wendy Oberg OTR/L BCP-Social Skills

The goal of this presentation is to understand the development of play, its importance and how it affects learning. Participants will learn simple adaptations to make play more successful.

Karen K. Jones, OTR/L
Karen K. Jones, OTR/L graduated from Colorado State University and has been practicing in pediatrics at Primary Children’s Medical Center for 9 ½ years. She is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis test.

Wendy Oberg, OTR/L, BCP
Wendy Oberg, OTR/L, BCP graduated from Colorado State University and has worked in pediatrics for 20 years in school districts and at Primary Children’s Medical Center. She is board certified in pediatrics.

Breakout D - 10 Strategies to Partner with your Pediatrician- Lawrence P. Kaplan Ph.D. -Parents and Professionals as Partners

Dr. Kaplan offers breakthrough solutions for parents to overcome the difficulties working with pediatricians, as well as providing answers for parents to coordinate supplemental health care practitioners and educators with each other for a comprehensive treatment program. A video will be shown with comments from a local pediatrician and a DAN! practitioner.

Lawrence Kaplan, PhD.

Lawrence Kaplan, PhD. is a parent of a child with ASD. He is the founder of Special Abilities, Inc., and is on the Board of Directors and a Trustee for the Children's Biomedical Center of Utah. His research is a first in the field of autism to identify that there is a significant delay of early diagnosis showing that only 3% of pediatricians made any type of autism diagnosis. His research, published in PROS (american Academy of Pediatrics) and in a doctoral dissertation in 2001, also shows that 45% of pediatricians did not notice any developmental delays in children who were later diagnosed with autism.

Dr. Kaplan's background is in Marketing, Strategic Development, and Business Planning and worked in the professional and collegiate sports field for 10 years. He has applied his experience to develop 10 Strategies for parents and health care practitioners. Dr. Kaplan and his wife Gail have three boys. Their oldest is 14. The other two are twins, age 11.

Breakout E - Grass Roots Efforts to Improve Insurance Coverage- by Vicki Cottrell- Advocacy

This presentation will address how to advocate for change in insurance discrimination and other policy discrepancies.

Vicki Cottrell
Vicki Cottrell has been the executive director of NAMI Utah for the past 5 years. She was previously a volunteer with NAMI for 6 years. Her passion for these issues is due to personal experience with a daughter who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She has been determined to bring change to a system that views the brain as somehow different from the rest of the body.

Breakout F- What Skills Does My Child Need to Live Independently- by Julie Beckstead Transition

Participants of this session will receive a copy of the Utah Independent Living Center's "Get a Life Book" which is a hands-on manual that has independent living skills ideas. We will discuss the manual as well as questions an answer discussions on how to teach independent living skills.

Julie Beckstead
Julie Beckstead has 41 years of personal experience with a disability. She was injured as a toddler. She is paraplegic and use a wheelchair for mobility. She lives independently with her husband and four sons.

Julie started working at the Utah Independent Living Center in 1986. In the Education Enhancement Program she works with students ages 14-22 to help them learn the independent living skills needed to transition from high school into adult life.

Julie now supervises the Education Enhancement Program staff as well as teaches classes in cooking, shopping, riding main-line buses, grooming and hygiene, pre-vocation skills, budgeting and various support groups. She provides peer support, independent living skills training, parenting, and other services needed to increase independence and community participation for adult consumers as well.

She also has a 10 year old son with autism

Breakout G - Teaching Strategies: Helping Students Understand What We Teach
by-Kit Giddings-Transition

Adapting and accommodating curriculum to fit the instructional needs of students with disabilities is a challenging task. Students have a variety of learning strengths and styles. This presentation introduces teachers and parents to different teaching strategies geared to help students understand academic instruction. Teachers who deliver information using one format loose a considerable percentage of the class. Ideas and suggestions for teaching to all student needs will be given.

Kit Giddings M.S.
Kit Giddings taught students with autism and learning disabilities in self-contained and inclusive settings before joining the faculty at the University of Utah. Her interests are teaching strategies and reading interventions. Kit is currently a doctoral student at the University of Utah and the Distance Education Coordinator. Kit is the parent of a grown daughter who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury as a child.

Breakout Session II

Breakout A -Fostering Support Systems in Extended Family and Friends- Panel of Parents, Grandparents and other Family Supporters who have Found Unique Ways to Help Carry the Load- Family Issues

Breakout B -Is it Just Autism? Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders-by Dr. Janet Lainhart M.D. - Medical Issues

Many children and adults with autism spectrum disorders have signs and symptoms of other psychiatric disorders. Most common are mood and anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity problems. This talk will explain how research in neuroscience is helping us understand why individuals with ASD"s have these additional problems and how to treat them. Participants will learn how to recognize signs of possible neuropsychiatirc disorders in their child and what they can do to decrease the additional burden of illness on the child.

Janet E. Lainhart M.D.
Janet E. Lainhart M.D. is board certified in pediatrics, psychiatry & child psychiatry. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Utah, the Co-Director of the Autism Clinic, and one of the principle investigators of the Utah Autism Research Program. She has published many scientific articles and done research on additional neuropsychiatric disorders in individuals with autism.

Breakout C -Project GAAMES: A Social Skills Generalization Program- by Susan Blackham and Robyn Crowther-Anderson- Social Skills

The Project GAAMES Model is a method of social skills instruction designed to assist teachers in effectively organizing social skills groups. The model utilizes teaching strategies that have proven to be effective when children with autism and related disorders are targeted. The model includes the most important part of social skills instruction, generalization.

Robyn Crowther-Anderson

Robyn Crowther-Anderson has worked with children with autism since 1996. She is the co-founder of ASD Connections and currently works with the Autism Team at Davis County School District.

Breakout D -Tools for Constructive Communication-You CAN Do This- by Helen Post- Parents and Professionals Partners

Some of the most important skills- or tools- needed by parents and professionals as team members are good communication skills. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn and practice 5 basic skills that can lay the foundation for the effective exchange of ideas and information. Meaningful relationships often employ constructive communication-the kind that builds effective teamwork. Everyone will want these tools in their toolbox!

Helen Post
Helen Post is the parent of a young daughter who is profoundly deaf. Helen has 26 years of experience in disability related issues. She has been affiliated with the Utah Parent Center* since before 1987 and has served as the executive director since 1989. She is deeply involved in her community and has been recognized by several organizations for her many years of services on advisory councils and governing boards relating to disability issues. Helen is recognized nationally as a skilled trainer, presenter, consultant and mentor on a variety of topics.

*The Utah Parent Center is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide training, information, and support to parents of children and youth with disabilities and special needs throughout the state of Utah.

Breakout E -I Make the Difference- How to be an Advocate- by Kris Fawson- Advocacy

Participants will be taught the importance of advocacy. For advocacy to be effective we all need to be involved: individuals with disabilities, teachers, administrators and other providers of services.

Kris Fawson
Kris Fawson has been Co-Director of the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities since 1995. She also has a son with Down Syndrome. Ms. Fawson has volunteered on behalf of people with disabilities for thirty-two years. She has served with LCPD since its inception, including the position of Chairperson of LCPD and Chairperson of the Services for People with Disabilities Committee. Ms. Fawson has also served as Vice Chairperson of the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, President of The Arc of Utah; on the Division of Services for People with Disabilities Policy Board, Senator Orrin Hatch’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, the Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention Services, and on the National Commission on Accreditation for the American Physical Therapy Association.

For her advocacy work, Ms. Fawson has received awards for the Nation Council on Independent living, the Nation Association of Developmental Councils, the American Physical Therapy Association, the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, the Utah Association of Community Services, and the Arc of Utah. Utah Special Olympics, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, and the Utah Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities.

Breakout F -Make-it and Take-it- Secondary Education Ideas - by Cheya Wilson and Katie Sampson-(Pre-registration and special fee required) Education.

Secondary Education Ideas - Handouts of communication/progress notes
between general and special educators and parents will be shared. Other hands-on activities for successful secondary experiences will be presented.

Breakout G -Transition Specialist Panel- by Transition Specialists from School Districts in the State of Utah and the Utah State Office of Education-Transition

Mary Ann Branson & Christine Timothy
Mary Ann Branson has worked for the Jordan School District as a Transition Specialist for 7 years. She shares the position with Christine Timothy. Both Mary Ann Branson and Chris Timothy are also Special Education Technical Assistants for Jordan School District. They work with special education teams in elementary, middle school, and high school. Each is responsible for 20 schools. Mary Ann previously taught 18-22 year olds in transition at South Valley School. Chris taught resource at Jordan High School. She was also the team leader.

Kitty M. DeJarnatt
Kitty M. DeJarnatt is a special education teacher and has assisted in coordinating the Davis School District’s transition program, STEPS, for the past 5 years. She has been on the District Autism Team for the past 7 years.
Kitty is the mother of 9 children- one of whom has an autism spectrum disorder and others with OCD. Her experiences as a mother and a wife in the Air Force has been an excellent foundation for becoming a teacher of students with special needs and a grandmother with a granddaughter who is deaf. For Kitty continued education and learning is a life long process.

Susan Loving

Susan Loving is the Education Specialist for Transition for Students with Disabilities (ages 3-21) at the Utah State Office of Education. She has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in three states and was most recently employed by a Utah school district as an SLP/Transition Specialist. Susan feels that helping students achieve their post-school goals provides a focus for middle and high school education programs. She is interested in interagency collaboration, increasing the knowledge base of parents and educators regarding transition issues, and improving the quality of transition services for Utah students with disabilities.

Breakout Session III

Breakout A -Making Your Child’s Future More Secure- by Gary Napel- Family Issues

Gary Napel
Gary Napel is a Met DESK specialist in the Division of Estate Planning for Special Needs Kids. He is a Life underwriter Training Council Fellow and a Advisor on Estate Planning for Special Needs Kids. He is currently attending the University of Phoenix for the College of Financial Planning.

Breakout B - Exploring the Biomedical Issues of Autism- Dr. Bryan Jeppson M.D. - Medical

Dr. Jepson will discuss the recent advances in understanding the medical origins and biomedical interventions in autism. Topics will include epidemic statistics intestinal abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, detoxification issues and autoimmune reactions.

Bryan Jepson, M.D.
Bryan Jepson, M.D. is the medical director of the Children’s Biomedical Center of Utah which is a nonprofit medical clinic specializing in the treatment of children on the autism spectrum. It opened in March 2002 and currently has a patient population of well over 200 individuals, including patients from all over the country and a few from other countries. Dr. Jepson is also the father of an autistic child.

Breakout C -Social and Emotional Development through “Floortime” - by Megan Heath -Social Skills

This presentation will discuss the importance of social-emotional development in communication and how to use relationship based interventions to promote language development. Ms. Heath will also introduce 5 steps in Floortime and the basic nuts and bolts of establishing circles of communication.

Megan Heath
Megan Heath is the mother of 3 children and the oldest one has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is currently employed by Kids on the Move part-time as a parent trainer in Floortime and other issues in autism.

Breakout D -Autism Specialist Panel- Autism Specialists from School Districts in the State of Utah and the Utah State Office of Education- Parent and Professional Partner

Breakout E -Disability Law Center vs. DSPD: Lawsuit Update- by Eric Mitchell-Advocacy

Breakout F -Make-it and Take-it Visualizing Music (Pre-registration and special fee required) Education

Visualizing Music - Make song charts, flip charts, or other visual
supports for fun, lively children's songs. Learn how to use music to teach children
to follow directions, stay on task, and participate in a group.

Breakout G -Ticket To Work and Other Work Incentives- by Esther Medina-Transition

This will be an overview of SSA'S Ticket To Work Program which will roll out in Utah November 2003. This is a program to help individuals receiving SSDI or SSI get the needed assistance to go to work. There will also be an overview of other work incentives.

Esther Medina
Esther Medina has been with Social Security for 13 years. For most of those years she was a claims representative. For 5 years she specialized in processing disability claims. For the past 18 months she has worked as the Employment Support Representative (ESR) for the state of Utah. Just this month she was selected as the area Work Incentive Coordinator (AWIC) for the Denver Region Area I. She specializes in all SSA work incentives and promoting their use.

 

The Autism Society of Utah: 780 South Guardsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108

Telephone: (801)583-7049 Fax: (801) 581-0193 Email: office@utahautism.org