Down Syndrome Conference - Best Practices in the Education of Children With Down Syndrome

NEXT Thursday through Saturday, March 19-21, 2009, CW Post Campus of LIU and The Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation will be sponsoring their

6th Annual Conference on Best Practices in the Education of Children with Down Syndrome.

Speakers slated to present are experts in the fields of Physical Therapy, Challenging Behavior and Special Education including Dale Ulrich, PhD, Center for Motor Behavior & Pediatric Disabilities, University of Michigan; Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz, inspiration speakers, advocates and authors of the book, "Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome"; Sanja Cale, PhD, BCBA; Kathleen Feeley, PhD, BCBA; Emily Jones, PhD, BCBA, Beth Laktretz, MS; and Diane Ripple, MS.

Pre-Conference sessions held on Thursday include: Functional Assessment and Positive Strategies to Address Challenging Behavior; Strategies for Successful Inclusion; Addressing Communication Skill and A Successful Preschool Experience: Where if Starts, Effective Strategies to Enhance Preschool performance

Friday's Conference sessions include: AM: Keynote Addresses from Young Adults Katlin Cunningham and Lindsay Belnick; From Chaos to Calm: Organize Your Way to A More Effective IEP, and Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz on Everyday Life with Down Syndrome. PM Breakout Sessions include: School District Panels; Building Relationships in the Community; Essentials for Success: What to Do Now to Secure a Successful Future; Motor Development for Young Children with Down Syndrome; Self-Care Skills; and Developing Language & Literacy Through Technology.

Saturday's Activities and Sessions include: State of Affairs on Long Island; What Every Parent and Service Provider Should Know; Self-Determination: Creating Your Own Choices; A Sibling's Perspective; Supplemental Needs Trusts and Estate Planning; and Addressing the Needs of Children with Autistic Characteristics and Dual Diagnosis

There is childcare available on Saturday. Registration ends Friday, March 13th, TODAY, but I'd contact them directly if you can't/don't sign up by today and see if you can register late or on-site. Costs are completely reasonable for the wealth of knowledge being shared. (All-day Thursday pre-conference is $35 for parents/$75 for professionals. All-day Friday Conference is $40 for parents/$85 for professionals.) For more information log on to http://dsafonline.org/ and click on the conference teaser box OR call 516-299-4167.

I'll be there on Thursday and Friday at the very least... Maybe Saturday too. I'm very excited to hear more about language development, new teaching methods and the research the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation has been sponsoring with regards to educating our special children. I'm also hoping to connect with like-minded parents and professionals to get more involved in advocating on behalf of all people with Down Syndrome... especially right here at home, on Long Island. Hope to see you all there.