Session A Friday May 21 11:00AM - 12:15PM
1. Fine Motor Skills For Preschoolers Maryanne Bruni - This workshop describes fine motor development in the context of the typical challenges faced by children with Down syndrome 0-4 years. Play and home-based activities, positioning, and ideas for motivation and attention will be discussed. 2. The Transition Blues…"Changes Can Challenge Children" (Elem) Carol Johnson - Transitions can be killers. There are at least 50 in each day, any of which can go bad. Difficulty with transitions affects the student’s ability to manage the next activity. Join Carol to talk about ways to help students manage transitions within single classroom experiences, between classrooms or grades. 3. Strategies for Inclusion Dr. JoAnne Putnam - This workshop presents well-validated instructional strategies for inclusive classrooms, the basics of cooperative learning, multi-level instruction, multiple intelligence instruction, curriculum adaptation, and collaborative planning. 4. Phonological Development and Disorders in Children with Down Syndrome Dr. Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird - This workshop will review the research on factors that influence speech sound development in children with Down syndrome and discuss strategies for supporting the development of intelligible speech. 5. Estate Planning and Guardianship Trudy Button What happens when we are no longer here and able to care for our loved ones? This is every parent’s fear. Join our professionals to discuss this and learn how to plan for the future.
Session B Friday May 21 3:45PM - 5:00PM
6. Curriculum Adaptation: The Key To A Good Day (Jr. & Sr. High) Carol Johnson - This workshop will help teachers plan lesson adaptations in ways that make it work for both teacher and students. Carol will present an easy-to-follow process for adapting lessons to ensure a good day. 7. "One, Two, Three, Start!" Patricia Oelwein - This workshop presents a math program designed to prepare the child for math, the sequence for teaching basic math skills, teaching methods and techniques, materials, activities, games and practical application of math to daily activities. 8. Learning through Play Dr. Naznin Virji-Babul - This workshop will discuss an integrated multidisciplinary intervention program for infants and toddlers with Down syndrome with a focus on developing language, cognitive and motor skills in an integrated play environment. 9. The Psychological Basis of Learning, Memory and Action: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Dr. Daniel J. Weeks - This workshop will provide an overview of the basic assumptions and terminology that accompany a cognitive information-processing view of human behaviour, and explore the new technologies that permit us to witness anatomical and functional changes in the brain during child development and learning. 10. Model Programs Jo Mills - A view of two model programs aimed at improving education and development of young people with Down syndrome. The workshop will cover evaluation of need and ideas on how, why and when to start similar programs, and some information about the impact of the programs. 11. Circle of Friends Flo Paul - Social relationships make our life more worthwhile. We have fun, learn important personal, interpersonal and other social skills by spending time and interacting with our loved ones, family and friends. For many individuals with a disability, particularly as they reach adulthood, the opportunities to form natural friendships, and to be involved in the social structure of community become more limited. This session will share the importance of friendships and social interaction to our personal well being, and provide practical information on the development of a circle of friends.
Session C Saturday May 22 11:00AM - 12:15PM
12. Life at University Jody Rolls/Adele Warner - Students with Down syndrome will present an informative session on their experiences at university. Jody Rolls attends a varsity program at the University of Calgary. She's taking Spanish, sociology and poetry. Adele Warner attends the University of the College of Cape Breton and is doing Celtic studies. Anyone interested in creating exciting futures for their children/students, or attending a post secondary program should attend this presentation. 13. Fine Motor Skills For School Age Children Maryanne Bruni - This workshop outlines the strengths and challenges faced by children with Down syndrome in classroom fine motor activities. A program for developing the visual-motor skills of pre-printing, printing (based on the Handwriting without Tears program) , and cutting will be presented as well as skills related to self-help and independence. 14. Teaching Reading Patricia Oelwein - The language experience, top down, individualized reading program described in Teaching Reading to Children with Down syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Teachers will be presented. The presentation will include specialized teaching techniques to meet the learning styles of the typical child with Down syndrome, step-by-step procedures designed for student success and applying reading skills as means of communication, learning, remembering and organizing information. 15 Dentistry and Down Syndrome Dr. Sindoor Desai – This workshop will examine dentistry in Down syndrome and discuss common dental abnormalities and recommendations for persons with Down syndrome. 16. Medical Concerns in Children with Down Syndrome Dr. William Cohen - In this interactive workshop, Dr. Cohen will discuss common medical problems in children with Down syndrome. 17. Mental Health Dr. William Mahoney - A review of a client survey of mental health problems in a group of adolescents with Down Syndrome, implications for clinical service provision and identified further research will be discussed in this workshop.
Session D Saturday May 22 3:45PM - 5:00PM
18. Tell It As It Is: How to teach others about Down Syndrome without having to go back to school (K-6) Carol Johnson - Carol has talked to many classes of students about Down syndrome, often with the student with Down syndrome included in the lesson. Join Carol as she walks you through a lesson that you will be able to use to talk about Down syndrome to any class. Carol will also show a video that includes a lesson plan that teaches “It’s Okay to be Different”. 19. Bilingualism and Children with Down Syndrome Dr. Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird - This workshop will review the literature on typical bilingual development and bilingualism in language impaired individuals, including individuals with Down syndrome. Issues around language impairment and bilingualism will be discussed within a family-focused framework. 20. Research and Practice in Motor Development and Impact of Dance on Movement Dr. Naznin Virji-Babul – This workshop will review motor coordination and postural control in persons with Down syndrome, the problems and potential intervention strategies as well as the effect of dance on movement. 21. Moms Only – An opportunity for moms to share, listen and build friendships. 22. Dads Only – An opportunity for dads to share, listen and build friendships. 23. Research and Education in the Community Jo Mills - This workshop covers the role of families in promoting and participating in research, the impact and relevance of family input to the questions researchers ask and the importance of providing information and educational opportunities for a variety of professionals who wish to specialize in Down syndrome.
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