Special Needs
The special needs
category is designed to include many kids who already have a diagnosis. These kids may also be struggling learners or may
be gifted learners, but the choice of topics here is divided by diagnosis or potential diagnosis. Again, each child is a unique
creation of God, designed for His glory, so often times you may find other talks not listed under your child's diagnosis as
important to learn for your child's specific needs. That's what is so wonderful about the diversity of our children, even
if at times we struggle with how to best educate them and provide for their needs.
We have also included the adopted
kids group in this category. Adopted kids also can have multiple difficulties, so you want to check the full listing of talks
as well. Here, we will only suggest the talks specific to adopted kids and their learning needs.
To consult the full
listing of talks in the Struggling Learner/Gifted Learner/Special Needs area. Click here to refer to that listing.
To assist
you in what talks might be beneficial for your child, we will break down the listing by some common diagnoses. Remember, other
talks may also benefit your child. The talks in these lists are only suggested talks.
If you click on the name below,
you will be linked directly to the listing for that sub-category.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
ADD / ADHD
Sensory Integration Problems
Down's Syndrome, William's Syndrome, Cerebral
Palsy, or other significant difficulty
Adopted kids
Autism Spectrum Disorders
This range of disorders includes disorders ranging ranging
from PDD-NOS to Aspergers to classic autism to even Rett Syndrome. Some diagnosticians even put ADD/ADHD on the low end of
the Autism Spectrum disorder range. Below is the list of topics that we think may help parents with children falling into
this category.
10:00 - 11:00 am (Friday, April 9)
Room 300: Dianne Craft - Identifying and Correcting Blocked Learning Gates
This is for your ‘puzzling child'. A child may be a reluctant learner for several reasons. If you have a
bright, hardworking child who has to work too hard to learn, he is telling you that one or more of his Four Learning Gates
is blocked. This workshop will help you identify which of the learning gates is blocked, and, more importantly, what you can
do about it at home! It doesn't have to be so hard for your child! Find out specifically how the brain processes information,
and where that processing can break down. Then, receive the corrections for each processing area. This can be done by the
parents, at home. You will learn things you have never heard of before in a Homeschool workshop. A homeschooling mom with
a Ph.D. in special education said that she learned more in this workshop about how kids learn and how to make learning easier,
than she had in all her university courses!
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 300: Dr. Matthew E. Worth, DC: Neurology of Learning Disabilities - Why Does My Child
Struggle With Learning?
Understanding the struggles that their child has goes a long way in helping parents
homeschool their children. Answers to questions such as "Why can't she catch on to reading?", or "Why does
he act this way?", or "Why can't he learn his math facts?" come to light as Dr. Worth presents a review of
the mechanisms ("what areas of the brain are affected" and "what areas are not working appropriately")
of various learning disabilities including reading & comprehension difficulties, as well as autism, Asperger's Syndrome,
and OCD. He will demonstrate how the brain is working in these learning and behavioral difficulties by showing functional
MRI's and SPECT imaging of the brains of people diagnosed with these disorders. Parents can then see how their children's
brains might be responding in comparison to brain responses in children without learning or behavioral struggles. He will
then explain, in layman's terms, what is going on neurologically so that parents can better understand their child's struggles
and will better be able to determine the best course of action for their child. Dr. Worth will also offer some great ‘take
home' ideas to use with your kids and will talk about some of the current treatments available, addressing which ones are
the most effective.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 313: Rene Hayes - You Can Successfully Homeschool Your Special Needs Child - Part 1
Are you
thinking about homeschooling or already doing it and feeling lost? Wondering where to start and gain your footing? In a practical
way we will cover how to determine goals and break them down into real steps you can manage, current methodologies that will
work with any child, great resources - how and where to find them, and how to home school a special needs child without blowing
your budget or draining your retirement account.
3:30 - 4:30 pm
(Friday, April 9)
Room 313: Rene Hayes - You Can
Successfully Homeschool Your Special Needs Child - Part 2
In very practical ways we will cover how to make
sensory needs work for you, unconventional ways to school and retain your child's attention, making school relevant, pacing
tasks to fit your child's needs, dealing with plateaus and regression, stretching your therapy dollars, and the critical importance
of life skills and friends-how both can help you and your child accomplish your goals.
10:00
- 11:00 am (Saturday, April 10)
Room 313: Carrie Salyer, OT - Sensory Make and Take
In this session, you will learn how to make a variety of sensory tools that
can be used throughout the day to enhance your child's attention and learning.
You will actually make items to take home and learn how and when to use them
effectively.
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Saturday,
April 10)
For parents with children on the autism spectrum who are more severely involved:
Room 311: Carrie Salyer, OT - Music and Learning - How Music Enhances Your
Child's Learning Environment
This seminar will provide you with information about why and how to use music
and rhythm to enhance your child's attention and learning. Discussion will
range from basic rhythmical strategies to therapeutic auditory programs.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 313: Katie
Breneman - Managing Problem Behaviors in Learning
Why are kids engaging in problem behavior? From non-compliant
behaviors (such as not following instructions) to aggressive behaviors (such as hitting, kicking or biting), this seminar
sets out to help understand the basic principles of behavior based on the Applied Behavior Analysis Methodology, including
understanding why problem behavior is occurring, how to respond to the behavior, and how to prevent future behaviors from
occurring by using positive behavior supports. This seminar seeks to not only help audience members understand basic principles
of behavior, but also give practical pointers for working with problem behavior on a day-to-day basis. Though this seminar
is primarily geared toward working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, these behavior analytic principles are beneficial
to apply when working with anyone exhibiting problem behaviors.
3:30 -
4:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 313:
Katie Breneman and parent panel - Autism Spectrum Disorder: Insight and Support from Parent
You've
got questions? We've got answers. This seminar will give you the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of people with professional
knowledge and personal experience in working with children with special needs and children exhibiting problem behaviors. This
panel's knowledge and experience is primarily in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Room 311:
Vickie Servi - Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together
Feeling overwhelmed? Confused about where to
start? We have so many options as parents and teachers: ABA, Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental Techniques, Cognitive
Brain Therapy, Right Brain Learning, RDI, Sound Therapy, and so much more... As a certified Educational Consultant and a veteran
homeschool mother of three children with very different learning abilities, I will share what I have learned and used over
the years and help you put the pieces of the puzzle together for your child. After all, no one program or therapy is a "cure
all" for any learning challenge or disability, just another piece of the puzzle to help make learning and life easier
for our children.
top of page
ADD / ADHD
10:00 - 11:00 am (Friday, April 9)
Room 300:
Dianne Craft - Identifying and Correcting Blocked Learning Gates
This is for your ‘puzzling
child'. A child may be a reluctant learner for several reasons. If you have a bright, hardworking child who has to work too
hard to learn, he is telling you that one or more of his Four Learning Gates is blocked. This workshop will help you identify
which of the learning gates is blocked, and, more importantly, what you can do about it at home! It doesn't have to be so
hard for your child! Find out specifically how the brain processes information, and where that processing can break down.
Then, receive the corrections for each processing area. This can be done by the parents, at home. You will learn things you
have never heard of before in a Homeschool workshop. A homeschooling mom with a Ph.D. in special education said that she learned
more in this workshop about how kids learn and how to make learning easier, than she had in all her university courses!
Room
311: Joan Brennan - Practical Ideas, Teaching Strategies, and Teaching Tools for the Special Needs Child
You
want very much to meet the needs of your struggling learner. What can you do to accomplish this? Learn how you can effectively
teach your special needs child/struggling learner using strategies, tools, and other resources for more learning success.
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 300: Dr. Matthew
E. Worth, DC: Neurology of Learning Disabilities - Why Does My Child Struggle With Learning?
Understanding
the struggles that their child has goes a long way in helping parents homeschool their children. Answers to questions such
as "Why can't she catch on to reading?", or "Why does he act this way?", or "Why can't he learn his
math facts?" come to light as Dr. Worth presents a review of the mechanisms ("what areas of the brain are affected"
and "what areas are not working appropriately") of various learning disabilities including reading & comprehension
difficulties, as well as autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and OCD. He will demonstrate how the brain is working in these learning
and behavioral difficulties by showing functional MRI's and SPECT imaging of the brains of people diagnosed with these disorders.
Parents can then see how their children's brains might be responding in comparison to brain responses in children without
learning or behavioral struggles. He will then explain, in layman's terms, what is going on neurologically so that parents
can better understand their child's struggles and will better be able to determine the best course of action for their child.
Dr. Worth will also offer some great ‘take home' ideas to use with your kids and will talk about some of the current
treatments available, addressing which ones are the most effective.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 313: Rene Hayes - You Can Successfully Homeschool Your Special
Needs Child - Part 1
Are you thinking about homeschooling or already doing it and feeling lost? Wondering where to start
and gain your footing? In a practical way we will cover how to determine goals and break them down into real steps you can
manage, current methodologies that will work with any child, great resources - how and where to find them, and how to home
school a special needs child without blowing your budget or draining your retirement account.
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 311: Jackie Worth - Educational Testing: The Tests , What They
Test, and Does My Child Need Testing?
Explore the realm of educational testing and learn whether or not it will benefit you to have your child tested.
Jackie will go through some of the major tests that the school districts and private testers utilize when doing an educational
assessment. What do these tests actually tell you about your child's learning struggles? When are they necessary? Which ones
should you ask for if you have your child tested? Come and hear Jackie unravel some of the mysteries behind these tests.
Room
313: Rene Hayes - You Can Successfully Homeschool Your Special Needs Child - Part 2
In very practical
ways we will cover how to make sensory needs work for you, unconventional ways to school and retain your child's attention,
making school relevant, pacing tasks to fit your child's needs, dealing with plateaus and regression, stretching your therapy
dollars, and the critical importance of life skills and friends-how both can help you and your child accomplish your goals.
10:00 - 11:00 am (Saturday, April 10)
Room 313:
Carrie Salyer, OT - Sensory Make and Take
In this session, you will learn how to make
a variety of sensory tools that can be used throughout the day to enhance your child's attention and learning. You will actually
make items to take home and learn how and when to use them effectively.
12:30
- 1:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300: Dr. Matthew Worth, DC - Addressing ADD/ADHD
Dr. Worth has designed an interactive lecture that will address the ever growing topic of Attention Deficit and
Hyperactivity Disorders. He will present pictures of functional MRI's and SPECT scans of children with ADD/ADHD so parents
can actually see how their child's brain responds as compared to children without attention and/or hyperactivity problems.
This presentation will include the breadth, depth and application of ADD/ADHD, the most current research (published as well
as "in the works"), effectiveness of available treatment modalities, and insight into teaching techniques for these
learners. Finally, Dr. Worth will send you home with ideas and techniques to help your child improve his focusing abilities
both with school work and in life activities in general.
Room 311: Carrie Salyer, OT - Music and Learning - How Music Enhances
Your Child's Learning Environment
This seminar will provide you with information about why and how to use music and rhythm to enhance your child's
attention and learning. Discussion will range from basic rhythmical strategies to therapeutic auditory programs.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300:
Dianne Craft - Biology of Behavior and Learning - Part 1
Johnny is a constant motion
machine. Tom cries in frustration over minor matters. Susie forgets what she has just learned. According to Dr. Sydney Walker,
children tend to "act how they feel". This fascinating workshop provides you with clues to your child's brain/body
chemistry. Dr. Crook has found that over 85% of children who suffer with Sensory Processing Disorders or attention or mood
disorders when older have experienced multiple ear infections as a young child. Untreated, these children often go on to have
many hidden food allergies and asthma. It is easy to correct these imbalances at home and dramatically affect your child's
learning day. The testimonies that we receive from parents across the United States who are using these simple remedies with
their children are amazing!
Room 311: Jennifer Soerries - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Encouragement for
Moms with Struggling Learners and Special Needs Kids
Psalm 139 declares that each of our children are "fearfully
and wonderfully made." God has given each child special gifts and callings,
and has fashioned them in unique ways. How do we co-labor with the Lord to
bring forth the unique expression of His glory through our child? Jennifer
will share timeless and timely principles from God's Word and His heart to
encourage and equip you to "unwrap" and cultivate the gifts within
your children. What is God's perspective for the struggling learner and the
special needs child? How do we adjust our dreams and our lives when God's
plans are different than our own? If your child can't remember Math facts
or struggles to read, God still has powerful promises, purposes and plans
for their life! He calls you to be their biggest earthly advocate. Can children
who "don't fit into the box" still succeed and fulfill their destiny?
The answer is a resounding, "YES"! Discover practical ways to build
up your precious child, improve their God confidence, and release their gifts,
through the power of encouragement.
What about us parents? God is intimately acquainted with our weariness, weakness,
doubts and fears. What about our fears for the future? Does God really have
a plan?
How do we find our strength in Him on those days when there is food coloring
on the new couch, or gravel in the blender?! He invites us to greater intimacy
with and dependence on Him. This talk will be two-fold. There will be spiritual
and practical encouragement for parents to fill them with new hope and strength.
There will also be principles and tips to discovering and cultivating the
special gifts within our children.
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300:
Dianne Craft - Biology of Behavior and Learning - Part 2
Remember when your mom told you that "fish
is brain food"? The brain is 60% FAT. For the brain "connections" to be made properly, proper fats are required.
Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, hyperactivity, and Sensory Processing Problems may be conditions of essential fatty acid deficiency.
Getting the protocol amounts of DHA every day can make a huge difference in a child's speech fluency, mood, reading ability,
and reactions to outside stimuli like loud noises, clothing tags, and transitions. Get the real skinny on fats! Learn how
to help your child feel better, and thus act and learn better. New research is coming out every day on the role of fats and
memory, mood, and learning ability! It's also the number one cause of post-partum depression in moms, according to all the
Harvard studies.
Room 311: Vickie Servi - Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together
Feeling
overwhelmed? Confused about where to start? We have so many options as parents and teachers: ABA, Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental
Techniques, Cognitive Brain Therapy, Right Brain Learning, RDI, Sound Therapy, and so much more... As a certified Educational
Consultant and a veteran homeschool mother of three children with very different learning abilities, I will share what I have
learned and used over the years and help you put the pieces of the puzzle together for your child. After all, no one program
or therapy is a "cure all" for any learning challenge or disability, just another piece of the puzzle to help make
learning and life easier for our children.
top of page
SENSORY INTEGRATION DISORDERS
10:00 - 11:00 am (Friday, April 9)
Room 300: Dianne Craft - Identifying and Correcting Blocked Learning Gates
This
is for your ‘puzzling child'. A child may be a reluctant learner for several reasons. If you have a bright, hardworking
child who has to work too hard to learn, he is telling you that one or more of his Four Learning Gates is blocked. This workshop
will help you identify which of the learning gates is blocked, and, more importantly, what you can do about it at home! It
doesn't have to be so hard for your child! Find out specifically how the brain processes information, and where that processing
can break down. Then, receive the corrections for each processing area. This can be done by the parents, at home. You will
learn things you have never heard of before in a Homeschool workshop. A homeschooling mom with a Ph.D. in special education
said that she learned more in this workshop about how kids learn and how to make learning easier, than she had in all her
university courses!
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room
300: Dr. Matthew E. Worth, DC: Neurology of Learning Disabilities - Why Does My Child Struggle With Learning?
Understanding the struggles that their child has goes a long way in helping parents homeschool their children. Answers to
questions such as "Why can't she catch on to reading?", or "Why does he act this way?", or "Why can't
he learn his math facts?" come to light as Dr. Worth presents a review of the mechanisms ("what areas of the brain
are affected" and "what areas are not working appropriately") of various learning disabilities including reading
& comprehension difficulties, as well as autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and OCD. He will demonstrate how the brain is working
in these learning and behavioral difficulties by showing functional MRI's and SPECT imaging of the brains of people diagnosed
with these disorders. Parents can then see how their children's brains might be responding in comparison to brain responses
in children without learning or behavioral struggles. He will then explain, in layman's terms, what is going on neurologically
so that parents can better understand their child's struggles and will better be able to determine the best course of action
for their child. Dr. Worth will also offer some great ‘take home' ideas to use with your kids and will talk about some
of the current treatments available, addressing which ones are the most effective.
2:00
- 3:00 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 311: Marlene Barron, OT - The Misunderstood Child - Adopted
Kids and Sensory Processing
Is your adopted child overly picky? Does his/her inflexibility interfere
with activities in and out of the home school environment? Does your child
need to know the schedule from dawn to dusk? Is your child emotionally volitle?
Does he/she not enjoy a good hug or simple hygiene tasks? Your child may have
a difficulty known as sensory defensiveness. Come and hear about this challenge
and treatment techniques that can support your child to be an effective learner.
10:00 - 11:00 am (Saturday, April 10)
Room 313:
Carrie Salyer, OT - Sensory Make and Take
In this session, you will learn how to make
a variety of sensory tools that can be used throughout the day to enhance your child's attention and learning. You will actually
make items to take home and learn how and when to use them effectively.
12:30
- 1:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 311: Carrie Salyer, OT - Music and Learning - How Music Enhances
Your Child's Learning Environment
This seminar will provide you with information about why and how to use music and rhythm to enhance your child's
attention and learning. Discussion will range from basic rhythmical strategies to therapeutic auditory programs.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300: Dianne Craft - Biology
of Behavior and Learning - Part 1
Johnny is a constant motion machine. Tom cries in
frustration over minor matters. Susie forgets what she has just learned. According to Dr. Sydney Walker, children tend to
"act how they feel". This fascinating workshop provides you with clues to your child's brain/body chemistry. Dr.
Crook has found that over 85% of children who suffer with Sensory Processing Disorders or attention or mood disorders when
older have experienced multiple ear infections as a young child. Untreated, these children often go on to have many hidden
food allergies and asthma. It is easy to correct these imbalances at home and dramatically affect your child's learning day.
The testimonies that we receive from parents across the United States who are using these simple remedies with their children
are amazing!
Room 311: Jennifer Soerries - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Encouragement for Moms with Struggling
Learners and Special Needs Kids
Psalm 139 declares that each of our children are "fearfully and wonderfully
made." God has given each child special gifts and callings, and has fashioned
them in unique ways. How do we co-labor with the Lord to bring forth the unique
expression of His glory through our child? Jennifer will share timeless and
timely principles from God's Word and His heart to encourage and equip you
to "unwrap" and cultivate the gifts within your children. What is
God's perspective for the struggling learner and the special needs child?
How do we adjust our dreams and our lives when God's plans are different than
our own? If your child can't remember Math facts or struggles to read, God
still has powerful promises, purposes and plans for their life! He calls you
to be their biggest earthly advocate. Can children who "don't fit into
the box" still succeed and fulfill their destiny? The answer is a resounding,
"YES"! Discover practical ways to build up your precious child,
improve their God confidence, and release their gifts, through the power of
encouragement.
What about us parents? God is intimately acquainted with our weariness, weakness,
doubts and fears. What about our fears for the future? Does God really have
a plan?
How do we find our strength in Him on those days when there is food coloring
on the new couch, or gravel in the blender?! He invites us to greater intimacy
with and dependence on Him. This talk will be two-fold. There will be spiritual
and practical encouragement for parents to fill them with new hope and strength.
There will also be principles and tips to discovering and cultivating the
special gifts within our children.
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room
300: Dianne Craft - Biology of Behavior and Learning - Part 2
Remember when your mom
told you that "fish is brain food"? The brain is 60% FAT. For the brain "connections" to be made properly,
proper fats are required. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, hyperactivity, and Sensory Processing Problems may be conditions of essential
fatty acid deficiency. Getting the protocol amounts of DHA every day can make a huge difference in a child's speech fluency,
mood, reading ability, and reactions to outside stimuli like loud noises, clothing tags, and transitions. Get the real skinny
on fats! Learn how to help your child feel better, and thus act and learn better. New research is coming out every day on
the role of fats and memory, mood, and learning ability! It's also the number one cause of post-partum depression in moms,
according to all the Harvard studies.
Room 311: Vickie Servi - Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together
Feeling overwhelmed? Confused about where to start? We have so many options as parents and teachers: ABA, Sensory Integration,
Neurodevelopmental Techniques, Cognitive Brain Therapy, Right Brain Learning, RDI, Sound Therapy, and so much more... As a
certified Educational Consultant and a veteran homeschool mother of three children with very different learning abilities,
I will share what I have learned and used over the years and help you put the pieces of the puzzle together for your child.
After all, no one program or therapy is a "cure all" for any learning challenge or disability, just another piece
of the puzzle to help make learning and life easier for our children.
top of page
Down's Syndrome, William's
Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy,
or Other Significant Difficulty
10:00 - 11:00 am (Friday, April 9)
Room 311:
Joan Brennan - Practical Ideas, Teaching Strategies, and Teaching Tools For the Special Needs Child
You
want very much to meet the needs of your struggling learner. What can you do to accomplish this? Learn how you can effectively
teach your special needs child/struggling learner using strategies, tools, and other resources for more learning success.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 313: Rene Hayes
- You Can Successfully Homeschool Your Special Needs Child - Part 1
Are you thinking about homeschooling or
already doing it and feeling lost? Wondering where to start and gain your footing? In a practical way we will cover how to
determine goals and break them down into real steps you can manage, current methodologies that will work with any child, great
resources - how and where to find them, and how to home school a special needs child without blowing your budget or draining
your retirement account.
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 313: Rene Hayes - You Can Successfully Homeschool Your Special
Needs Child - Part 2
In very practical ways we will cover how to make sensory needs work for you, unconventional
ways to school and retain your child's attention, making school relevant, pacing tasks to fit your child's needs, dealing
with plateaus and regression, stretching your therapy dollars, and the critical importance of life skills and friends-how
both can help you and your child accomplish your goals.
10:00 - 11:00
am(Saturday, April 10)
Room 313: Carrie Salyer, OT - Sensory Make and Take
This workshop allows you to make some sensory integration items for your child and take them with you. Carrie Salyer
is an expert on Sensory Integration issues and will teach you about sensory integration while you make some useful tools to
take home and use. Further description to follow.
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Saturday,
April 10)
Room 300: Steve Demme Finding Hope and Redemption in the Valleys
of Life
This workshop is Steve’s testimony of the last twenty years as the
father of a child with special needs. He shares what his family has learned
as a result of Johnny’s disability, and the special, rewarding, and
joyful role he has played in their lives. Even in the difficult experiences
of life, God proved faithful. His grace sustained them and brought good out
of their struggles and disappointments
Room 311: Carrie Salyer, OT - Music and Learning - How Music Enhances
Your Child's Learning Environment
This seminar will provide you with information about why and how to use music and rhythm to enhance your child's attention
and learning. Discussion will range from basic rhythmical strategies to therapeutic auditory programs.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300: Dianne Craft - Biology
of Behavior and Learning - Part 1
Remember when your mom told you that "fish is brain food"?
The brain is 60% FAT. For the brain "connections" to be made properly, proper fats are required. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia,
ADD, hyperactivity, and Sensory Processing Problems may be conditions of essential fatty acid deficiency. Getting the protocol
amounts of DHA every day can make a huge difference in a child's speech fluency, mood, reading ability, and reactions to outside
stimuli like loud noises, clothing tags, and transitions. Get the real skinny on fats! Learn how to help your child feel better,
and thus act and learn better. New research is coming out every day on the role of fats and memory, mood, and learning ability!
It's also the number one cause of post-partum depression in moms, according to all the Harvard studies.
Room 311: Jennifer Soerries - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Encouragement
for Parents with Struggling Learners and Special Needs Children
Psalm 139 declares that each of our children are "fearfully and wonderfully
made." God has given each child special gifts and callings, and has fashioned
them in unique ways. How do we co-labor with the Lord to bring forth the unique
expression of His glory through our child? Jennifer will share timeless and
timely principles from God's Word and His heart to encourage and equip you
to "unwrap" and cultivate the gifts within your children. What is God's perspective
for the struggling learner and the special needs child? How do we adjust our
dreams and our lives when God's plans are different than our own? If your
child can't remember Math facts or struggles to read, God still has powerful
promises, purposes and plans for their life! He calls you to be their biggest
earthly advocate. Can children who "don't fit into the box" still succeed
and fulfill their destiny? The answer is a resounding, "YES"! Discover practical
ways to build up your precious child, improve their God confidence, and release
their gifts, through the power of encouragement.
What about us parents? God is intimately acquainted with our weariness, weakness,
doubts and fears. What about our fears for the future? Does God really have
a plan? How do we find our strength in Him on those days when there is food
coloring on the new couch, or gravel in the blender?! He invites us to greater
intimacy with and dependence on Him. This talk will be two-fold. There will
be spiritual and practical encouragement for parents to fill them with new
hope and strength. There will also be principles and tips to discovering and
cultivating the special gifts within our children.
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300: Dianne Craft - Biology of Behavior and Learning - Part 2
Remember when your mom told you that "fish is brain food"? The brain is 60% FAT. For the brain "connections"
to be made properly, proper fats are required. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, hyperactivity, and Sensory Processing Problems may
be conditions of essential fatty acid deficiency. Getting the protocol amounts of DHA every day can make a huge difference
in a child's speech fluency, mood, reading ability, and reactions to outside stimuli like loud noises, clothing tags, and
transitions. Get the real skinny on fats! Learn how to help your child feel better, and thus act and learn better. New research
is coming out every day on the role of fats and memory, mood, and learning ability! It's also the number one cause of post-partum
depression in moms, according to all the Harvard studies.
Room 311: Vicky Servi - Putting the Pieces of the
Puzzle Together
Feeling overwhelmed? Confused about where to start? We have so many options as parents
and teachers: ABA, Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental Techniques, Cognitive Brain Therapy, Right Brain Learning, RDI,
Sound Therapy, and so much more... As a certified Educational Consultant and a veteran homeschool mother of three children
with very different learning abilities, I will share what I have learned and used over the years and help you put the pieces
of the puzzle together for your child. After all, no one program or therapy is a "cure all" for any learning challenge
or disability, just another piece of the puzzle to help make learning and life easier for our children.
top of page
Adopted Children
10:00 - 11:00 am (Friday, April 9)
Room 300: Dianne
Craft - Identifying and Correcting Blocked Learning Gates
This is for your ‘puzzling
child'. A child may be a reluctant learner for several reasons. If you have a bright, hardworking child who has to work too
hard to learn, he is telling you that one or more of his Four Learning Gates is blocked. This workshop will help you identify
which of the learning gates is blocked, and, more importantly, what you can do about it at home! It doesn't have to be so
hard for your child! Find out specifically how the brain processes information, and where that processing can break down.
Then, receive the corrections for each processing area. This can be done by the parents, at home. You will learn things you
have never heard of before in a Homeschool workshop. A homeschooling mom with a Ph.D. in special education said that she learned
more in this workshop about how kids learn and how to make learning easier, than she had in all her university courses!
Room
311: Joan Brennan - Practical Ideas, Teaching Strategies, and Teaching Tools For the Special Needs Child
You want very much to meet the needs of your struggling learner. What can you do to accomplish this? Learn how
you can effectively teach your special needs child/struggling learner using strategies, tools, and other resources for more
learning success.
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room
300: Dr. Matthew E. Worth, DC: Neurology of Learning Disabilities - Why Does My Child Struggle With Learning?
Understanding
the struggles that their child has goes a long way in helping parents homeschool their children. Dr. Worth will present a
review the mechanisms ("what areas of the brain are affected" and "what areas are not working appropriately")
of various learning disabilities including reading & comprehension difficulties, as well as autism, Asperger's Syndrome,
OCD, and ADD/ADHD. He will explain, in layman's terms, with pictures, what is going on neurologically so that parents can
better understand their child's struggles and can then determine the best course of action. Dr. Worth will also talk about
some of the current treatments available and address which ones are the most effective.
Room 311: Patty Yager
- The Adopted Child - Barriers to Learning
It is not uncommon for an adopted child to come home with
educational challenges. Patty Yager will discuss the most common stumbling blocks to learning in the adopted child, how to
tell root of the problem, and what can be done. This session will be half lecture and half question and answer period.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Friday, April 9)
Room
311: Marlene Barron, OT - The Misunderstood Child - Adopted Kids and Sensory Processing
Is your adopted child overly picky? Does his/her inflexibility interfere
with activities in and out of the home school environment? Does your child
need to know the schedule from dawn to dusk? Is your child emotionally volitle?
Does he/she not enjoy a good hug or simple hygiene tasks? Your child may have
a difficulty known as sensory defensiveness. Come and hear about this challenge
and treatment techniques that can support your child to be an effective learner.
Room 313: Rene Hayes - You Can Successfully Homeschool Your Special Needs Child - Part 1
Are
you thinking about homeschooling or already doing it and feeling lost? Wondering where to start and gain your footing? In
a practical way we will cover how to determine goals and break them down into real steps you can manage, current methodologies
that will work with any child, great resources - how and where to find them, and how to home school a special needs child
without blowing your budget or draining your retirement account.
3:30 - 4:30
pm (Friday, April 9)
Room 311: Jackie Worth - Educational Testing: The Tests , What
They Test, and Does My Child Need Testing?
Explore the realm of educational testing and learn whether
or not it will benefit you to have your child tested. Jackie will go through some of the major tests that the school districts
and private testers utilize when doing an educational assessment. What do these tests actually tell you about your child's
learning struggles? When are they necessary? Which ones should you ask for if you have your child tested? Come and hear Jackie
unravel some of the mysteries behind these tests.
Room 313: Rene Hayes - You Can Successfully Homeschool
Your Special Needs Child - Part 2
In very practical ways we will cover how to make sensory needs work
for you, unconventional ways to school and retain your child's attention, making school relevant, pacing tasks to fit your
child's needs, dealing with plateaus and regression, stretching your therapy dollars, and the critical importance of life
skills and friends-how both can help you and your child accomplish your goals.
10:00 - 11:00 am (Saturday, April 10)
Room 313: Carrie Salyer, OT - Sensory
Make and Take
This workshop allows you to make some sensory integration items for your child and take them
with you. Carrie Salyer is an expert on Sensory Integration issues and will teach you about sensory integration while you
make some useful tools to take home and use. Further description to follow.
12:30 - 1:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300: Steve Demme - Finding Hope and Redemption in the Valleys
of Life
This workshop is Steve’s testimony of the last twenty years
as the father of a child with special needs. He shares what his family has
learned as a result of Johnny’s disability, and the special, rewarding,
and joyful role he has played in their lives. Even in the difficult experiences
of life, God proved faithful. His grace sustained them and brought good out
of their struggles and disappointments
Room 311: Carrie Salyer, OT - Music and Learning - How Music Enhances
Your Child's Learning Environment
This seminar will provide you with information about why and how to use music and rhythm to enhance your child's
attention and learning. Discussion will range from basic rhythmical strategies to therapeutic auditory programs.
2:00 - 3:00 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room
300: Dianne Craft - Biology of Behavior and Learning - Part 1
Remember when your mom told you that "fish
is brain food"? The brain is 60% FAT. For the brain "connections" to be made properly, proper fats are required.
Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, hyperactivity, and Sensory Processing Problems may be conditions of essential fatty acid deficiency.
Getting the protocol amounts of DHA every day can make a huge difference in a child's speech fluency, mood, reading ability,
and reactions to outside stimuli like loud noises, clothing tags, and transitions. Get the real skinny on fats! Learn how
to help your child feel better, and thus act and learn better. New research is coming out every day on the role of fats and
memory, mood, and learning ability! It's also the number one cause of post-partum depression in moms, according to all the
Harvard studies.
Room 311: Jennifer Soerries - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - Encouragement
for Parents with Struggling Learners and Special Needs Children
Psalm 139 declares that each of our children are "fearfully and wonderfully
made." God has given each child special gifts and callings, and has fashioned
them in unique ways. How do we co-labor with the Lord to bring forth the unique
expression of His glory through our child? Jennifer will share timeless and
timely principles from God's Word and His heart to encourage and equip you
to "unwrap" and cultivate the gifts within your children. What is God's perspective
for the struggling learner and the special needs child? How do we adjust our
dreams and our lives when God's plans are different than our own? If your
child can't remember Math facts or struggles to read, God still has powerful
promises, purposes and plans for their life! He calls you to be their biggest
earthly advocate. Can children who "don't fit into the box" still succeed
and fulfill their destiny? The answer is a resounding, "YES"! Discover practical
ways to build up your precious child, improve their God confidence, and release
their gifts, through the power of encouragement.
What about us parents? God
is intimately acquainted with our weariness, weakness, doubts and fears. What
about our fears for the future? Does God really have a plan? How do we find
our strength in Him on those days when there is food coloring on the new couch,
or gravel in the blender?! He invites us to greater intimacy with and dependence
on Him. This talk will be two-fold. There will be spiritual and practical
encouragement for parents to fill them with new hope and strength. There will
also be principles and tips to discovering and cultivating the special gifts
within our children.
Room 313: Katie Brenneman - Managing Problem Behaviors in Learning
Why are kids engaging in
problem behavior? From non-compliant behaviors (such as not following instructions) to aggressive behaviors (such as hitting,
kicking or biting), this seminar sets out to help understand the basic principles of behavior based on the Applied Behavior
Analysis Methodology, including understanding why problem behavior is occurring, how to respond to the behavior, and how to
prevent future behaviors from occurring by using positive behavior supports. This seminar seeks to not only help audience
members understand basic principles of behavior, but also give practical pointers for working with problem behavior on a day-to-day
basis. Though this seminar is primarily geared toward working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, these behavior
analytic principles are beneficial to apply when working with anyone exhibiting problem behaviors.
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Saturday, April 10)
Room 300: Dianne Craft - Biology of Behavior
and Learning - Part 2
Remember when your mom told you that "fish is brain food"? The brain
is 60% FAT. For the brain "connections" to be made properly, proper fats are required. Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD,
hyperactivity, and Sensory Processing Problems may be conditions of essential fatty acid deficiency. Getting the protocol
amounts of DHA every day can make a huge difference in a child's speech fluency, mood, reading ability, and reactions to outside
stimuli like loud noises, clothing tags, and transitions. Get the real skinny on fats! Learn how to help your child feel better,
and thus act and learn better. New research is coming out every day on the role of fats and memory, mood, and learning ability!
It's also the number one cause of post-partum depression in moms, according to all the Harvard studies.
Room
311: Vickie Servi - Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together
Feeling overwhelmed? Confused about where
to start? We have so many options as parents and teachers: ABA, Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental Techniques, Cognitive
Brain Therapy, Right Brain Learning, RDI, Sound Therapy, and so much more... As a certified Educational Consultant and a veteran
homeschool mother of three children with very different learning abilities, I will share what I have learned and used over
the years and help you put the pieces of the puzzle together for your child. After all, no one program or therapy is a "cure
all" for any learning challenge or disability, just another piece of the puzzle to help make learning and life easier
for our children.
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