AUTISM SOCIETY OF CONNECTICUT Presents:
18TH ANNUAL STATE CONFERENCE ON
AUTISM
“BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT” From Toddler to Teen Age and Beyond
Conference Presentations /Author Bios
James Ball, Ed.D., BCBA
Dr. Ball, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is President/CEO of
JB Autism Consulting. He has been in the field of autism for 20 years
working in the private sector providing
educational/employment/residential services to children and adults
affected by autism spectrum disorders. He is the Director of Clinical
Services for New York Families of Autistic Children (NYFAC), a private
not-for-profit organization, providing support and training for children
and families in New York City and also provides private consultation to
Organizations, Schools, and Families which include: staff training,
parent training, home support services, classroom design/support and
behavior management/Functional Behavior Assessment. Dr. Ball has
lectured nationally and internationally on topics related to autism
including: inclusion services, functional behavior assessment, social
skills training, behavior management, direct instruction, sensory issues
and accountability. He has published in the area of social skills,
trauma, consultation services, technology, and behavior. His book,
“Early Intervention and Autism: Questions Parents Have; Answers Parents
Need” has just been released. Dr. Ball is a member of the New Jersey
Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC) Board
of Trustees and a member of the COSAC Professional Advisory Board, as
well as, a past member of the Autism Society of America (ASA) Board of
Directors and currently Co-Chairperson of the ASA Panel of Professional
Advisors. Dr. Ball is a featured author and sits on the advisory board
for the Autism Asperger’s Digest magazine.
“Functional Behavior Assessment”
This presentation will focus on the ways to determine the function of
inappropriate behavior in individuals within the autism spectrum. It
will discuss ways to develop a more effective and efficient way to
determine the function of behavior during a Functional Behavior
Assessment (FBA). It will explore the function of behavior and how it
effects and relates to the FBA process and the design of behavior
reduction plans. Dr. Ball will also discuss the current limitations of
determining function of behavior and the profound effect this has on
programming. A hand’s on portion of the presentation will walk the
participants through the use of specific research based strategies in
the classroom and beyond.
Kari Dunn Buron
Kari Dunn Buron has been working with students with autism for over 30
years. She has recently retired from public school but continues to
teach for Hamline University where she developed an Autism Spectrum
Disorders Certificate program for educators. In 1995, Kari developed and
continues to work as the coordinator for Camp Discovery, a camp for
youth with Asperger Syndrome. In 2003, Kari received a Self-designed
Bush Leadership Fellowship that allowed her to spend a year interviewing
and working internationally with a number of therapists and researchers
in the area of Social Cognition and Autism. Kari serves on the
Professional Advisory Boards for the Autism Society of Minnesota and for
the Autism Asperger Digest. She is the co-author of "The Incredible
5-Point Scale", the author of "When My Worries Get Too Big, A 5 Could Make
Me Lose Control" and "A 5 is Against the Law!" Kari is also the co-editor
of a new textbook due out in early 2008 for educators titled "Learners on
the Autism Spectrum: Preparing Highly Qualified Educators."
"When My Worries Get Too Big! Using Research Findings to Create
Strategies for Addressing Problems of Social Thinking, Learning and
Behavior in Individuals with ASD"
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) tend to have high
levels of social anxiety as well as rigid and inflexible ways of
processing social problems. These information processing characteristics
can lead to explosive behavior. Current cognitive learning theories, as
they relate to ASD, can shed some light on the nature of explosive
behavior in individuals with ASD. Understanding these theories and their
implications can help practitioners to more effectively support social
understanding in people with ASD. This presentation will introduce some
of the current cognitive theories, clarify the implications for an
individual’s ability to process social information, and suggest some
simple strategies for teaching the skills needed to more successfully
interact with others. Back to top
Ruth Elaine Joyner Hane, BS, lives in Minneapolis, with her
husband and their two cats. She is a contributing author to "Ask and
Tell, Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum",
and, "Sharing Our Stories." Ruth Elaine mesmerizes audiences with her
vivid memories of growing up with autism and not knowing it. Diagnosed
correctly in 1995 with High Functioning Autism, she dedicates her time
to improving lives by helping others learn the ins and outs of social
and emotional competencies and also serves on the Autism Society of
America’s Board of Directors.
Defying all expectations she graduated college with honors. Born as a Rubella
measles baby; unable to swallow, or, tolerate touch, Ruth Elaine did not
talk until nearly five years of age, when she suddenly began using full
sentences with reciprocal language. Her strength lies in her unique view
of how things are, and an insatiable desire to improve her life by
learning to read faces and understanding complicated nonverbal messages.
Ruth Elaine mentors and coaches others, effectively teaching the skills
she has learned. Presently she is focusing on developing the Face
Window, by assisting in Child Psychology Face Perception research at the
University of Minnesota. The Face Window is a program for building face
schema, developed after recognizing that she herself, suffered from prosopagnosia, atypical face processing. Since reduced or absent eye
contact, is recognized as one of the core deficits in autism, affecting
the key areas of social, work and sexual relationships, the teaching
device is an important contribution in understanding ASD.
Her strength lies in her unique view of how things are, and an
insatiable desire to improve her life by learning to read faces and
understanding complicated nonverbal messages. She also founded and
facilitates a monthly social group for adults on the spectrum, the Aspie
Get-Together.
Dr. Valerie Paradiz develops educational programs for children
with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), including the pioneering ASPIE
School, and has been featured in the New York Times, Redbook Magazine,
The Guardian, Autism Spectrum Quarterly, and on Japanese Public
Television.
Dr. Paradiz's memoir, "Elijah's Cup: A Family's Journey into the
Community and Culture of High-Functioning Autism and "Asperger's Syndrome"
(Jessica Kingsley, 2005) is the compelling story of the author's
experiences raising her autistic son, their involvement together in the
advocacy community, and her own ultimate diagnosis with Asperger
syndrome.
Dr. Paradiz speaks nationally and internationally on topics relating to
Asperger Syndrome and Autism, such as parenting strategies, improving
and creating school programs for children with ASDs, strengthening
advocacy skills in parents, professionals and individuals on the autism
spectrum, and fostering emerging talents in children with ASDs. She is
the developer of Integrated Self Advocacy (ISA)™, a curriculum and
training series that supports teachers and therapists in teaching
individuals with autism in learning greater ability in
self-determination and advocacy.
Valerie is on the board of directors of the Open Center for Autism, the
Global Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership, the Autism Society of
America's Panel of Individuals on the Spectrum (PSA), and the advisory
board of US Autism & Asperger Association. She has two books forthcoming
with the Autism Asperger Publishing Company relating to building strong
educational programs for students with ASDs in public and private school
settings.
Elijah Wapner is an 11th grader at the Hudson Valley Sudbury
School, located in Woodstock, New York. He is currently studying acting,
movement and voice in the teen conservatory at Stella Adler Studio in
Manhattan, and performs standup comedy regularly at the Gotham Comedy
Club. His interests include music and comedy. At age three, beginning
with Charlie Chaplin classics, Elijah began a deep study of al the
genres of comedy. He enjoys music as well, plays the harmonica, and has
initiated his own small business as a performer and presenter at autism
conferences. Elijah has been an active participant in the autistic
advocacy community since he was 5 years old. His TV debut was on MTV's
True Life. Check out his calendar of performances and presentations at
www.MrInevitable.com.
Panel Presentation:
"The Angst of Adolescence: The Dual Diagnosis of Autism and Teenager"
This presentation will explore the transitions of moving from the
turbulent teen years of identity crisis and self-understanding into the
unique challenges adulthood brings from three persons diagnosed with ASD
who are in varying phases of these critical developmental changes. Each
participant brings personal stories and perspectives to share their
valuable insights from their own experiences.
Back to top
