Athens, Ga. – Nearly 200 speech-language pathologists and special education teachers from across the state will hear the latest information about autism, assistive technology, behavior management and language disorders at the University of Georgia’s second annual Communication Sciences and Special Education Summer Institute June 10-11.
Nationally recognized assistive technology consultant Carolyn Phillips, of Atlanta, and UGA autism expert Deanna Luscre, will be the keynote speakers for the event at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. Continuing education credit will be provided for attendees. Luscre, an assistant professor of special education, co-directs UGA’s Collaboration Personnel Preparation in Autism program, based in the College of Education’s department of communication sciences and special education. COPPA is a collaborative effort between UGA faculty and local school systems to address the lack of pre-service teacher training for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Luscre has more than 33 years of teaching and consulting experience with children who have ASD. From 1996 to 2003, she coordinated the Gwinnett County Public Schools’ ASD program, which served more than 800 children during that time.
Luscre will deliver a keynote speech titled, “Autism Then, Now, and in the Future,” at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 10 in Mahler Auditorium.
Phillips is director of Tools for Life, a program operated under the aegis of the Georgia Department of Labor, Division of Rehabilitation Services. She has published articles in numerous journals, a chapter in a book and poetry focused on understanding and appreciating people with disabilities. Phillips promotes independence for people with disabilities through advocacy, education, assistive technology and fundraising. She received her undergraduate degree from UGA and her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky.
She will deliver a keynote speech titled, “The Catcher in the Rye: Embracing Your Role,” at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, June 11 in Mahler Auditorium.
The conference’s break-out sessions include topics such as:
- “How to Survive Inclusion: Providing Support Strategies for Children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome”
- “Meeting the Requirements for No Child Left Behind: What Does It Mean to Be ‘Highly Qualified’?”
- “Fostering Abstract Language Abilities in Preschool Children with Language Disorders;”
- “Assistive Technology Strategies and Solutions for Students with Disabilities;”
- “Response to Intervention and Georgia’s Pyramid of Intervention;” and
- “Fostering Abstract Language Abilities in Preschool Children with Language Disorders.”
Registration costs $275 and includes keynote and breakout sessions, as well as morning and afternoon refreshments and a networking lunch each day. Registration will be available on site on the first day of the conference, but pre-registration is preferred.For more information or to register, see www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2010/Jun/10/comm_summer_institute.phtml.