Autism Spectrum Disorders
Part I: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
In your everyday community or work activities, do you encounter people with ASD? Learning about the characteristics of ASD will help you understand how to communicate more effectively with and best support individuals of any age with ASD. This webinar provides an overview of core and common characteristics of ASD, including Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Learn about the diverse strengths and challenges of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Current research findings and simple strategies for daily living are addressed.
Presenter: Teal Shirk-Luckett
Teal works as a Consultant in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca. In this role Teal creates and delivers workshops to families, community members and any school board staff to meet their needs in working or living with individuals with ASD. Consultations may address the challenges of everyday living as well as strategies around behaviour, social skills, communication and inclusive programming. Teal studied psychology at the University of Guelph focusing her studies on child development. She has also worked with children, youth and young adults with ASD as a therapist in the Intensive Behaviour Intervention program and as a Behaviour Communication Therapist. Teal lives in Muskoka, Ontario with her two and a half year old daughter.
Part II: Introduction to Asperger’s Syndrome
This webinar is part II in our series on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Asperger’s Syndrome is one of the conditions found on the Autism Spectrum. In your everyday community or work activities, do you encounter people with AS? Learning about the characteristics of AS will help you understand how to communicate more effectively with and best support individuals in your community. This webinar provides an overview of core and common characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome. Using the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria as a guide, the characteristics of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome are presented. Learn about the diverse strengths and challenges of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome. Current research findings and simple strategies for daily living are addressed.
Presenter: Teal Shirk-Luckett
Early Literacy: How to Make it Happen
This 2 hour webinar includes practical methods for participants to promote early literacy development in children ages 0 to 6 years as well as theoretical information about child development including brain development. Discussion includes topics such as ways to support children as they lead their own learning through play while balanced with adult-led activities in a variety of settings (home, childcare, school). Appropriate interactions and relationships with children are key to supporting each child’s optimal development.
- Watch Webinar (coming soon)
- See Webinar Handout
- See Early Literacy Checklist
- See Picture – Your Baby’s Brain
- See Article – Giving Children Feedback
- See Resource – Pat-a-Cake and Beyond
- See Resource – What are My Learning Strengths?
- See Resource – Recommended Books
Presenter: Sandy Inkster, Early Literacy Specialist
Sandy has worked as the Early Literacy Specialist in northern Ontario and has been employed by Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca for ten years. In this capacity Sandy has provided professional training for all educators who work with children 0 to 6 years of age as well as providing parent and child interactive play based experiences. She has worked as a coordinator of a CAPC/CPNP program, facilitator at an Early Years and Family Resource Centre in addition to being a Parenting Educator for 20 years. Sandy continues to be challenged and stimulated in a ‘lab school’ as a grandmother of two boys ages 2 and 4 years.
Sleep 101 in Kids
This presentation includes a brief review of the restorative function of sleep, the impact of obesity in sleepiness in children, a discussion of circadian rhythms in children and the impact on academic performance, behaviour, and mood. Examples of sleep disruption in children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Prader Willi Syndrome will be shared. Case vignettes are presented including the detection of parasomnias in children and the impact of fever.
Presenter: Dr Colin M. Shapiro BSc, FRCPC, MBBS, PhD
Director of International Sleep Clinic in Parry Sound, ON Professor of Psychiatry and Ophthalmology, University of Toronto, ON
Director of the Sleep & Alertness Clinic & Sleep Research Laboratory, Toronto Western Hospital, ON
Director of the Youthdale Child & Adolescent Sleep Clinic, Toronto, ON www.sleepontario.com
Dr. Shapiro has been involved in sleep research for over twenty-five years. He trained in medicine in South Africa subsequently doing his PhD in sleep physiology at the University of Edinburgh. He came to Canada approximately eighteen years ago as a Full Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. He is Director of the Neuropsychiatry Program at the Toronto Western Hospital and Director of the Sleep and Alertness Clinic. He has over 200 publications in this field and a dozen books including a book on forensic aspects of sleep and several books for the lay public the most recent of which is titled “Fighting Fatigue and Sleepiness”. He also co-authored “Working the Shift” and a children’s book “Who needs to sleep anyway.” Three years ago he opened the first independent child and adolescent sleep clinic in Canada.