Available Conferences

by Susan J. Golubock
and Jim Sinclair

SELF-DETERMINATION:
The Roles of Advocates, Allies and Support People

INTENDED AUDIENCE:
Autistic individuals, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, educators, clinicians, caseworkers, and administrators.

Workshop 1 (Jim): [2 hours]
• "High-Functioning" vs. "Low-Functioning" Autism: What's the Difference, and What Difference Does it Make?

Objectives:

• Identify and understand the various criteria that are used to classify people as "high-" or "low-functioning."


• Explore how these criteria and classifications are manifested in the every day lives of autistic people.


• Develop a realistic understanding of support needs, capabilities, and limitations of autistic people classified as "low-functioning" or "high-functioning."

Workshop 2 (Susan):
• Understanding One's Sensory Processing Strengths and Limitations

Objectives:

• Discover and compare your sensory profile with the individual with whom you are working.


• Learn how processing differences can result in behaviors that are often misinterpreted, on both sides.

Workshop 3 (Jim):
• Parent-Profesional Partnerships: Who's Missing in This Picture?

Objectives:

Workshop 4 (Jim):
• Orientation to Self-Advocacy
  Objectives:

Workshop 5 (Susan):
• Creating Opportunities for Self-Advocacy By Understanding the Sensory Processing Issues Preventing It

Objectives:

• Learn to recognize different processing, perception and response abilities that interfere with the development of self-advocacy.


• Learn how shared sensory experiences can build the trust, control and choice-making abilities needed to promote the natural development of self-advocacy.

Workshop 6 (Susan):
• Self-Advocacy Needs a Partner: Modeling, Mimicking and Motivation
  Objectives:
  
  • Explore the sensory processing conflicts between partners that can inflame or interfere with the motivation to advocate.
  
  
  • Learn how to use your partner's processing strengths to get your message across.
  
  
  • Increase understanding of how important modeling and mimicking are in the development of self-advocacy skills.

Workshop 7 (Jim):
• Work Skill Awareness and Advocacy for Autistic Adults

Objectives:

Workshop 8 (Susan):
• Using Assistive Devices to Improve Organization and Make Tasks Easier in the Work Environment

Objectives:

• Identify devices that match one's learning strengths and the task one is attempting to do.


• Learn strategies for getting, and staying, organized that match one's learning strengths.


[NOTE: "Understanding one's sensory processing strengths and limitations" is strongly recommended as a companion session to this one.]