Training in
Utrecht, Netherlands
November 8-11, 2011
Support for Parents and Caregivers Helping Children with Autism-Spectrum Disorders
Presented in English with simultaneous translation into Dutch
This is a program designed to support the parents and caregivers of children who have Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delay, Asperger’s Syndrome and related conditions. This training provides skills to increase your child’s motivation and cooperation, to improve his or her communication and social self-help, to assess progress, to set appropriate goals and to incorporate effective methods to achieve those goals.
The program is presented by Steven and Kaitryn Wertz, Directors of the Growing Minds Autism Program. Established in 1998 in Florida, US, and serving parents and children from all over the world, the Growing Minds Program combines a loving, socially-focused approach with powerful methods that have been thoroughly researched. Central to the Growing Minds approach is the understanding that every person on the autism spectrum can develop communication, deepen social interaction and maximize their fullest potential. Each individual with autism has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses which must be assessed in order to create an individual program to meet his or her needs.
Participants in this program will receive the services of one of the most experienced consultants in the field of autism. Growing Minds Founder Steven Wertz has 28 years experience working individually with thousands of individuals across the range of the autism spectrum. Steven is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst as well as having achieved certification in the Son-Rise program. Licensed Counselor Kaitryn Wertz has twenty-eight years experience supporting parents and caregivers affected by their children’s autism.
You will gain skills to help your child:
- Improve social self-help skills, such as intellectual functioning, the ability to perform simple and complex tasks and self-care.
- Increase both expressive and receptive communication
- Reduce problem behavior
- Increase social interest, understanding, participation and enjoyment
- Develop practical skills and activities aimed at improving independence and psychosocial functioning.
This program is recommended for
- Parents who currently have a home-based program for their child (either full or part time).
- Parents interested in a home-based program, either full-time or in addition to school.
- Family members and caregivers who support children or adults with autism
- Professionals who work with individuals affected by autism and related difficulties.
The Growing Minds Program can improve your success with other approaches to autism:
- Those using Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA, Lovaas and Verbal Behavior) will gain skills to build greater rapport with your child and help him or her increase assertiveness, initiate communication and enjoy social interaction.
- Those using The Son-Rise Program or with Floor Time (Greenspan) and Contactgericht spelen will gain skills to help your child accept direction, increase cooperation, improve attention and acquire the skills necessary to benefit from any school environment.
- Those using biomedical or sensory approaches will learn to support your child’s physiological changes with more social and intellectual stimulation.
Topics Include:
Attitudinal training
The attitude of parents and caregivers is instrumental in creating positive change in children. This segment explores how attitudes, thoughts and feelings may influence your ability to help your child, and how to harness the power of a positive attitude to encourage your child’s motivation and communication.
Improving communication and connection/rapport
We’ll provide specific techniques to help you increase your child’s attentiveness and rapport. In addition, you’ll learn methods to encourage your child to initiate communication and to strengthen your child’s motivation and ability to interact with you. These are practical techniques that you can immediately put into practice with your child.
Handling challenging behavior
Strategies and attitudes that will help you to minimize your child’s challenging behaviors and to make it less likely that problem behavior will emerge in the future.
Assessing your child
Effective assessment is essential to helping your child make progress. The session will focus on identifying your child’s unique strengths and weaknesses and setting appropriate goals.
An overview of methods
An overview of various methods currently in use to support children with autism and related conditions, including play-based methods (Intensive Interaction, Son-Rise and Floor Time), ABA (Discrete Trial Teaching, Lovaas, Verbal Behavior) Structured Teaching (also known as TEACCH). This will provide a foundation for developing and synthesizing your own style, and for customizing your program to your child’s unique needs.
Creating custom learning experiences
Training to design playful and challenging experiences that will help you and your child to accomplish your objectives. Includes instruction on how to match your goals to your child’s interests.
Structuring your program
Suggestions on a variety of practical topics, such as: how many hours to run your program, what types of activities to use, how to sequence activities, how to vary your child’s day and how to adapt your program to meet your family’s needs.
Helping children with motor difficulties (dyspraxia)
Many children with autism have obvious or hidden motor difficulties. These children progress more rapidly with strategies that are adapted to their specific needs. This segment provides information and discussion on identifying motor difficulties and designing appropriate strategies.
Taking care of yourself while you help your child
Caring for a child with autism can be challenging and demanding. This segment includes ways to remain inspired, optimistic, motivated and balanced.
Question and answer sessions
Time for questions about your specific circumstances and concerns.
Special features of this program:
- Growing Minds is a comprehensive program, which balances your child’s need for social development with his or her need to acquire skills and to grow intellectually. You do not need to compromise one area for another.
- You’ll receive a detailed training manual containing all methods taught in the program along with extensive background materials for your continued learning.
- All methods are research-based and meet the latest professional standards and sector-specific quality standards for individuals with autism.
- You’ll have opportunities to network with and learn from other parents and professionals using a similar approach.
- We are specialists in making learning fun. We use humor, interaction, experiential learning, creativity, audio-visual presentations and real life examples to provide a relaxing, energizing and enjoyable learning environment.
- The Growing Minds team works carefully with our local sponsors to make these programs as affordable as possible, in an effort to provide participants with an exceptional educational experience at a reasonable cost.
- Participants will be able to talk to parents who have been running a Growing Minds program for years
Program Specifics:
Program schedule
The program will take place from Tuesday, November 8 through Friday November 11, 2011 9:00 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm -- 4:00 pm daily.
Please note that this is a training seminar designed for adult participants (parents, relatives, professionals, support workers) attending without children.
Location
Kargadoor
Oudegracht 36
Utrecht
www.kargadoor.nl
Fees
Tuition for the Course: 650 Euros per person
Cancellation Policy
For cancellations two months before start of the training there will be 25 euro administration fee. If you cancel before a month of the start of the training, there will be a refund of half your fee. For cancellations within a month we will attempt to find a replacement for you from our waiting list. If we are unable to replace you, no refund will be given. This policy is necessary for us to be able to fulfil our obligations. You are welcome to send someone to replace you in case you are unable to attend.
Translation
Please inform us when registering if you will be needing translation into Dutch. With sufficient notice, we will do our best to have a headset for you.
Translation into French (or other languages) is not arranged, but you can bring in your own translator.
Further information
For further information you can look at the websites of our local sponsors.
www.horison.nl and www.growingmindssupport.nl
Or e-mail: vraag@horison.nl or centraal@growingmindssupport.nl
You will find a registration form at...
http://www.horison.nl/index.php/contact/inschrijfformulier-growing-minds
15096 115th Avenue North, Jupiter, Florida 33478
Phone: 561-748-9697 Fax: 561-748-6543
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