SAVE THE DATE!

LDA of Maine's 2009 Annual Conference will be held Friday, April 3, 2009 in collaboration with Maine Transition Network/Committee on Transition (MTN/COT).

TRANSITIONING to the POST-SECONDARY WORLD: LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Grandeur Sun Banquet & Conference - Waterville, ME

Guest Speaker: Arlyn J. Roffman, Ph.D.

Arlyn Roffman, Ph.D. from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, & the LDA of America Professional Advisory Board will focus on the skills required for independent living.

Roffman Biography:

Dr. Arlyn Roffman, author of the recently published Guiding Teens with Learning Disabilities: Navigating the Transition from High School to Adulthood (Princeton Review/Random House) will be our guest speaker on April 3, 2009. Dr. Roffman is a Professor of Special Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she served as the founding director of the Threshold Program, a non-degree transition program for young adults with LD, from 1981-1996. A licensed psychologist, she also maintains a private practice focusing on the adjustment of youth and adults with learning disabilities.



Dr. Hoffman earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology at Boston College, an M.Ed. in special education from Lesley University, and a B. A. at Connecticut College. She is the author of numerous articles and chapters on learning disabilities and two other books, A Classroom Teacher’s Guide to Mainstreaming and Meeting the Challenge of LD in Adulthood.



Dr. Roffman has served on the professional advisory boards of the Learning Disabilities Association of American (LDAA), National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), the National Adult Literacy and Learning Disability Center, and several other organizations. She has consulted and made conference presentations on issues related to special education and psychology throughout the U.S. And abroad and has served as an expert witness on several cases related to transition for students with disabilities.





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Visit Maine Transition Network
SAVE THE DATE

Fall Family Conference

Saturday, September 13, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wells Elementary School - Wells, Maine
Featuring - RICK LAVOIE

Cost to Parents: $10.00

Cost to Professionals: $50.00

Sponsored by Southern Maine Parent Awareness and LDA of Maine

Download Save the Date/Agenda

Download Registration Form

Download Exhibitor Form

Download Informational Brochure
SAVE THE DATE

What Families & Youth Want Conference

The GEAR Parent Network is pleased to announce that we, in collaboration with the Family Organizations and THRIVE System of Care, are hosting the What Families and Youth Want Conference.

The conference is for Family and Youth designed by Family and Youth with Behavioral Health Concerns.

Time: Friday & Saturday, September 26-27, 2008

Location: Ramada Inn, 357 Odlin Road, Bangor ME

FREE for Parents

G.E.A.R Parent Network at www.gearparentnetwork.com 1-800-264-9224

Maine Parent Federation at www.mpf.org 1-800-870-7746

Learning Disabilities Association of Maine at www.ldame.org



ON-SITE Child care will be available.


Sponsored by LDA of Maine, GEAR, NAMI, MPF, and DHHS' Children's Behavioral Health

Download Registration Form

Download Exhibitor Form

Download Informational Brochure

Written Expression: The Final Frontier

Presented by LDA of New Hampshire

Date: Friday, October 17, 2008

Presenter(s): Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., M.Ed., SAIF and Elaine Holden, FAOGPE

Place: SERESC - Bedford, NH

Cost: Members-$95.00, Others-$125.00, Students-$65.00

For further information, please contact information@LDANH.org.

Download Registration Brochure

Visit LDA of NH Website here!

DO YOU HAVE A CHILD

RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES?



THE MAINE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL

WANTS YOUR INPUT ABOUT ACCESS TO

INFORMATION, TRAINING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES RELATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.

The Maine State Legislature wants to know if information, training and advocacy resources are readily available to families, what is working well and what gaps may exist.



MDDC has made the commitment to collect as much information as possible from families around the state about their experiences accessing these services. All comments and recommendations received will be included in a report to the Legislature in January, 2009.



THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED IN

INFORMATION, TRAINING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES IN MAINE!

WE’LL PROVIDE THE COOKIES & BROWNIES!



PLEASE COME and PROVIDE US WITH YOUR INPUT.



Sponsored by the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council

An independent, federally-funded agency that engages in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities



note: all meetings will be 5 pm to 7 pm.
For dates and locations, download flyer here.

Basic Training for the Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities
September 18, 2008
(Registration Deadline: September 11, 2008)
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Registration time: 8:00 a.m.)
The Lewiston Regional Technical Center, Lewiston
Limited Registration – Register Early

>>Participants need to bring printed confirmations to workshop registration desk<<



This workshop is designed for those professionals who need an introduction to the basic rules of administration, scoring, and interpretation of the WJIII COG Battery and Diagnostic Supplement. This training is designed for those familiar or unfamiliar with the WJ-R. Practitioners would benefit from taking both COG and ACH training even if they administer only one of the batteries. This way each member of the team can more fully appreciate the performance implications. NOTE: Trainees are asked to bring test books, test records, and related test materials to each training session.

The participants will:

Review revision goals, new features, and technical overview.
Become familiar with CHC Theory of Cognitive Abilities which underlies the WJIII.
Become familiar with the organization of the battery (General Ability Clusters, Cognitive Factors, and Clinical Clusters.
Learn general administration and scoring guidelines for the Standard and Extended Batteries.
Learn the administration and scoring of all tests, with a particular emphasis on tests new to the battery.
Learn interpretive options for the Standard and Extended Batteries.
Review the available levels of information, types of scores, and profiles.
Review a sample narrative and score report.
Become familiar with the features of the Compuscore and Profiles Program.
Become familiar with the Diagnostic Supplement (Tests 21-31) and Version 3.0 Compuscore.

Jim Creed, LD Specialist and Trainer for the WJ-III has taught regular education classes, run special education programs at the high school and middle school levels, and coordinated group assessment activities for a city school district. He has also taught courses in educational assessment at the graduate level, helping students to develop knowledge of theories of cognitive processing from both historical and contemporary perspectives. First and foremost he is a practitioner, conducting educational assessments for public and private school systems. In the effort to provide total quality assessment throughout the process, he strives to discover and use the best tools available.

Workshop fee of $135.00 includes hearty snacks, lunch and handouts. Discounts available: $5.00 discount for registering online using C-vent. If using a purchase order, please process and issue a check prior to the event. Our cancellation policy is 72 hours prior to the event. You will be invoiced if you do not attend and cannot provide printed confirmation of your cancellation.

Seven Clock Hours will be awarded.

Co-sponsors: Maine Support Network and Council for Exceptional Children.

On-site facilitator: Corda Kinzie, Central/Coastal Regional Facilitator.

This workshop is designed for all educators.

Directions: Lewiston Regional Technical Center, 156 East Avenue, Lewiston, ME.


Event Summary

Maine Support Network Website

Brain Gym® Movements for Optimum Learning
September 9, 2008 (Registration Deadline: September 2, 2008)
4:00 – 7:00 P.M. (Registration 3:30 P.M.)
China Hill Restaurant, Ellsworth

Brain Gym is a learning program used by people of all ages to bring about rapid and often dramatic improvements in their reading, writing, language and numerical skills. Many use this work to profoundly enhance the quality of their attention and concentration, relationships and communication, memory and organizational skills, athletic performance and more! Brain Gym activities are lively and fun to do, and have been shown through years of field studies, research reports and practical experience to teach learners the physical skills they need for academic success. The Brain Gym model is consistent with the latest findings in neuroscience, which validate that new neural pathways grow when we move with intention.

Presenter: Beth Stoddard, MBA, is a licensed Brain Gym®Instructor and Educational Kinesiologist who, in addition to having a private Brain Gym® practice in Portland, travels and teaches throughout Maine. She has taught, coached, and consulted since 1960 and celebrates the many ways that Brain Gym® facilitates learning. Her website is www.TrainTheBrain.Biz.

Workshop fee of $55.00 includes hearty snacks and handouts. Discounts available: $5.00 discount for registering online using C-vent. If using a purchase order, please process and issue a check prior to the event. Our cancellation policy is 72 hours prior to the event. You will be invoiced if you do not attend and cannot provide printed confirmation of your cancellation.

Three Clock Hours will be awarded.

Co-sponsors: Maine Support Network, Council for Exceptional Children, Washington County Consortium and Down East Educational Partnership.

On-site facilitators: Julie Davis and Susan Hodgkins, Downeast Region Facilitators.

This workshop is designed for all educators and parents.

Location: China Hill Restaurant, 301 High Street, Ellsworth, ME.


Brain Gym® Movements for Optimal Learning Event Summary

Northeast Assets Leadership Project Presents:

Building and Sustaining Strong Communities that Include People with Disabilities and all Those Who Support Them Through ABCD

September 25-26, 2008

Highland Inn Conference Center - Manchster, NH

Thursday, September 25, 2008: Mike Green, Keynote Speaker

Cost: $95.00

Friday, September 26, 2008: Optional Full-Day Intensive Workshop

Cost: $95.00

Download Agenda

Download Cover Letter

Discovering the “Hidden Curriculum” for Children With Autism, Non-Verbal LD, and Sensory Integration Disorder - A Learning Opportunity for All
October 7, 2008 (Registration Deadline: September 30, 2008)
4:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Registration 3:30 p.m.)
Vassalboro Community School

In every environment, and with every personal encounter, we are each expected to understand and recognize social nuances. These nuances are called the “Hidden Curriculum.” For a broad range of students these social cues fly by totally unrecognized. The “Hidden Curriculum” impacts every aspect of our lives. Join us as we explore the many children who need help with social thinking, and learn strategies to help them succeed in school and beyond.

By the end of 3 hours participants will:

* Understand the meaning of “hidden curriculum” and how it impacts students.

* Explore ways to integrate “hidden curriculum” teaching moments into your daily practice.

* Practice using specific skills that promote learning and comprehension for students.

* Learn techniques for teaching social thinking.

* Network and share ideas with other professionals.

* Feel renewed, reenergized, and revitalized from sharing a learning experience with your professional peers.

Presenter: Therese Bernier Burns consults statewide in a number of areas including positive behavioral supports and differentiated instruction. Her professional background includes 26 years of meeting the needs of all learners in the classroom. She is currently the president of the Maine Chapter of CEC and the assistant director of the Maine Support Network.

Workshop fee of $55 includes hearty snacks and handouts. Discounts available: $5.00 discount for registering online using C-vent. If using a purchase order, please process and issue a check prior to the event. Our cancellation policy is 72 hours prior to the event. You will be invoiced if you do not attend and cannot provide printed confirmation of your cancellation.

Three Clock Hours will be awarded.

Co-sponsors: Maine Support Network and the Council for Exceptional Children.

On-site facilitator: Corda Kinzie, Central and Coastal Regional Facilitator.

This workshop is designed for teachers, educational technicians, caregivers, parents, counselors and occupational therapists.

Location: Vassalboro Community School, 1116 Webber Pond Rd, Vassalboro, ME
Event Summary/Online Registration
Comprehensive Planning for Students with
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Incorporating the Hidden
Curriculum and Other Essential Skills
with Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D
For all educators, paraprofessionals, parents & other service providers.


October 20, 2008
Workshop Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. registration)
Hilton Garden Inn Freeport Downtown
This session will provide an overview of the Comprehensive Autism Planning
System (CAPS), consistent with the tenets of No Child Left Behind, School
Wide Positive Behavior Supports, and Response to Intervention, this system
provides a means of determining what the child needs to succeed in each academic and nonacademic subject. Specifically, this session will overview the following (a) determining the student's needs, (b) developing the CAPS, (c) sensory supports, (d) social/communication supports, (e) academic modifications, (f) structure/visual supports, and (g) generalization.

Outcomes:

* Describe characteristics of students with AS, ASD, and related learning challenges and how they impact learning.
* Identify supports that can be used throughout the student's day.
* Be able to create a comprehensive plan for student programming.
* Incorporate hidden curriculum and other essential skills.


Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas where she co-directs a graduate program in Asperger Syndrome and autism and is the Chief of Programs and Development of the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence. The recipient of the 2004 Autism Society of America’s Outstanding Professional Award and the 2006 Princeton Fellowship Award, she has written numerous articles and books on Asperger Syndrome and autism including Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns (with Southwick) and Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success (with Adreon), the winner of the Autism Society of America’s Outstanding Literary Work. Brenda has made over 500 presentations all over the world and written more than 150 articles and books on autism and Asperger Syndrome. She was recently acknowledged as the second most productive applied researcher in ASD in the world from 1997 to 2004.

Fees: Parents $100.00 & Teachers $125.00. If you register online yourself using the online discount code you receive a $5.00 discount!

Hotel Accommodations: There are a limited number of rooms reserved at the rate of $159 for the night of October 19th at the Hilton Garden Inn, Freeport Downtown. To make a reservation please call (207) 865-1433 and reference the Maine Support Network.
Event Summary/Online Registration
Maine Support Network Website


Check out the GEAR Parent Network for current workshops, trainings, and events most open free (unless otherwise specified) to parents of children with special needs.

Download Statewide Workshop Flyer

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LDA of ME Calendar

LDA of Maine Board of Directors meetings are usually held the second Wednesday or Saturday during the months of January, March, May, August, September, October, and November at the LDA of Maine office (97 Rocky Shore Lane, Oakland, ME).

Committee Meetings start promptly at 6:00 p.m. (on Wednesdays), 9:00 a.m. (on Saturdays), followed by Director's Meeting, which starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. (on Wednesdays), 11:00 a.m. (on Saturdays).

Members often arrive one hour early for social time and networking. Committees may meet earlier and/or at other times to accomplish their annual goals. Our Adult, Family, & Youth Leadership, Mentoring & Support groups meet when, where, and as often, based on the consensus of their group.

#####

2008 BOARD MEETING DATES (Subject to Change):
January 16, 2008

March 15, 2008 (Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

April 11, 2008 (Annual Conference)

May 14, 2008

August 13, 2008 (Wednesday, 4:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.)

September 10, 2008

October 8, 2008

November 12, 2008

2009 BOARD MEETING DATES (Subject to Change):

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009 (Annual Conference)

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 (begins with pot luck 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

2008 COMMITTEE MEETING DATES (Subject to Change):

Events Committee:

January 29, 2008 (Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

Adult Committee:

July 9, 2008 (Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

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Events Spotlight

September is National Literacy Month
October is National Learning Disabilities Month
October 15 Deadline “Educator of the Year” Submissions
October 15 Deadline Principal/Administers Scholarship Application

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LDA International Conference Schedule
2007 February 14-17 in Pittsburgh, PA
2008 February 27 - March 1 in Chicago, IL
2009 February 25-28 in Salt Lake City, UT

2010 February 17-20 in Baltimore, MD

2011 February 23-26 in Jacksonville, FL

2012 February 29 - March 3 in Chicago, IL

LDAA Letter on International Conference



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