Susan Alcorn Mackay has been the Director of The Glenn Crombie Centre since it opened in 1996. This facility provides supports to over 900 students with disabilities annually. She is also responsible for Counselling Services and is the Director of the Northern Ontario Assessment and Resource Centre. A past member of the executive of the Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Post-Secondary Education (CADSPPE), past member for several terms of the executive of the provincial College Committee on Disability Issues (CCDI), Susan is also a member of the Provincial Committee on Disability Issues.

The author of many papers and articles on the subject of disabilities services, Susan has developed a variety of courses, conferences and workshops for disability service providers, parents and students and delivers special education courses to elementary and secondary school teachers through Nipissing University. In 1997, Alcorn Mackay received the Educator of the Year Award from the Council for Exceptional Children. In 2003, was nominated for the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship and also received an Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario (ACAATO) Award in the Distinguished Service category. She was also acknowledged by Cambrian College in 1995 with the President's Award for Excellence and in 2005 received the International Exemplary Leadership Award. The Glenn Crombie Centre also received the Community Builder's Award for education in 2006, largely as a result of the leadership of Susan.

This session will present the findings of a study completed for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario that looked at the emerging trends of students accessing colleges and universities in Ontario as of 2009. Best practices emerging from various institutions will be highlighted as well as recommendations for future supports. The numbers used for this study as well as best practices will also be updated to reflect 2011, two years later.

The study can be accessed here. Trends and Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning into Postsecondary

Kenneth A. Bock, M.D., received his M.D. with Honor from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine, in 1979. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is a clinical instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at Albany Medical College. For more than 25 years, he has dealt with complex medical problems by integrating alternative modalities with conventional medicine into a comprehensive integrative medical practice, and for the last dozen years he has focused that approach on children with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, asthma and allergies. Dr. Bock's Healing Program is at the vanguard of the new biomedical approach to the treatment of children affected by these disorders. He is the co-author of Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies (Random House). He lectures nationally and internationally on immune system health, detoxification and integrative approaches to autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, asthma and allergies.

The incidence of autism, ADHD, asthma and allergies has skyrocketed in the last 30 years.  A number of etiologies may underlie these disorders, including environmental insults, such as toxins (including heavy metals and chemicals), allergies, sensitivities; and chronic infections, as well as genetic susceptibility.  Participants in this lecture will understand the multiple imbalances seen in children with the 4-A Disorders and the commonalities linking them together, including increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.  They will then learn a multifaceted integrative medicine Healing Program for remediating these disorders through methods such as environmental and dietary modifications, nutritional supplementation, detoxification and medications. 

Katharina Boser, Ph.D. has a doctorate in developmental psychology and cognitive science from Cornell University. She has a research background as a cognitive developmental psychologist in both autism research (at the Johns Hopkins University) and in language impairments in patients with aphasia, using computerized therapy techniques (Computerized Visual Communication System "C-Vic") at the University of Maryland. She served as Chair/Co-Chair of the Innovative Technology for Autism (ITA) board for Autism Speaks from 2007-2010.   She also consults with Anthrotronix, a technology R&D and robotics company on a number of research projects involving computer software and social robotics. She has been the president and grants manager of Individual Differences in Learning for several years, a non-profit whose mission is to facilitate better understanding of the needs of bright students with learning challenges in the community.  As of fall 2011, she is the technology coordinator and special resource facilitator for Glenelg Country School's Lower division where she guides teachers in their technology integration and also teaches technology and computer science to students in grades 2-5. She continues to lecture and provide workshops for schools on Universal Design for Learning and technology integration involving students with cognitive impairments and is co-editing a book with Brookes Publishers entitled "21st Century Learning Tools for Students with Autism and Related Disabilities".

iPads, ipods and other mobile devices  are becoming increasingly popular technology to help organize, teach, and manage behaviour in both home and school settings. Accessibility options on apple devices have made independence a greater reality for a wide range of students with disabilities, including those with autism. In this presentation, Dr. Boser will provide an overview of information on a variety of mobile tools for learning for parents and educators working with students with autism and related disorders.  The presentation will not only provide a demonstration of the apps but also include practical tips and tools regarding the use of iPads or iPods in learning settings. Most importantly, participants will learn to understand how to evaluate the educational value of apps in a variety of learning domains. Educators will also begin to understand basic implementation issues for school settings. Where applicable, research on mobile technology use will be explained. While Apple products will be the primary focus of this talk, Android apps and computer based technologies will also be highlighted.  Participants will leave the presentation with an understanding of the benefits of cloud-based computing, touch technology and mobile applications with an emphasis on how these fit into a model of teaching that encompasses the Universal Design for Learning or UDL framework. Some of the specific areas covered will include reading and literacy, functional and organizational as well as behaviour management/social tools.

Laura Brawn, M.A., is a Disabilities Coordinator at the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities at Carleton University (PMC) in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2008, she has overseen services for students with Asperger's Syndrome, a growing segment of the population of students registered with the PMC. Ms. Brawn will describe programming available for these students, and discuss elements of success for these students.

This session will present the findings of a study completed for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario that looked at the emerging trends of students accessing colleges and universities in Ontario as of 2009. Best practices emerging from various institutions will be highlighted as well as recommendations for future supports. The numbers used for this study as well as best practices will also be updated to reflect 2011, two years later.

The study can be accessed here. Trends and Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning into Postsecondary

Dr. Edwards is a Consulting Pediatrician working in Chatham-Kent, Ontario. She completed her pediatric residency in Toronto, at the Hospital for Sick Children, where she was chosen to act as chief resident in her final year. Dr. Edwards also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and before attending medical school, worked as an oncology nurse at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Dr. Edwards' own son was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He is now fully verbal, with a wonderful sense of humour and lots of friends. He has never required an Educational Assistant or modifications to the school curriculum and achieves excellent grades.

Dr. Edwards now has a large autism practice seeing children with autism from all across Ontario and Canada. She currently sits on the board of the Autism Canada Foundation and the Option Institute of America, where the Son-Rise program for autism was developed.

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Coming Soon!

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Jill Hewlett is a nationally recognized and respected speaker, trainer, coach and TV host. Her impactful keynotes have engaged a full range of professionals from Clinicians, Educators, and Financial Planners to the rising Entrepreneur.  She inspires and educates audiences ranging from 100s to 1000s at Conferences, Special Events, Corporate Training and Retreats.

After acquiring her Bachelor of Arts at McMaster University, Jill proceeded to do a 3 year study program with the Educational Kinesiology Foundation to become a licensed practitioner. Jill's expertise as a licensed Brain Gym® consultant and instructor of 15 years gives her the skilful capacity to draw out the natural learning ability in individuals and organizations to support them in achieving greater levels of cognitive development, wellness and life success.

Impactful and refreshingly unique, Jill's approach provides her participants with practical tools that can be implemented immediately and easily in real life situations, at work, at home, and at play. Using simple, fun and effective wellness and Cognitive Fitness methods, and drawing from her years of study, travel, hands-on experience as a successful entrepreneur, and many years of engaging individuals in private practise and in large group settings, Jill assists others in making inspired life changes and achieving their potential.  Her Keynotes, Seminars and Training programs address how to connect to the innate wisdom of one's own Authentic Learning and Leadership Style.

Jill presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Montessori group and Daycare Connections in Toronto. As well, she is a regular volunteer at one of Toronto District School Board's first Holistic Schools, Equinox Holistic Alternative School.

Learn natural ways to support learning readiness for children & adults with Autism!
When in stress the higher brain neurological connections are lost and more effort is required for learning! This is exhausting for individuals with Autism and leads to more stress impacting self esteem, behaviour, communication & social engagement.  Brain Gym ® works by turning on the lines of communication of the three dimensions of the triune brain.  These parts of the brain are interconnected and stimulated by 3 different movement patterns.  As we engage these movement patterns, we activate and strengthen those very parts of our brain.

With the advances in brain research and further understanding of brain plasticity, we now know the brain has the ability to rewire itself through experience.  Participant who use Brain Gym ® increase success in their selected areas of development, maintaining life balance and supporting learning/life readiness.

Coming Soon!

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Diagnosed with "Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies" and "too sick" for outpatient treatment, Dr. Shore was recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much support from his parents, teachers, wife, and others, Stephen is now a professor at Adelphi University where his research focuses on matching best practice to the needs of people with autism.

In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Dr. Shore presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his books Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies, and the newly released DVD Living along the Autism Spectrum: What it means to have Autism or Asperger Syndrome.

President emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England and former board member of the Autism Society of America, Dr. Shore serves on the board of the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association, and numerous other autism related organizations.

Achieving a best outcome for a productive transition to adulthood requires intervention in the three main areas of behavioural/developmental/educational, biomedical, and sensory integration.  The importance of the interplay between these three areas of intervention as well as approaches focused on addressing social and self-awareness necessary to navigate the adult worlds of employment, relationships and sexuality, continuing education, interdependent living, and appropriate self-advocacy shall be examined.

Isabel Smith is an Associate Professor in Pediatrics and Psychology at Dalhousie University. Following a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology (Brown University), she became involved in research in ASD, coordinating the Nova Scotia epidemiological study in the 1980's. She then entered the inaugral class of Dalhousie's PhD program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Smith is based at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, as both a clinician and researcher specializing in ASD. Her clinical work has focused on the promotion of evidence-based practices for early identification, diagnosis and treatment of ASD in the Maritimes. She has conducted basic research on the typical and atypical development of imitation and related skills. More recently, her research has shifted to studying the effectiveness of intervention for various aspects of ASD. Dr. Smith is also part of the investigative team for two large-scale longitudinal studies, the Canadian Infant Sibing Study and the Pathways in ASD study.

There is strong research evidence that early intensive intervention based on principles of applied behavioural analysis (ABA) improves the skills of preschoolers with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Despite this, it remains a challenge to implement such programs at the community level, especially in regions with relatively fewer resources. Each province has approached these challenges differently. In 2005, Nova Scotia initiated a program based on a specific ABA-based intervention, Pivotal Response Treatment, within a less intensive service delivery model (Bryson et al., 2007). Dr. Smith will describe the model and its rationale, and will present evidence of the program's short-term impact on outcomes for children with ASD and their families. Following one year of intervention in the Nova Scotia program, children's average gains are comparable to those reported for programs that are far more intensive (Smith et al., 2010). Given these encouraging findings, discussion will focus on outstanding questions, and on next steps for research and for services.

Scott Smith, PA attended the Inter-Service Physician Assistant Studies program at Fort Sam Houston, TX and completed his clinical rotations at Fort Sill, OK. He has been a physician assistant since 1999 and has specialized in gastroenterology and dermatology. In 2003, Scott began treating children with autism spectrum disorders. Scott has co-authored several articles relating to autism and biomedical interventions and presents locally as well as nationally. He is the president and founder of the Full Potential Wellness Center in Iselin, NJ, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the PANDAS Resource Network.

P.A.N.D.A.S. (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuro-psychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus) is an abnormal immune response leading to acute neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. The diagnosis of P.A.N.D.A.S. is clinical as there is no diagnostic test currently available. Identification of the symptoms at the earliest possible point leads to improved treatment outcomes. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of P.A.N.D.A.S. overlap with symptoms commonly found within autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This leads to later identification and initiation of treatment for children already diagnosed with an ASD. With this lecture, parents will familiarize themselves with the acute symptom changes associated with P.A.N.D.A.S. They will learn how to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.