24th Annual Awareness Expo to Take Place in Westfield March 15th

The 24th Annual Awareness Expo is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at Edison Intermediate School, 800 Rahway Avenue, Westfield, NJ from 7 PM - 9:45 PM. Presented by the Westfield PTC — Special Education Committee, the Awareness Expo will provide parents and educators of special needs children with information and resources to aid in their ongoing education and growth. The Expo is open to the public and is free of charge.

Since 1993, the Awareness Expo has showcased distinguished speakers ranging from highly acclaimed psychologists and educators to financial experts and attorneys who provide insight into a variety of issues that empower parents and educators to advocate for their children.

With an estimated 300 attendees anticipated, the Expo will feature several well-regarded specialists and speakers from all across the tri-state area who will present their topics twice during the evening in small break out sessions. All programs have been approved for 1.5 Professional Development Hours.

We encourage you to visit our website or e-mail for additional information. Pre-registration is available online and is highly recommended.

This year’s Expo will include the following topics:

TOPICS & OVERVIEW

Overcoming Disability
Independent business woman. Entrepreneur. Outdoors enthusiast. Wife. Mother. Philanthropist. Pioneer. And amputee, at age 15. Join Brooke Artesi as she shares her story of how she has lived her best life, and how our children may do the same.

Standardized Testing Accommodations
From PARCC and NJ ASK to the ACT and SATs, standardized testing is used from elementary grades through high school. Join this panel of Westfield’s Special Services team to explain the in’s and outs of available accommodations, when to ask for them, and how to collaborate on proper implementation.

Fitting in at the Gym: Adapting to Physical Education
Adapted Physical Education is physical education that has been adapted or modified, so that it is as appropriate for the person with a disability as it is for a person without a disability. Join this diverse panel of educators to learn how to level the playing field through physical education.

Dispelling Dyslexia:
Overcoming the Myths and Misconceptions
Join this session to discover how children with dyslexia are evaluated, diagnosed, treated, and baselined to determine personal progress. This will be followed with an update on the state of dyslexia in NJ legislature and nationally.

Occupational Therapy:
Self-Advocacy and Resiliency for Children with Special Needs
This presentation will describe how new and innovative occupational therapy programs help promote self-advocacy and resiliency for children with special needs. We will review 7 objectives inherent in the delivery of therapy programs and services that will help kids become more resilient, self-advocates BECAUSE they will be more independent, active participants in their community.

Autism Spectrum: A Pharmacological Treatment Update
Updates on the latest developments in the treatment of the core features of autism as well as associated conditions. The session will explore the current state of the science of treating these core features, namely the social/emotional aspects, language and communication issues, and cognitive rigidity, inflexibility, and obsessional patterns of interest.

21st Century Families:
Keep Stress Low - Communication is the Way to Go
This presentation will address effective communication skills, coping with family stresses (i.e. having a special needs child, divorce, death in the family, moving, and sibling rivalry), and incorporating technology in happy family life.

Twice Exceptional:
Gifted and Challenged – How Do We Meet Their Needs?
Twice-exceptional students present a unique identification and service delivery dilemma for educators. Join Helen Waldron to discuss how these students are identified and characterized, roles and responsibilities of the districts and teachers to ensure appropriate programming and needs for them, and best practices for accommodations and adaptations for these students.

Setting Yourself Up for Success: Understanding and Managing Challenging Behavior
This workshop will provide participants with a framework for understanding problem behaviors (school refusal, behavioral outbursts, etc.) in the home and school settings, as well as practical, research-supported strategies for their prevention and management.

The State of Special Education Law: Trends in Today's Climate
IDEA. Section 504. And of course related funding for these critical elements that comprise the backbone of federal special education law. Join attorney Hillary Freeman to review these legal structures, as well as gain an understanding of what may lay ahead in this rapidly changing political climate.