Workshop on "Invisible Disabilities" to be Offered in Manayunk

Philadelphia, PA - Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia will present a workshop entitled “Children, Teens and Young Adults with Invisible Disabilities.” The 2-hour program will explore the unique challenges experienced by families of children, teens and young adults with “invisible conditions” including autism, Aspergers, learning disabilities, ADHD, as well as mood disorders and other psychiatric differences.

The focus will be on issues related to sexuality prevalent in teenagers and young adults, higher level of independence, autistic and psychiatric populations including: legal pitfalls, puberty, dating, online dating, intimacy, sexual safety, body image and self-esteem. We will also discuss personal and familial consequences of society’s misperceptions of people with psychiatric, developmental and significant dysregulation, executive functioning, learning and sensory differences. Speakers will discuss self-advocacy and the pros and cons of disclosure, and will make recommendations on how to find agencies and therapists who offer assistance to this population.

The program will be presented by Karen Huber, MS, MFCC, NJ Certified School Social Worker, Y.A.L.E. School Clinical Coordinator and Admissions Coordinator, and Kristin O’Lexy, MSW, LCSW, NJ Certified School Social Worker Clinician, Y.A.L.E. School Ellisburg Campus.

Open to the public, the program is designed for parents, special educators, public district CST members or district representatives, therapists, clinicians, or medical professionals, and advocates. Attendees may earn 2 ASAH professional development credits.

The two-hour program will take place on Thursday, October 1 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia, located at 116 Rector St. in Manayunk. The event is free of charge, but attendees must register online. Go to yaleschoolpa.com

ABOUT Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia: Located in the vibrant community of Manayunk, Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia offers an educational environment dedicated to cultivating the strengths, interests, and abilities of students on the autism spectrum and with related differences. Engaging middle schoolers in grades 6-8, Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia offers a highly individualized, challenging, and creative curriculum for students who are academically capable, but who experience difficulties in their current school environment because of sensory, social competency, executive function, anxiety, or learning differences. Y.A.L.E. School Philadelphia uses evidence-based teaching methods that have been proven to work. Data and evidence inform practices and drive decisions about students’ individualized educational programming. For more information, call phone: (215) 839-0525, or visit www.yaleschoolpa.com