TIKVAH: A Special Needs Program
A Monthly Program to Educate Family Members and Professionals
on Issues Related to Children with Special Needs
Program services include information and community referrals, support services and expert guest speakers. Tikvah is the Hebrew word for hope. Services are available to all families without regard to race, religion, gender, age, national origin or disability. Unless otherstate noted, the program is held at the Tampa Jewish Community Center at 13009 Community Campus Drive, Tampa, FL 33625.
MAY 2013
Sensory-based Play to Promote healthy Development
Thursday, May 23, 2013 / 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Presenter Argie Criner, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, will discuss how stimulating a child’s senses through play can help them to develop cognitively, socially, emotionally,physically and creatively. Criner will demonstrate a fun and easy-to-create sensory play that can assist all children from birth onward. Attendees will observe various types of sensory-based play and learn how to utilize the technique in their home, classroom and/or workplace.
This presentation is beneficial to parents and caregivers of children with or without special needs, child care providers, teachers and other professionals. To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
APRIL 2013
Train Your Brain to Optimize Attention, Memory and Organization
Thursday, April 25, 2013 / 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Presenter Wendy B. Rice, Psy.D., licensed psychologist, of Rice Psychology Group, will share some effective and easy to understand research about how individuals can retrain their brains to build attention, memory and organization.
Wendy B. Rice, Psy.D.
Do you or a loved one have a difficult time paying attention in class, meetings or when reading? Perhaps a family member is forgetful or absentminded and you know that age-related problems are not the cause? Are you or your child plagued by disorganization and constant messes? Dr. Rice will address how a combination of individualized computer game-like exercises and coaching can help kids as well as adults train their brains so that grades, productivity at work, and family relationships can improve.
To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
FEBRUARY 2013
The Development of the Parent: The Child’s Contribution
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 / 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Presenter Dana Johnson, M.S., OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, will explore why all parents, at some point, struggle with understanding what their child is thinking. This is especially true when schedules become hectic and stressful. One minute your child wants to eat what you made for dinner, the next minute he doesn’t. A behavior change like this is sometimes much deeper and less obvious than a child changing his mind about to eat for dinner.
This month’s Tikvah presentation will introduce the concept of what it means to “hold your child in mind,” and provide parents and clinicians with specific ways of understanding children. This includes how a parent’s response to their child’s behavior can affect the outcome of the interaction and the parent-child relationship.
The presentation is geared toward parents with typically developing children, as well as parents who have children with various developmental disorders of relating and communicating. Clinicians that work with children, and families of children, with developmental disorders will learn valuable tools through specific case examples and discussion.
To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
JANUARY 2013
Developing Your Child’s Reading Skills
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 / 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Presenter Gloria Berkowitz, M.S., Hillel Academy Reading Specialist will provide information on typical reading development, how parents can assist with reading readiness skills in the preschool and primary years, when and how to identify reading challenges, and tips to assist children with reading and comprehension concerns. To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
DECEMBER 2012
Special Needs, Holidays, and Havoc, Oh My!
Coping and stress management during the holidays and all year round
Monday, December 3, 2012 / 7 – 9 p.m.
Erica Dupont, LCSW, will present on coping with the ongoing stress of having a child with special needs. Parents and family members will learn how to care for their own and their family’s mental health. Professionals, teachers, and child care providers will also learn stress management techniques.
DuPont is the president of ProTherapyPlus, LLC. She provides counseling to a wide population of people with varying needs and challenges. A large part of her practice focuses on helping those with special needs. DuPont serves as a school advocate,support group leader and parent trainer for families with special needs children. To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
NOVEMBER 2012
A Parent-Implemented Program for Young Non-Verbal Children with Autism
Thursday, November 8, 2012 / 7 – 9 p.m.
LorRainne Jones, M.A., CCC-SLP, Ph.D., BCBA, will present on a cost effective ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) program to enhance language, speech and cognitive skills for young children on the Autism Spectrum. This parent-implemented program can also be used by home and school ABA teams. Dr. Jones will provide an overview of the methodology and discuss future applications.
Dr. Jones is a licensed speech-language pathologist with a Ph.D. in Education. She is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who, for over 20 years, has specialized in teaching speech, language, and cognitive skills to young nonverbal children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Jones is the owner of Kid Pro Therapy and the author of “The Source for Expressive Language Delay.” To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
OCTOBER 2012
Neuropsychological Assessment of Learning Disorders
Thursday, October 11, 2012 / 7 – 9 p.m.
Alina Font, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, will provide an overview of neuropsychological assessment, describing what it is, the evaluation process, and how it serves as a guide to effective intervention of learning disorders in children and adolescents. Special emphasis will be placed on reviewing disorders of reading, written language and mathematics, as well as AD/HD. To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
AUGUST 2012
What Services Are Available From The Public School System
Wednesday, August 29, 2012 / 7 – 9 p.m.
Presenter Pam Lindemann, The I.E.P. Advocate, will discuss what services are available from the public school system for children with special needs. Lindemann will also look at the process one needs to follow to secure services for their child. To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
JULY 2012
Improving Brain Function in Children with Autism, ADD and Learning Disability
Thursday, July 26, 2012 / 7 – 9 p.m.
Presenter Larry Polnicky, Executive Director of the Brain Balance Achievement Center, will share research that shows diminished brain function at the root of childhood neurological disorders. The speaker will present on non-invasive methods to improve brain activity and connectivity, and outcomes of a program that utilizes these methods. Polnicky will also discuss his own personal journey as a father of a son with Autism. To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
JUNE 2012
Assistive Technology and Transition
Monday, June 25, 2012 / 7 – 9 p.m.
Presenter Amber Dame, Training Coordinator for the TILES project of Family Network on Disabilities, will addreess the topic of high school students and young adults with disabilities. The program will address how to obtain Assistive Technology in the workforce, independent living, and post-secondary education, as well as the positive impact it can have on a student’s transitional Individualized Education Plan (IEP). To register, please R.S.V.P. with your name and phone number to lydiaa@tjfs.org.
Information for all Lori & Alec Sanchez Tikvah programs:
Childcare is not available. Please contact Lydia Abrams to discuss options for your child(ren). Parents, family members, self-advocates and professionals can benefit from this program. CE’s are available for LCSWs, MFTs, MHCs (2.0 CE’s for $20; BAP #1002 Exp. 3/2013). Special needs training hours are available for Childcare Providers (2.0 hours for $5).
Held at the Tampa Jewish Community Center at 13009 Community Campus Drive, Tampa, FL 33625. For more information about these or other Lori & Alec Sanchez Tikvah programs, contact Lydia Abrams at lydiaa@tjfs.org, or 813.960.1848.