Developing Peer Interactions in Children with Autism March 13, 2009

[Guest guest]

Sorry for the cross post.....Barb

Project ACT is proud to bring Silla-Zaleski, Ed.D., BCBA &

J Vesloski, MA, BCBA to the Tidewater area to provide parents and

professionals information on how to develop peer interactions in children with

autism. You don’t want to miss this!

 

Tidewater Autism Society of America

Project ACT (Autism Community Training)

 

Presents

 

Developing Peer Interactions in Children with Autism

 

Presented by

 

Silla-Zaleski, Ed.D., BCBA

&

J Vesloski, MA, BCBA

 

Friday, March 13, 2009

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

 

Location

Virginia BeachHigher Education Center Old Dominion University

1881 University Drive., Virginia Beach , Virginia 23453

 

 

 

About The Workshop

Play skills are important in the development of social competence. They allow

children to explore social roles and rules while working through social

conflicts. Although typically developing children naturally engage in play they

find enjoyable, children with autism do not engage in play activities which

stimulate their development. Their delayed communication skills, difficulty

identifying and understanding others thoughts and feelings and restricted

interests impede their social play skills.

 

The workshop will focus on the development of a peer play group that utilizes

basic behavioral principles to encourage positive peer interactions between

children with autism and their typically developing peers. The strategies

discussed can be applied in a school setting, social group, play group, or

individual play date. 

 

Areas discussed will include:

Ø             The development of play

Ø             What is pairing, why it is important and how to

achieve it

Ø             The importance of reinforcement in the pairing

process

Ø             Practical strategies for the development of a peer

play group that will encourage children with autism to interact with typically

developing peers

 

The workshop will include lecture, small group activities, demonstration and

video.   

About the speakers:

 

Dr. Silla-Zaleski is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and an

assistant professor of education at the University of Scranton , a private

Jesuit university in Northeast Pennsylvania .  Her experience includes working

with students with disabilities as a behavioral consultant, particularly those

with a diagnosis of autism.  Her research interests include behavior analysis

for children and adolescents with autism, international special education

opportunities, behavior modification, including students with

disabilities in physical education, and the Gaskin settlement.

J Vesloski, MA, BCBA received her master's degree in Psychology with a

focus on Child and School Studies from wood University , Scranton , PA. She

is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) currently providing consulting

services to school districts, agencies, and families of children with autism in

PA, NY, NJ, and VA. She is also the owner of Autism Behavioral Services, Inc., a

Pennsylvania agency that provides behavioral health rehabilitative to children

with autism and other developmental delays. Her research interests include

behavior analysis for children with autism, verbal behavior, language

development in children, and using sign language to increase vocalizations in

non-vocal children and adolescents.

 

 

Early Bird Registration is $30 per participant (postmarked by February 27, 2009)

After February 27th and Walk-in is $40 (space is limited). 

Pre-workshop sign-in will be held from 8:15 – 8:50 a.m.

(Continental Breakfast and Conference Handouts Included)

 

For more information call 757-461-4474 or click hereto download a registration

flyer.