The Law and Disability E-newsletter - Upcoming Lecture Events

[Guest guest]

The Law and Disability E-newsletter - Upcoming Lecture Events

Click here for a pdf version of this announcement.

Special Event Announcement, March 26, 2008

Autism Society of America's

Greater Philadelphia Chapter

With support from

Hinkle, Fingles & Prior, Attorneys at Law

and PECO Energy

Presents

A Free Four Part Autism Lecture Series

Each lecture will take place from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Upper Merion Township Building

175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia PA

Seating for all events is limited.

Reservations are suggested but not required.

To register, please call 610-358-5256 or e-mail: puzzleribbon@...

Visit the ASA website at http://www.asaphilly.org

For directions only, go to http://www.umtownship.org/

Wednesday, April 9

Ira M. Fingles, Esq.

Guardianship & Estate Planning:

What Families Need to Know as They Plan for the Future

Proper planning can ensure a more secure future for children with autism and

help allay parents' fears. Mr. Fingles will discuss the role of wills and

estate planning, and the importance of a well-structured special needs

trusts. He will describe the types of guardianship available in

Pennsylvania, how to select a guardian, and rational approaches to surrogate

decision-making.

Ira M. Fingles, Esq. is a partner at Hinkle, Fingles and Prior, a multistate

law firm that specializes in disability law. Ira has been providing legal

assistance in special education, adult services, estate planning and other

disability-specific areas since 1992. He frequently writes and lectures on

topics in disability law. He serves on the board of directors of the Autism

Society of America, Greater Philadelphia Chapter. He holds a JD from Temple

University.

Thursday, April 24

Jane Weiss, Ph.D.

Strategies for Successful Inclusion: Social and Academic Considerations

Inclusive educational environments afford children with autism more

opportunities for socialization and full integration with their peers.

Meeting their needs in these settings, however, can be a challenge. Dr.

Weiss will review how the attentional, learning, and communication

challenges faced by students with autism can be accommodated in regular

education classrooms, and how strategic supports can facilitate improved

learning and independence. She will also discuss how home-school

communication can be fostered, how progress can be measured, and how team

members can work together to achieve goals for students.

Jane Weiss, Ph.D, is an Associate Research Professor at Rutgers

University, and the Director of Research and Training at the s

Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University. Her clinical and

research interests include defining best practice ABA techniques, and

maximizing family members' expertise and adaptation. She serves on the

Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research and on the Board

of the NJ Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community. She has

written numerous articles and four books on autism.

Tuesday, May 6

Jed Baker, Ph.D.

No More Meltdowns: Managing and Preventing Meltdowns through Social Skills

Students on the autism spectrum often have difficulty regulating their

feelings and interacting socially. Dr. Baker will describe how to handle

emotional meltdowns when they occur, and how to design effective behavior

plans to prevent them, and reduce frustration and anxiety. He will also

discuss his new book, No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Dealing

with and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior.

Jed Baker, Ph.D. is the Director of the Social Skills Training Project, a

private organization serving individuals with autism and social

communication problems and works closely with several other New Jersey

school systems as a consultant on social skills programs. He lectures

frequently on the topic of social skills training and is an award winning

author of four books on social skills training. Recently, ABC News and

Nightline featured his work to reduce bullying and increase peer acceptance

of students with autism spectrum disorders in the schools. He is on the

professional advisory board of ASPEN (an information network for parents of

children with Aspergers Syndrome).

May 12

Ruttenberg

" The Profile Book; " Shaping Interventions by Sharing Assessment Information

The link between quality assessment information and intervention strategies

is vital, but often missing for children and adults with autism spectrum

disorders. Ms. Ruttenberg will describe the Profile Assessment Book, a tool

she developed to capture and collect vital information about a person with

autism from a variety of sources, and put that information in a positive,

personal voice. Designed for children and adults who are not able to

communicate their own needs and preferences through verbal language, The

Profile Book 'translates' behavior into words, helping parents, staff and

others better understand the individual's experience of the world around

them, and shape more effective interventions.

Ruttenberg is the Executive Director of The Center for Autism, an

organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with

Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. She provides consultation and

training services to children, adults and families affected by autism,

school districts and county programs throughout the Delaware Valley. She

holds master's degrees in Special Education and in Education/Elementary

Counseling, and is certified as a Special Education Supervisor, Principal

and Family Therapist.

Seating for all events is limited.

Reservations are suggested but not required.

To register, please call 610-358-5256 or e-mail: puzzleribbon@...

Visit the ASA website at http://www.asaphilly.org

For directions only, go to http://www.umtownship.org/

Click here to send this announcement to a friend or family member

Visit our website for information on additional speaking engagements, new

articles, case highlights and more.

With offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Attorneys of Hinkle,

Fingles & Prior have years of experience providing expert counsel and legal

services to families of people with disabilities and seniors. The firm's

attorneys have argued many of the precedent setting cases affecting people

with disabilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Click here for Attorney Biographies

all material copyright ©2008 Hinkle, Fingles & Prior, Attorneys at Law

You are subscribed as tccavanaugh@.... To unsubscribe please click

here.