Training in
Cardiff, Wales, UK

November 9-12, 2010

Creating Parent-Directed Treatment
for Children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders

Presented by Steven & Kaitryn Wertz

This is a training program for parents whose children have Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delay, Asperger’s Syndrome and related conditions and for professionals, friends and family who support them. This program provides skills to:

  • Increase your child’s motivation and cooperation,
  • Improve his or her communication and social interaction
  • Reduce problematic behaviors
  • Assess progress
  • Set appropriate social and developmental goals
  • Incorporate effective teaching methods to achieve those goals.

The program is designed and presented by Steven and Kaitryn Wertz, based on twenty-eight years of experience in training over one thousand parents and their children with autism-spectrum disorders. Central to the Growing Minds approach is the belief that it is possible for some children to recover from Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD-NOS) and Asperger’s Syndrome when their unique developmental needs are met. Even children with the most severe forms of autism have the capacity to improve intimacy and communication and to learn skills that enrich their quality of life.

Children on the autism spectrum develop most successfully and rapidly when their special social, educational and biomedical needs are met within an individualized program. Rather than trying to fit the child to the program, we tailor the program to the child’s unique strengths, difficulties, interests and abilities. The Growing Minds Autism Program integrates educational methods, play-based methods, relationship-oriented methods, biomedical methods and sensory strategies.

This program is recommended for:

  • Parents who currently teach their child at home (either full or part time).
  • Parents interested in working with their child at home, either full-time or after school.
  • Family members, volunteers and staff who support parents.
  • Autism professionals.

The Growing Minds Program can improve your success with other approaches to autism treatment:

  • Those using biomedical or sensory approaches will learn to support your child's physiological healing with a strong relational, behavioral and educational program.
  • Those using Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA, Lovaas and Verbal Behavior) will gain skills to build greater rapport with your child and help him or her increase assertiveness, initiate communication and enjoy social interaction.
  • Those using The Son-Rise Program or with Floor Time (Greenspan) will gain skills to help your child accept direction, increase cooperation, improve attention and acquire the skills necessary to benefit from any school environment.

Topics Include:

Attitudinal training
The attitude of parents and teachers is instrumental in creating positive behavior change in children. This segment explores how attitudes, thoughts and feelings may influence your ability to teach your child, and how to harness the power of a positive attitude to encourage your child’s motivation and communication.

Improving communication and connection/rapport
We’ll provide specific techniques to help you increase your child’s attentiveness and rapport. In addition, you’ll learn methods to encourage your child to initiate communication and to strengthen your child’s motivation and ability to interact with you. These are practical techniques that you can immediately put into practice with your child.

Handling challenging behavior
Strategies and attitudes that will help you to minimize your child’s challenging behaviors and to make it less likely that problem behavior will emerge in the future.

Assessing your child
The session will focus on identifying appropriate social and developmental goals for your child.

Teaching methods
An introduction to prominent teaching methods currently in use for children with autism and related conditions, including play-based methods (Intensive Interaction, Son-Rise and Floor Time), Discrete Trial Teaching (also known as ABA, Lovaas and Verbal Behavior) Structured Teaching (also known as TEACCH).  This will provide a foundation for developing and synthesizing your own teaching style, and for customizing your interactions to your child’s unique needs.  

Creating custom learning experiences
Using specific learning and curriculum goals, we will assist you to design customized learning experiences that will help you and your child to accomplish your objectives. Includes instruction on how to match your goals to your child’s interests.

Structuring your program
Suggestions on a variety of practical topics, such as: what types of activities to use, how to sequence activities, how to vary your child’s day, how much directed teaching to provide and how to adapt your program to meet your family’s needs.

Teaching children with executive function and motor difficulties (dyspraxia)
Many children with autism have obvious or hidden executive function or motor difficulties. These children learn more effectively when the teaching strategies are adapted to their specific needs.  This segment provides information and discussion on identifying motor and executive function difficulties and designing appropriate learning strategies.

Taking care of yourself while you help your child
Directing a home-based program for your child can be challenging and demanding. This segment includes ways to remain inspired, optimistic, motivated and balanced.

Question and answer sessions
Time for questions about your specific circumstances and concerns.

Special features of this program:

  • Growing Minds is a comprehensive program, which balances your child’s need for social development with his or her need to acquire skills and to grow academically. You do not need to compromise one area of your child’s development for another.
  • Presenter Steven Wertz is, to our knowledge, the only individual in the field of autism treatment to have earned certification in both Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and in the Son-Rise program, making him uniquely qualified to access and integrate the best of both educational and relational approaches. Steven has personally worked with over 1,000 children with autism spectrum disorders in his twenty-three year career. (Read Steven’s biography).
  • You’ll receive a detailed training manual containing all methods taught in the program along with extensive background materials for your continued learning.
  • You’ll have opportunities to network with and learn from other parents and professionals using a similar approach.
  • We are specialists in making learning fun. We use humor, interaction, experiential learning, creativity, audio-visual presentations and real life examples to provide a relaxing, energizing and enjoyable learning environment.

To register or obtain further information, please contact:

Nicola Trotman
Home number - 01792 521542
Email address – n.trotman@ntlworld.com

Program Venue and Location
The Premier Inn Cardiff North
Pentwyn Road
Cardiff CF23 7XH United Kingdom

T: 0870 850 6338
F: 0870 850 6339

Venue Website:
http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/CARNOR/cardiff-north?CMP=KNC_Gb

Our venue is within easy reach of the M4, just 4 miles from Cardiff city centre. Nearby attractions include the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff International Arena and Cardiff Bay.

Conveniently located on a main bus route into Cardiff. Local business and retail parks are within 2 miles of this hotel.

The Cardiff North Premier Inn has everything you'd expect, free parking, incredibly comfy beds in every room and an integrated restaurant serving a mix of traditional and contemporary dishes.

Transport and local information:
Cardiff Central Train Station 6 miles
Cardiff Airport 16 miles
Cardiff Bus Station approx 6 miles

From Cardiff Airport: Taxi would cost in the region of £45.00 to hotel. There is a bus from the airport which goes to Cardiff city centre.

From the city centre: The Number 58 bus (stops outside the Marriott hotel in the City) stops across the road from our hotel. Taxi fare from the City Centre is approximately £15.00.

From the Train Station: Taxi fare is approximately £15.00.

Program schedule

The program will be held from Tuesday evening November 9 through Friday afternoon, November 12.

  • Tuesday 9th November 2010

Opening session: 7pm to 10pm

  • Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th

Morning session:  9am to 12pm.
Afternoon session: 1pm to 4 pm
Evening session: 7pm to 9pm

  • Friday 12th November - 9am to 12am and 1pm to 4 pm

                  Morning session:  9am to 12pm.
Closing session: 1pm to 4 pm

Please note that this is a training seminar designed for adult participants (parents, relatives, professionals, support workers) attending without children. 

Fees

Discounted Fee for Early Registration: £445 per person for registration with payment prior to September 27, 2010
Full Registration Fee: (After September 27):  £495 per person

Program fees include lunch.

100% of the fee is due upon registration. Cheques will need to be made payable to Nicola Trotman.

Upon request, arrangements can be made for a payment plan of 50% deposit on booking and 50% final payment 45 days later OR 30 days prior to start of the course (which ever is sooner)

Cancellation Policy
30 days notice is required notice for a full refund, less a processing fee of 25£. A refund of 50% will be given for notice given from 29 to 5 days in advance. In case of cancellation less than five days before the beginning of the program, no refund will be given, although you can arrange for someone else to attend in your place.

Refreshments during the Course
Tuesday 9th November (Evening): Coffee and tea will be served.

Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11th and Friday 12th (Day):  Lunch will be provided (Finger buffet). This is included in the price of the cost. Tea and coffee will also be provided.

No refreshments will be provided on Wednesday or Thursday evenings.

Please notify Nicola Trotman if you have any dietary requirements so a request can go to the hotel to see if they are able to cater for you.

Accommodations

The program fees do not include lodging. Please arrange your accommodations directly through the hotel.

Premier Inn Cardiff North (conference venue):
Single and double room rates: £61 per night (Not including breakfast)

CAMPANILE CARDIFF
(15 minutes walk from Premier Inn North)
Room rate - £57 per night (Not including breakfast)

CAXTON PLACE - PENTWYN
CF23 8HA CARDIFF

Telephone:+44 292 054 90 44
Fax:+44 292 054 99 00
Email:cardiff@campanile.com

To register or obtain further information, please contact:

Nicola Trotman
Home number - 01792 521542
Email address – n.trotman@ntlworld.com



 


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