AASR Live

Please join us for “Lessons Learned from Working with Neurodivergent Learners: An Interview with Zach Morris.” Zach Morris M.Ed. is an advocate for learning and personal agency. His work aims to help individuals, families, and schools build structures that honor autonomy, celebrate strengths and interests, and prioritize a sense of safety and connection. With a focus on trauma and neurodiversity,...

Please join us for “Reframing Behavior: A New Program to Bring the Neuroscience of Behavior to Schools” with Susan Driscoll. Susan Driscoll is President of Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and oversees the development of all products and programs, the trainers who deliver them, and for the support and care of the clients who use them. She joined CPI in 2017 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin an...

Learn about the 5th Annual PDA North America Conference with Diane Gould. Join us to learn more about the 5th annual PDA North America Conference on March 6 & 7 (virtual), and March 7 & 8 (in person). The event will include some incredible experts, including keynote speaker – Linda K. Murphy, MS, CCC-SLP and author of Declarative Language Handbook and Co-Regulation Handbook. Other experts...

Please join us for "Preschool to Prison": An Interview with Dr. Karen Baptiste About the New Documentary Film. Karen “Dr. K” Baptiste is a visionary who can make magic and transform any space she’s in. Dr. K leads with compassionate courage and has bridged her love of supporting individuals with special needs and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system with storytelling in fi...

Please join us for “Neither Comprehension or Learning Can Take Place in an Atmosphere of Anxiety” with Linda Cervenka, Michele Ricamato, and Deanna Tyrpak.  Linda, Michele, and Deanna are the co-founders of Soaring Eagle Academy, a not-for-profit ISBE-approved therapeutic day school serving students 3 to 22 years of age with autism and related disorders.  Linda Cervenka is a licensed speech-langua...

Please join us for Designing an Environment for Everyone with Daniel Hodges, JD.  Daniel Hodges, JD, is an activist dedicated to assisting others with disabilities and chronic illnesses to reach their full potential. While in law school, Daniel founded Peaces of Me Foundation; a nonprofit that promotes universal access and inclusion. Daniel’s perspective has been shaped by his experience as a blin...

Join us for “Why This Matters: Stories from AASR Volunteers” with Guy Stephens, Karen Bures, Amy Kriewaldt, Braden Flax, Heathyr Watson, Sidney McGillicky, Arielle Silverman, Chantelle Hyde, Angie Vigliotti, Cass Griffin Bennett, Erica Cotter, and Courtney Litzinger. In this episode of AASR Live, you’ll have an opportunity to meet some of our amazing AASR volunteers and hear their stories. Learn w...

Please join us for “Getting to the Deeper Why: Exploring The Why Toolkit” with Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP, hosted by Jennifer Abbanat, C-TSS, EXA-CE, SSP Provider. Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP, is a highly experienced Speech-Language Pathologist and Educational Consultant. She has 20+ years of experience in educational settings and holds a certificate in instructional coaching, positive educat...

Learn about the upcoming 7th Annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference. Learn about the largest gathering of trauma-informed educators in the United States with Ginger Healy and Kimberly Smathers. The 7th Annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference is dedicated to building trauma-reformed schools. It is being held in Dallas, Texas, on February 18-23, 2024. Registration is now OPE...

Join us for The CALMER Approach: Sharing how to co-design the right level of therapeutic support at the right time to end seclusion with Francisco and Amy De Paula. Francisco de Paula is passionate about supporting all to reach their potential. The CALMER Approach developed out of his passion to close the gap between theory and practice while looking for ways to make a more meaningful impact in po...

Join us for the Release of the Audio Documentary: “We Warned Them: Freedom Village” with Creator Margaret Mayer. A Deep Dive into an IFB Troubled Teen School Margaret is a 24-year-old artist and activist originally from Rochester, NY. In 2020, Margaret became aware of the Troubled Teen Industry after hearing horror stories from her friends who had been trafficked to a private, for-profit religious...

Join us for "What is EMDR, and how can it help in the treatment of complex trauma?" with Sidney McGillicky. Sidney is an Approved EMDR Consultant and also a Certified EMDR therapist who specializes in the treatment of complex and developmental trauma with 20 years of experience working as a therapist. Sidney also is a Certified NMT(c) Level One Practitioner utilizing advanced knowledge a...

An interview with Liora Schwartz: Trauma-informed and neuro-developmentally sensitive approaches for parents and professionals. Liora Schwartz (she/her) has over two decades of experience in the trenches of the New York City public school system and is a parent of a complicated, brilliant, neurodivergent teen. As such, she has a unique perspective that has broadened outside many traditional boxes....

Author McAlister Huynh joins us to talk about: "Listen, Learn, and Grow: A Whole Body Listening Larry Story." McAlister Greiner Huynh is an educator, also known as The Neurodivergent Teacher. McAlister Greiner Huynh is a National Board Certified special educator, behavior support specialist, consultant, and international speaker who calls North Carolina, USA home. She has been working wi...

Interested in learning how to advocate for federal legislation prohibiting the use of restraint and seclusion in schools? Join us for a virtual training by two experts in federal advocacy on how to engage in this advocacy on Capitol Hill. All skill levels are welcome! As a Partner at Stride Policy Solutions, Laura Kaloi provides strategic policy, advocacy, partnership-building, and communications...

Join us for “Protect the Children Project: An interview with Eliphaz Costus of The Satanic Temple.” Eliphaz Costus is the Campaign Director of The Satanic Temple's Protect Children Project, working to protect all TST members in public schools from abusive punishments that violate their religious rights. He began his work with The Satanic Temple in 2021, when he organized the Bladensburg Satan...

Join us for “Balance Auditory Exercises; Patterned, repetitive, Rhythmic Movement for Everyone” with Meagan Baldwin. Meagan is a Bal-A-Vis-X practitioner/trainer, a fierce advocate for her child with a disability, and an educator with 26 years of experience as a public educator in general and special education. Bal-A-Vis-X stands for Balance, Auditory, Vision, and eXercises. The program consists o...

Join us for “Child-Teacher Relationship Training: Seven Skills for Building Meaningful Relationships” with Dr. Claire Cronin. Dr. Claire Cronin is a licensed mental health counselor passionate about supporting resilient communities and training front-line care professionals on trauma-informed care approaches. Her first exposure to restraint and seclusion was while embedded in a public school for c...

Join us for “Restraint and Seclusion in California Schools: Findings and Recommendations from the 2021-22 School Year Data” with Robert Borrelle Robert Borrelle is a Supervising Attorney at Disability Rights California, California’s federally designated Protection & Advocacy Agency. He is part of DRC’s Investigations Unit, where he specializes in abuse and neglect investigations in facilities...

Closing the gap - Why cultural safety matters in promoting mental health, equity, inclusion, and resilient minds in education settings? - Unpacking culturally responsive teaching and trauma-informed care. Balaji Somasundaram and Meera Balaji – We are husband and wife and were lawyers for 20 years in India in our past lives with a focus on children’s rights and family law. Currently, we are registe...

Reducing Seclusion and Restraint for Autistic Students: Using CPS with Nonspeaking and Echolalic Communicators with Stephanie Izzi and Sarah Hamel Stephanie Izzi (she/they) is co-founder and Executive Director of Autism Included. An autistic adult herself, Stephanie uses her unique insight into neurodivergent communication and learning to support inclusion for autistic students. Stephanie works as...

Join us for “One Rule Improv: A Trauma-informed Approach for Classrooms and Beyond” with Mary DeMichele. Mary is the creator of One Rule Improv, a research-based and trauma-informed approach to learning, teaching, and applying improv. Used in a variety of settings, including classrooms, trauma-informed schools, residential treatment centers, and homes, teachers, clinicians, and parents are consist...

Please join us for An interview with Cheryl Poe: Black Collective Advocacy Network Conference. Event Title: Black Collective Advocacy Network Conference Uplifting Black Families in the Disability Community. For Us By Us About Us Date and time: August 11, 2023 -August 13, 2023 August 11, 12-6:00 pm August 12, 2023, 8:30-6:00 August 13, 2023, 9:00 -12:00 Location: Virtual Event Event Description: Th...

Join us for “A Candid Conversation with Dr. Lori Desautels about Restraint and Seclusion from a Neuroscience Perspective.” Dr. Lori Desautels, has been an Assistant Professor at Butler University since 2016, where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education. She was also an Assistant Professor at Marian University in Indianapolis for 8 years, where she founded...

Join us for Trauma & its impact on individuals with neurodevelopmental differences with Jennifer Abbanat. Jennifer says: I am a wife and a mom to three neurodivergent kids (ages 20,18, and 15), each with their own unique needs and challenges. Two of my kids are autistic and two of my kids have Tourette’s Syndrome. All three have also had medical complexities, with my two youngest needing ongoi...