C.W. Post to Hold Conference on Down Syndrome March 19-21

Brookville, N.Y. -- As the number of Long Island children with Down syndrome attending mainstream schools increases, it’s crucial that parents, educators and service providers know the latest information and strategies to provide them with the best care.

At the 6th Annual Conference on “Best Practices in the Education of Children with Down Syndrome,” experts in physical therapy, early intervention and special education will lead workshops, seminars and presentations on the disorder.

Co-sponsored by the School of Education at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation, the event will be held on Thursday and Friday, March 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday March 21 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in Hillwood Commons at the C.W. Post Campus.

"More and more school districts across Long Island are educating children with Down syndrome alongside general education students," said Kathleen Feeley, Ph.D., B.C.B.A., an assistant professor in the School of Education at C.W. Post. "This type of interaction provides individuals with Down syndrome an opportunity to establish relationships in their own communities; the communities in which they live, play and will eventually be employed. This conference also provides families and professionals with state-of-the-art strategies to help individuals with Down syndrome will achieve success."

The keynote seminar on Friday, March 20 will feature six speakers. Katlin Cunningham, a student in the C.W. Post Honors Program, and Lindsay Belnick, a student at Brooklyn College, will relay their own classroom experiences with students who have Down syndrome. Rose McDermott and Carla Binswanger, creators of the "My IEP Toolkit," will offer techniques for getting the most out of an Individual Education Program. Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz, authors of the book, "Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome," will share anecdotes and insight from their lives.

Additional topics on the agenda include addressing challenging behavior, strategies for successful inclusion, enhancing preschool performance, building relationships in the community, self-care skills, and a special discussion led by Dale Ulrich, Ph.D., a renowned researcher from the Center for Motor Behavior and Pediatric Disabilities at the University of Michigan. Breakout sessions held on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 include school district panels, communication skills and strategies for academic skill instruction and sibling issues.

Saturday, March 21 is a day not only for parents and professionals, but for individuals with Down syndrome and their siblings. Workshops and lectures will cover current happenings on Long Island, and the needs of children with autistic characteristics and dual diagnosis. Individuals with Down syndrome will have a full day of crafts, literacy activities and outdoor activities.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder, estimated at one per 800 to 1,000 births. It is caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. The characteristics of Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child.

Registration fees range from $40 for professionals for one Thursday workshop, to $85 for Friday’s all-day workshops. Discounts, group rates and limited financial assistance is available, as is on-site child care. Continuing Education Units for speech-language pathologists and behavior analysts are available.

"This is an exciting event that truly empowers families and professionals to offer individuals with Down syndrome opportunities that, in the past, were unimaginable," Dr. Feeley said.

Hillwood Commons is located on the C.W. Post Campus at 720 Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) in Brookville, New York. For more information call Irene Morsch at (516) 299-2231 or e-mail conferenceonbestpractices@yahoo.com.

Posted: February 19, 2009