El taller dará enfoque a las interacciones positivas en el hogar y áreas de entretenimiento. Proveerá ideas y ejemplos de cómo ser un facilitador positivo y efectivo mientras se desarrolla diferentes destrezas con una persona autista. Incluyendo una comunicación efectiva y práctica. Fortaleciendo a la vez los valores de respeto, tolerancia y amistad. Lucy Ochoa posee 23 años de experiencia profesional en intervención terapéutica a niños con necesidades educativas especiales: Trastornos de Espectro Autista TEA, Síndrome Down, Problemas de Aprendizaje 1999 – a la fecha. Lucy es la Fundadora y Directora de Asociación Inclúyeme Guatemala, Centro Terapéutico Profesionalizado para niños con diagnóstico en Trastornos del Neurodesarrollo. Guatemala 2014 a la fecha.

Chris Erb, LGMFT presents "Anxiety & OCD: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Understanding and Treating Compulsive Behaviors." Chris is a Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist who joined Jonah Green and Associates in the summer of 2021. He provides couple, family, and individual therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Chris provided therapy for two years at the University of Maryland Center for Healthy Families, working with individuals and families struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, grief, behavioral challenges, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and other mental health and relationship challenges. Committed to cultural humility and respect for persons of all backgrounds, Chris has experience working with individuals from young childhood through adulthood from diverse cultures, religions, ethnicities, and genders. He is an ally of sexual and gender minorities, and works with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. Most people experience varying levels of anxiety from time to time. For some, it is a near-constant condition that leads to excessive worry, avoidance, and/or repetitive behaviors. Behavioral interventions can aid in curbing such behavior in the short and long term, but sometimes fall short in treating the underlying anxiety. This can lead to feelings of failure, disappointment, and shame. Cognitive Behavioral interventions aim to target the underlying thoughts and feelings that lead to compulsive behaviors, gradually reducing the anxiety and behaviors over time. This presentation serves as a general overview of anxiety, OCD, and evidence-based treatment recommendations, with an emphasis on the importance of self-compassion throughout the process.

In this workshop, we expand the topic of increasing and improving communication in social, educational, and family settings. We also cover the importance of recognizing and using non-verbal communication and other AAC resources.

The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administrations (DDA) provides people with disabilities a greater degree of choice in how services are delivered, when, and where. Come and join us for a discussion about how a family has navigated this process. Leni Barry will share her family’s experience, lessons learned, and suggestions with the intention of assisting other families’ journey. All Parents and Communication Partners are welcome to participate, regardless of location but please be aware that this discussion will be specific to Maryland and services may differ by state. This is a recording of a workshop that was previously offered live.

We are grateful and excited to have Judy Bailey sharing some strategies and her wisdom. Judy is a consultant on communication access and positive supports. She provides training and consultation to individuals and families, and supports teams on methods of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) This is a recording of a session that was previously offered live.