According to MA Special Education Law, What Is "Effective Progress?"

With Daniel Heffernan, Esq. of Boston's Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP, a leading Boston firm in the field of special education law. A NESCA staff training seminar; not open to the public.

Transition Tuesdays I: But She's Only 12!

With NESCA Transition Specialist Sandy Storer, LICSW. An open discussion with Q&A of how families of children with special needs can start thinking about post-secondary transition well before the age of 14, when Massachusetts schools are mandated to provide assessment, planning and services. $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Supporting the Development of Executive Function in Middle Schoolers

A half-day professional training session (not open to the public) for faculty and staff of The Pike School, an independent, coed day school in Andover, MA serving students aged pre-K – grade nine. Presented by Ann Helmus, Ph.D.

The Pike School, 34 Sunset Rock Road, Andover, MA

Supporting Children and Adolescents with Weak Executive Function

In an evening workshop sponsored by Andover Parent-to-Parent and starting at 7:30pm, Dr. Ann Helmus will discuss effective, age-appropriate supports for students with weak executive function. Open to the public, but seating is limited. For information and reservations, contact mail@andoverp2p.com.

Wood Hill Middle School, 11 Cross Street, Andover, MA

Executive Function: Evaluation and Support for Struggling Students

With NESCA's Ann Helmus, Ph.D., Bonnie Singer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP of Architects for Learning in Needham and Pamela Ely, CCC-SLP of The Ely Center in Newton. Three nationally-recognized authorities discuss executive function and share their perspectives, followed by discussion guided by audience questions. $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Executive Function and the Middle School Child

Sponsored by The Peabody Forum's Center for Parents and Teachers. Open to the public, a discussion on the diagnosis and remediation of executive function deficits in middle school students.

Concord Middle School, Peabody Bldg., 1231 Old Marlboro Road, Concord, MA

Transition Tuesdays II: Using the TPF to Your Child's Best Advantage

NESCA Transition Specialist Sandy Storer, LICSW will explain the TPF (Transition Planning Form), step-by-step. We will then divide into small discussion groups facilitated by educational advocates familiar with the planning process and NESCA neuropsychologists, with a Q & A period to follow. $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Evaluating Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Children

NESCA Pediatric Neuropsychologist Angela Currie, Ph.D. will lecture on projective testing to graduate students in special education at the Boston University School of Education. Not open to the public.

Challenges Associated with Adoption

The developmental course of adopted children is often strongly influenced by what they experience before arriving in their "forever" home. Dr. Stephanie Monaghan-Blout, Psy.D., a senior clinician at NECSA, will talk about the learning, social and emotional challenges facing many adopted children and their parents as they move from childhood to adolescence. Dr. Monaghan-Blout worked for many years as an adolescent and family therapist before training as a pediatric neuropsychologist, specializing in the evaluation of children and adolescents with complex learning and emotional issues. She is a member of the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative (TLPI) and is working with that group on an interdisciplinary guide to trauma-sensitive evaluations.

From 7:00 – 9:00pm; free and open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

NESCA, 55 Chapel Street, 2nd Floor, Newton, MA

Transition Tuesdays III: Transition Assessment at NESCA

Neuropsychologist Jason McCormick, Psy.D. and Sandy Storer, LICSW Introduce "The Blueprint for Transition Assessment", NESCA's modular, multi-dimensional approach to transition assessment. Where's your child now, where does he/she want to go and what's going to help him/her get there, successfully? $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Transition Tuesdays IV: Special Education Law Concerning Transition

Renowned Special Education Attorney Robert Crabtree of Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP discusses state and federal laws as they relate to transition. We will break up into small groups for facilitated discussion before gathering for Q & A. $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Transition Tuesdays V: Legal Connections to Your Adult (18+) Child

Attorney Amy Weinstein of Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP addresses parents' concerns about continuing care for adult (18+) children. Topics will include eligibility for public benefits, trusts and estate planning, decision-making for adult children, guardianship and conservatorship, and more. $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Transition Tuesdays VI: Schools Offering Strong Transition Programs

A panel discussion with representatives of several independent schools offering strong secondary and post-secondary transition programs and services. Sandy Storer, LICSW will moderate. $20 per person. From 7:00 – 9:00pm; open to the public; limited seating. RSVP to Ty Curran at 617-658-9800, ext. 0 or by email to tcurran@nesca-newton.com.

The Weston Hotel Waltham, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham, MA

Using Neuropsychological Evaluation Results in IEP Development

At a half-day professional training session for family support specialists who provide support to, and advocacy for parents of children with mental health needs, Dr. Helmus discussed how to use the results of neuropsychological evaluations in the development of more effective Individualized Education Plans.
Parent/Professional Advocacy League
MA State Organization, Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
Westborough, MA

Worcester Public Schools Professional Development Day

At a full-day training session for school psychologists and the combined staff of the Learning Disabilities, Speech / Language and Autism Departments, Dr. Helmus will discuss the learning styles of children with communication disorders including non-verbal learning disability, along with classroom strategies, accommodations and modifications appropriate for teaching them.
Worcester School Department, Worcester, MA