Welcome to my first informational letter on this site!

On October 30th, 31st and November 1st/24, I will be attending the Geneva Centre for Autism Symposium at the Sheridan Centre in Toronto. I have had the opportunity to attend this event several times over the past couple of decades and learn the most current information on a variety of educational ideas, concepts and concrete strategies for those with neurodiverse brains. 

Most of my clients are not on the Autism spectrum, however, many do have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is a close cousin of Autism in the manner that the developing brain has been permanently changed. Sonderly, the educational arm of The Geneva Centre, has a fantastic course on ADHD in the classroom, which offers helpful tools to assist both teachers and students in managing the deficits for those with ADHD. Therefore, many of the ideas to support learning for those on the spectrum, also are relevant to those with ADHD, and other learning issues such as Executive Functioning, processing speed and working memory.

Over the past 50 years, the Geneva Centre (est. 1974) has established itself as a world-wide hub for clinical research, family support and educational strategies, garnering international support and attendance!

This year, the agenda is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct 30th/24

Keynote #1

Applied Behaviour Analysis: A rich History and Promising Future – Dr. Bridget Taylor

Keynote #2

Universal Design Daily – Supporting all students in the diverse Classroom – Dr. Paula Kluth

Breakout #1

• Creativity – Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) – Dani Bowman

• Don’t we already do Inclusivity? Creating Schools and Classrooms for All - Dr. Kluth

• Chart a new path forward for Repetitive behaviour Research - Dr. Brian Boyd

Breakout #2

• Neurodiversity in the Workforce – Dr. Kerry Magro

• C0-founder of Mabel’s Labels – Julie Cole

• Love on the Spectrum – Dani Bowman

• Supporting Autistic flourishing: Individual and Cultural Considerations – Dr Weiss

• Supporting Indigenous clients and Families through a Cultural Lens – Jen Ashlee

Thursday, October 31st/24

Keynote #1

Autism Has no Look: A Journey through the Past, Present and Future – Dr Kerry Magro

Keynote #2

History and Future of Treatment of Severe Behaviour Disorders – Dr. Gregory Hanley

Breakout #1

Navigating Life on the Spectrum and How to Build their Relationships – A Romeo, C Romeo and D Isaacman

Breakout #2

• Voices of Care; Insights from 3 Families

• The Female Profiles of Autism – Dr. Isabelle Henault

• Intractable Head-Directed Self-Injurious Behaviour and Functional Considerations – Dr. G Hanley

Friday, November 1st/24

Breakout #1

• Medical Panel

• Autistic Burnout, Inertia, Meltdown and Shutdown (BIMS); What do we know? What helps and what hurts? – Dr. Christie Welch

• Using Augmented and Alternative Communications (AAC) with children with ASD – Brittany Clark & Shawna Flemming

Breakout #2

• The Science of Profound Autism – Dr. Alycia Halladay

• Essential professional Learning Activities for Teaching Students with Autism and Developmental Disabilities – Dr. Jordan Shurr and Alexandra Minuk

• Cultural Humility and Inclusion in ABA & Education – Dr. Sonia Levy

Keynote Speaker

Great Minds are not all the Same – Dr Temple Grandin

Closing Ceremony

Desmond Ngai – Attorney – Self-Advocate

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I look forward to sharing feedback from the Symposium! It is always such an enriching experience and relevant to so many of my clients and students who do not live with Autism but do have other neuro-diverse learning needs. Please check back the first week of November!