2020 SUMMITS
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2020 SUMMITS
This parenting summit is all about helping you to help your child — and your family — thrive. Thirty of the world’s autism and parenting experts and influencers have come together to share the most effective symptom management and parenting strategies for autistic kids with lower support needs (a.k.a. “high-functioning”), and their parents.
They share insights on decoding and improving behavior, addressing common challenges for neuro-atypical kids, creating room for joy in the day-to-day, nutrition, social struggles, empowering your child for success, and so much more.
Join thousands of parents improving life for their children with autism, as well as themselves and their families.
Author of Thinking in Pictures and The Loving Push, Autism Advocate, Autistic Adult
Author of The Out of Sync Child, Sensory Expert
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Author of Beyond Behaviors
Author of Differently Wired, Founder of TiLT Parenting
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Founder of Autism in Black
Authors of The Self-Driven Child
Founder of Autism in Context, Author of 15+ Books on Autism
Developmental Pediatrician, Founder of Parent Child Journey Program
Executive Function & 2e Coach
Join us on a journey of discovery where you will learn how to nurture your child with ADHD while bringing peace to your entire family. Our goal is to help you understand your child while sharing strategies that will help you:
The behavior of complex kids can be frustrating and confusing. Learn the WHYs behind your child’s behavior, and get the tools and strategies you need to help your child.
When your child is wired differently, sometimes the day-to-day tasks are a challenge. What does your child struggle with? Self-regulation? Organization? Being flexible? Managing big feelings? School and homework? Our experts will help you with all of this, and more!
It’s easy to focus on the struggle and what you think needs to be “fixed”. Our experts will provide strategies to nurture your relationship with your child, and to celebrate and enjoy what's awesome about your kids, creating room for joy.
Autism isn’t a puzzle if you understand the autistic brain and the reasons for neurodivergence. Learn why your kid is struggling , and how to help them succeed.
We've pulled 10 of our favorite summit sessions out of the archives to create a mega-bonus for All Access Pass holders. They include internationally-known experts like Ross Greene, PhD, Edward Hallowell, MD, and Dawn Huebner, PhD, along with seven others. These sessions cover behavior, connection, anxiety, resilience, advocacy, and talking to your kids about suicide. These are important experts and sessions you're not hearing in the 2020 Summits.
If you’re interested in a Pro License All Access Pass to share the conference within your school, non-profit, or practice, click here.
Salya Namazi, Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist & Licensed Psychologist
When you realize that something about your child is different, the first step is to find someone to test your child. In this interview, neuropsychologist Salya Namazi describes what a neuropsychological assessment will involve. From the parent interview, to talking to teachers, determining which tests to administer, through to delivering the diagnosis and describing appropriate next actions, you will learn how a neuropsychologist gets the information to provide you with a roadmap to help your child succeed.
Donna Henderson, Psy.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist with The Stixrud Group
One of the most common questions parents have after they get a diagnosis for their child is, “Should I tell them?” Listen in as Dr. Donna Henderson talks with Sarah about how to have this talk with your child to help them feel empowered rather than judged. You will learn about the importance of accepting your child for who they are, and will come away with concrete strategies for communicating with your child at their level.
Abila Tazanu, M.D.
Founder & Director of the One World Center for Autism
You’ve just learned that there is a medical reason for why your child does things that were previously inexplicable. But it’s so hard to know what to do next. Dr. Abila Tazanu works with families through all stages of the process, and in this presentation she shares her wisdom about each stage of the process – from your own emotional reaction to the news, through getting clarity about your child’s struggles, to providing targeted help. You will learn about the cultural forces that can shape how we understand disability and get clear concrete steps about how to prepare your child to living a life that they love.
Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Founder of Autism in Black
It’s tough raising neurodiverse children, but raising Black neurodiverse children is even more challenging. Maria Davis-Pierre founded Autism in Black to help Black parents feel understood, and to educate clinicians about how to help their Black clients. In this conversation, we explore what it means to be Black AND neurodivergent. Listen in as Sarah and Maria talk about the impact of religion, racism, policing, and education on Black families, and how white people can help.
Gonzalo Laje, M.D.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
You have a diagnosis, and now it’s time to build your treatment team! In this presentation, Dr. Gonzalo Laje describes the people who can help, and talks about how to make sure you address the issues that are most important. You will get tips on how to address challenges with exercise, sleep, and nutrition, and also how techniques like neuromodulation and medication work to help make your child available for learning.
Jackie Flynn, Ed.S., LMHC, RPT
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, EMDR Therapist
Sometimes our kids say or do horrible things to us when they are upset. In this interview, Jackie Flynn describes what is going on for our kids, and ways you can help them develop the ability to stay calm in the heat of the moment. She also talks about ways that we as parents can self-regulate, so that our kids can calm down more quickly. This session is packed with practical information you can use right away to help yourself and your kids.
Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Author of Beyond Behaviors
What does a child’s behavior tell us about the child? For the last 100 years, we have thought of behavior as something to be controlled and shaped. But when we focus on the behavior itself, we miss the possibility of better understanding the reason for the behavior. In this interview, Dr. Mona Delahooke talks about the difference between top down behaviors (which we can control) and bottom up behaviors (which come from our body’s attempts to adapt to the situation). She also describes the different states of regulation and dysregulation, what some of the triggers might be, and how to help our kids through them.
Laura Sibbald, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist, Co-Author of Parenting Toolbox
One of the primary things children have to learn as they grow up is how to recover when they experience a big emotion. Some kids just seem to learn how to do it through experience, but other kids need explicit guidance. In this interview, Laura Sibbald describes strategies that she has used with teachers to help them build trust and teach their students emotional advocacy and self-regulation skills, including how to build a sense of safety, trust, and positive regard, how to establish healthy coping skills and encourage problem-solving to empower your child and give them confidence.
Debbie Reber, M.A.
Author of Differently Wired, Founder of TiLT Parenting
If you can stay calm, your kids will find it easier to stay calm. Join Debbie Reber and Sarah as they talk about the stresses their families are navigating during the pandemic and learn Debbie’s strategies for setting healthy boundaries, noticing and honoring your emotions, taking care of yourself, and planning for the future, even when the world around you is anything but calm.
Dan Shapiro, M.D.
Developmental Pediatrician, Creator of the Parent Child Journey Program
Kids with ADHD have trouble “putting on the brakes”, whereas kids with anxiety and autism often struggle to “stay off the brakes”. In this presentation, Dr. Dan Shapiro describes how this can play out for kids, and ways we can help. You will learn about the impact of behavioral interventions and medications on your child’s braking system, and the importance of taking your child’s unique profile into account when choosing an appropriate intervention.
Susan Hopkins, Ed.D.
Executive Director of The MEHRIT Centre
How can we create a learning environment for children where they are excited to learn, and willing to make mistakes? Listen to Dr. Hopkins as she describes the four components of the Energy-Centered Teaching Model (ProtECT, ConnECT, CollECT and DetECT). You will learn about blue brain, red brain, and brown brain and how these brain states explain dysregulated behavior. You will also learn about how to help kids feel safe and connected so they can learn.
Margaret Kjelgaard, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Most of us learn to speak and listen without needing explicit coaching about how language works. That’s because our brains are wired to do that. But to help kids who struggle to learn how to understand others and express themselves, you must first figure out what aspects of language they don’t understand. In this interview, Dr. Margaret Kjelgaard describes the different language systems (content, form, & use), what it looks like when each of those systems breaks down, and how to help your kids.
Sharon Saline, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist & author of What Your Child with ADHD Wishes You Knew
Big feelings can be a challenge to manage for kids with ADHD and/or autism — kids who are often more sensivite and likely don’t have the self-awareness, regulation, and emotional communication skills to appropriately navigate their emotions. Plus, parents can struggle with big feelings, too. Sharon Saline, PsyD, discusses how to help our kids navigate and regulate their big emotions, and how parents can remain calm to keep everyone’s big emotions from becoming explosive.
Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.
Author of The Out of Sync Child, Sensory Expert
Modern brain science is proving the large role sensory processing plays in human behavior. Not only is sensory the way we process our environment and what’s happening around us to trigger responses, but it can also be a vital part of how we regulate our bodies and emotions within those responses. In this session, sensory guru and author of “The Out-of-Sync Child,” Carol Stock Kranowitz discusses sensory tools and activities to calm kids with ADHD and/or autism. This session will fill your parenting toolbox.
Joye Newman, M.A.
Perceptual Motor Therapist, Co-Author of Growing an In-Sync Child
What you see and how you process it is fundamental to your ability to navigate the world. In this fascinating interview, Joye Newman explains the difference between what you see and what you do with what you see, and how difficulties accurately processing the visual world can lead to confusion, clumsiness, and inexplicable behavior. She describes how some of these behaviors are misunderstood, what to look for, and simple activities you can do at home to help your child’s vision become more functional.
Monica Adler Werner, M.A.
Executive Function and Parent Coach, Co-Author of Unstuck & On Target
Some kids really struggle to be flexible, even when they WANT to be! Listen in as Monica Werner, one of the coauthors of the Unstuck & On Target intervention, describes how to help our kids learn about what being stuck feels like, its impact, and how to get through it. By increasing self-awareness and thinking through problems ahead of time, kids will find it easier to do the hard work of getting unstuck. Learn about the changes in the newest edition (2018), and get ideas for helping your child navigate challenging situations.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Author of The Autistic Brain and The Loving Push, Autism Advocate, Autistic Adult
Dr. Temple Grandin has navigated life with autism for many decades. Raised in the 1950s, before IDEA mandated that children with disabilities be educated, her mother searched until she found schools that supported her daughter and helped her to learn. Listen in as Sarah interviews Dr. Grandin about how to help kids with autism realize their goals and dreams. You will learn about the different types of autistic thinking, and why we need all kinds of thinkers to create a better world.
Peter Vermeulen, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Founder of Autism in Context, Author of 15+ Books on Autism
Peter Vermeulen believes that the best way to understand autism is by understanding how an autistic brain experiences the world. In his groundbreaking book, he describes how we use context to understand the meaning of everything we encounter. Listen to this fascinating discussion where you will learn how we use context to navigate our sensations, social interactions, and communication with others. And once you understand the importance of context, you will learn how to help your children navigate new situations by making sure to “push the context button.”
Kim Clairy, OTR/L
Licensed OT, Private Consultant, ASD Expert, Autistic Adult
It is common for autistic children to have trouble with eating. Sensory issues, difficulties with the fine motor aspects of eating, and black and white thinking can lead to challenges maintaining a balanced diet. But what happens when you combine those challenges with body dysmorphia, difficulty understanding internal bodily sensations, and a need for autonomy? Treating eating disorders when the person is autistic requires finesse and a deep understanding of the challenges that can get in the way. In this talk, Kim Clairy will help you understand the challenges, and provide innovative strategies that can really help.
Paul Micallef
Founder of EmotionsExplained.com.au, Autistic Adult
Growing up autistic, without a diagnosis, Paul Micallef had to figure out why he struggled to understand what was expected and the impact he had on others simply because of his different wiring. In this interview, you will learn about some of the challenges that autistic people face while navigating a world filled with people who are not wired the same way. Paul’s explanations will help you understand why your children may react in unexpected ways. And once you understand the reasons, the responses are much more understandable.
Jeffrey Kranzler, Ph.D., LCSW-C
Psychologist, Author of The Crimson Protector
When our kids feel deeply uncomfortable about something, it can be for many different reasons. For example, writing an essay may feel overwhelming because there are so many parts to it. Or an environment may be aversive for sensory reasons (e.g., a loud concert, or a room with fluorescent lighting). Or working on something that you previously failed at may trigger feelings of shame. In this interview, Dr. Jeffrey Kranzler describes strategies to help your child learn to face their fears and conquer them, so they can develop a sense of themselves as competent learners, ready to take on the world.
Sarah Cheyette, M.D.
Pediatric Neurologist, Author of ADHD and the Focused Mind
More and more kids are getting the dual diagnosis of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder since the latest version of the diagnostic manual opened the door to the possibility that individuals can have both. Dr. Cheyette discusses the differences between ADHD and autism, how to know if you should have your child evaluated for both diagnoses, and what this combination means for your family.
Rachelle Sheely, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, Co-Developer of RDI®
Many parents have found themselves acting as facilitators for their kids’ education, and some of us are realizing that remote learning won’t work for our children. How do you decide when it is time to pull your child out of “school” and homeschool your kids yourself? In this interview, Dr. Rachelle Sheely talks about her decision to homeschool her own children, and the freedom this decision gave her to construct learning experiences that bought her joy, and helped her kids stay excited about learning.
Julie F. Skolnick, M.A., J.D.
Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm
Perfectionism is one of the biggest roadblocks to self-confidence, especially for kids who haven’t yet learned to harness it and who often struggle with big emotions and self-regulation. Julie Skolnick, founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, outlines signs of unhealthy perfectionism in kids with ADHD and/or autism, as well as strategies to help your child navigate the feelings and overwhelm when perfectionism erupts.
Adam Pletter, Psy.D.
Child Psychologist, Founder of iParent101
Our kids are digital natives, and unfortunately many parents are not. Furthermore, the lure of video games and social media can be difficult to resist, especially if you have ADHD or autism. In this interview, Dr. Adam Pletter explains why social media is so engaging for our kids, and how parents can work with their kids to develop healthy habits and learn to self-regulate around electronics use. We also discuss the special challenges of this work when kids are learning remotely.
Seth Perler, M.Ed.
Executive Function & 2e Coach, Former Gifted Educator
If your child is struggling — to get things done, to get started, to manage their time, to meet your expectations — executive functioning deficits are likely the underlying reason. Executive Functioning Coach, Seth Perler, explains what executive functioning is, how to know when poor executive functioning skills are to blame for things that look like behavior challenges and laziness, and how to create the systems, mindset, and habits and routines necessary to overcome the day-to-day executive functioning challenges many kids with ADHD and/or autism face.
Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., M.S.
Executive Function Consultant, Veteran Educator
There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding school right now, especially if it’s a different format than your child is used too — like virtual learning online. With that uncertainty comes many challenges, not just learning and academic. Executive functioning expert Brendan Mahan discusses all the ways our kids (and parents) are impacted by schooling during a pandemic and he offers a multitude of insights and strategies to create academic and emotional success in uncertain times.
Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., ET/P & Rachel Kapp, M.A., ET/P
Educational Therapists, Hosts of the Learn Smarter podcast
One of the most common challenges for parents raising kids with ADHD and/or autism is the homework battle. Stephanie Pitts and Rachel Kapp, educational therapists and hosts of the Learn Smarter Podcast, share the most common causes of homework struggles and how to address them effectively. As well, they discuss how to preserve your relationship with your child, one of the most common casualties of the battle between parents and kids over schoolwork.
Debbie Steinburg-Kuntz, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Founder of Bright & Quirky
As parents, we are trained to focus on the things we need to fix so our kids can be successful. Unfortunately, that means that twice-exceptional kids (with significant gifts and significant challenges) spend a lot of time feeling like they are broken. In this interview, Debbie Steinberg-Kuntz explains the importance of fanning the embers of your child’s gifts. She also talks about the power of shared interests, and ways to use them to address the challenges.
William Stixrud, Ph.D. & Ned Johnson
Authors of The Self-Driven Child
In their NY Times best-selling book, The Self-Driven Child, Bill Stixrud & Ned Johnson help parents understand why giving your child a sense of control over their environment is the key to self-motivation. In this interview you will learn how a sense of control can serve as an antidote to the toxic effects of stress and why teens and young adults need a sense of control to become independent. You will also learn why a sense of control does not come easily to neurodiverse kids, and how we can help our kids, teens, and young adults develop a healthy sense of control.
Parent Coach. RDI® Consultant. Special Needs Care Navigator.
Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. founded her company, Guiding Exceptional Parents, to help parents learn how to confidently and effectively help their children with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and other brain-based differences at home, at school, and in the community.
In addition to hosting trainings, lecturing, and working with individual clients, Sarah is co-editor of the book Technology Tools for Students with Autism, and has written articles for the 2e Newsletter, Washington Parent Magazine, and the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum.
Parenting ADHD/Autism Coach. Award-Winning Author. Speaker.
Penny Williams trains and coaches parents raising kids with ADHD and/or autism. She’s the parent of a son with ADHD and autism, and the award-winning author of four books on parenting kids with ADHD, including Boy Without Instructions.
Penny is the founder of ParentingADHDandAutism.com, Founder and Instructor for the Parenting ADHD & Autism Academy, host of the Parenting ADHD Podcast, facilitator for the Happy Mama Retreat, and a frequent contributor on parenting and children with ADHD for ADDitude Magazine.
If you’re interested in a Pro License All Access Pass to share the conference within your school, non-profit, or practice, click here.