Anne Carlsen to hold autism workshop

The Anne Carlsen Center has invited two literacy experts to Bismarck on May 5-6 for empowering workshops examining tools and techniques that support communication in individuals with autism.

The workshops will be held at Bismarck’s Kelly Inn, and will feature Joanne Cafiero, Ph.D. (May 5), and Mark Coppin, ATP (May 6). “Literacy-based Interventions Supporting Communication in Individuals with Autism” is designed for parents, teachers, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and all others who work with children with autism.

Cafiero began working with individuals with autism in the mid-1980s. She developed and implemented a program for non-verbal children for the Maryland Public School System using state-of-the-art communication technology. In 1986 she was awarded a master’s degree in special education, followed by a specialist’s degree in early childhood special education, from the University of Toledo. Cafiero was awarded a doctoral degree in curriculum from Johns Hopkins University in 1995. More information is available at www.cafierocommunications.com.

Cafiero’s May 5 workshop will explore the latest, soon-to-be published research on the positive outcomes of individualized reading and writing programs for individuals with autism from preschool age to adulthood. Participants will learn how to develop adapted literacy tools that facilitate learning, community involvement and play for children with autism.

Mark Coppin has 23 years of experience working at the Anne Carlsen Center campus in Jamestown. He began as a special education instructor in 1987 and, throughout the years, has served a variety of roles in education and technology at ACC. He is currently the assistive technology director. As a member of ACC’s outreach technology team, Coppin provides evaluations and consultation services throughout North Dakota. He has attended and presented at state, regional and national conference.

Coppin holds bachelor’s degrees from Minnesota State University Moorhead in speech communications and in special education, and is a certified Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. In 2009, he was chosen as an Apple Distinguished Educator, and became a part of a select group of K-12 and higher education professionals with an identified expertise in educational technology leadership.

Participants in Coppin’s May 6 workshop will learn how to create materials to support literacy for individuals with autism. Applications used in the workshop will include Boardmaker Plus, PictureIt and Pixwriter.

Registration is at 8 a.m. May 5, with workshop sessions running from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Participants can attend a one-day workshop (Cafiero on May 5) or two days of workshops (Cafiero on May 5 and Coppin on May 6). Graduate credit is available for those attending both workshops. CEUs are pending.

For questions, contact Adrianne Dempsey, ACC program coordinator: evaluations and trainings, at 1-800-568-5175 or by e-mail at adie.dempsey@annecenter.org. Visit www.anne-center.org to view the conference brochure. Attendees who postmark registration materials by April 1 will receive a discount. A limited number of spots are available for the Coppin workshop, so early registration is encouraged.

Tags: anne carlsen, in the area, community, education, accc, autism, workshop