Going Home

On the way down to Orlando, we had driven all night- not a fun way to travel- so we decided to get some sleep and leave really early i the morning. We left the condo around 3:30am and besides a pretty nasty storm as we passed Atlanta, we had a pretty uneventful trip home, arriving by 6:30 pm. Our dogs were so happy to see us- they both just hung around Eric for days! ASA was a great conference, we enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people and spending time with dear friends. We are looking forward to MAAP and NATTAP later this fall when we can get together again!

The Final Day

On Saturday we went to hear Temple Grandin’s keynote and then spent time playing in the exhibit hall- especially the kids in the big bouncy house. Jamie went ‘trick or treating’- collecting freebies from the booths. She really liked the silly putty, google socks and earth balls.  The kids helped pack up AAPC and we said goodbye to friends then it was back to the condo and swimming. Jamie mentioned wanting to take a helicopter ride so she and I took a short trip over DowntownDisney- it was really cool to fly over the Gaylord resort- it gave a clear view of just how huge that place is!  We also stoppedi for alittle shopping- her new favorite pasttime!

Presenting and Playing

Friday was when we presented. Jamie and Jordan spent the morning in the incredible pool at the Gaylord Palms Resort- the conference home- with a new friend. Then they met Eric and Craig at the sushi bar that became the family favorite spot to meet.  Our presentation went pretty smoothly , I really enjoy presenting as a family- its never the same twice and I gain insight into the others as they speak. Jamie had found a really cool booth in the exhibit hall- they sold fuzzy soft socks- three at a time and all three didn’t match- perfect for our presentation “Socks Don’t Matter” so she got a set and wore them (without shoes!) while she presented! It was perfect!!

The Conference Begins!

Jen here, taking over the blog. Thursday the conference got into full swing- we attended a few sessions and had a great time in the exhibit hall- that’s the kids’ favorite place at conferences! Cameron continued to make friends and collect emails/phone numbers (he’s famous for that in our family!) Jordan was excited to see the book he reviewed for AAPC arrive. It’s called ‘The Chameleon Kid.” I love seeing my friends from around the country- they really inspire me- and besides, they are alot of fun!! Tomorrow we present, its alot less stressful this year (last year was our first time), especially since we just did our family presentation the previous month in Louisville, so there wasn’t much to do to get it ready. We got to attend the AAPC reception that night. Keith and Brenda Myles are the best! Then it was back to our condo and the kids hit the pool.

A Few Minutes With Dr. Ruth Aspy & Dr. Barry Grossman, Award Winning Authors of “The Ziggurat Model”

 I first met Ruth and Barry and heard them present on The Ziggurat Model at ASA in Rhode Island two years ago. My immendiate reaction to their presentation was, “These people GET IT!” The more I am around them, the more I am impressed by them.We sure enjoyed spending some quality time with them in Orlando- that’s Jamie with Ruth in the picture. They were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedule to answer a few questions

1. How did each of you begin working in the field of ASD and how did you come to work together?

 Both of us worked as psychologists in the public schools.  We shared many projects and often consulted with each other on challenging cases.  Our roles included working as part of autism evaluation teams, consulting regarding behavior interventions for students with ASD, and training staff to identify and provide services for those students.  While we were working with all students, ASD became our special interest and area of emphasis. 

2. What led to the creation of ‘The Ziggurat Model?’ Have you been at all surprised by its success? We created the Ziggurat Model out of a need that we observed.  As psychologists, we consulted with a number of school staff and parents.  A need for increased knowledge about the characteristics of ASD as well as effective intervention for individuals with ASD was evident. We saw some common pitfalls in the design of interventions for individuals on the spectrum.  Too often students were “blamed” for behaviors directly related to the underlying ASD.  This resulted in punitive responses.  There was also a tendency to put students into settings without adequate support. We sought to give people a process for effective comprehensive intervention planning  

At times, we have been surprised by the positive response.  The Ziggurat seems to have “arrived” at a time when many people were ready for and seeking a framework to provide structure to the intervention process.   We have seen the Model adopted at statewide and province wide levels.  The model has been applied successfully in residential settings, social understanding groups, and parent training.  The applications of the model have definitely gone beyond what we had originally imagined.

3. Who has inspired you? (note:not necessarily just folks related to ASD) Dr. Brenda Myles is an inspiration.  She works tirelessly to make a difference for those with ASD.  Her knowledge is encyclopedic.  Throughout it all, she keeps her sense of humor.   Parents of kids with ASD who not only diligently work to remove obstacles that may impede the success of their children, but who also serve as educators and mentors for the broader autism community are also inspirations to us.  Eric and Jen Blackwell and Kristi Sakai are prime examples.  They are the true experts.

 

4. Are you currently working on any new projects? We are working with experts in evaluation to write a textbook on interdisciplinary evaluation for diagnosis of ASD.  This is an area that we think is critical.  It is essential that evaluations be conducted by highly trained and experienced professionals working as a team.  Our hope is that this textbook will improve the preparation of professionals who will serve on interdisciplinary teams and as a result more families will have access to quality evaluations. We are also building a private practice in Plano, Texas.  The practice includes a team of professionals from a variety of fields who work together to provide higher quality evaluation and intervention services.

 

5. Outside of work, how do you enjoy spending time?

We both enjoy spending time with our families and friends. 

The Incredible 5-Point Scale – Assisting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Understanding Social Interactions and Controlling Their Emotional Responses

This book is awesome. This is a great book to use for home and school. Our family (Jordan’s Favorite!) It has been a big help for us in helping him with Social Interactions and in keeping his emotions in proper boundaries.

The Hidden Curriculum: Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations

The great part about this book is that it has so many applications at home and school. It offers practical suggestions for how to teach and learn the subtle messages that most people seem to pick up automatically, but often have to be taught directly to those on the spectrum.

BUY IT AT THE AAPC BOOKSTORE–CLICK HERE

Starting Points: The Basics of Understanding and Supporting Children and Youth with Asperger Syndrome

This is a book that is recently published that we REALLY like. When you are looking at where and how to start out with your journey with a child with Autism, there are plenty of practical solutions to help you start in the right direction. It is exactly what the title implies…Starting Points.

BUY IT AT THE AAPC BOOKSTORE–CLICK HERE

ASA Day Two- Meeting up with Friends…

One of the great things that we get to do at ASA is to meet up with some friends. ASA attracts a few of our favorite people in the whole wide world. Here are some of the great people that we got to say “hi” to:

(Eric:) Jill and Simon from OCALI- Fun to laugh with you guys about driving 15 hours! You guys are the best!

(Eric and Jen:) Keith and Brenda Myles from AAPC and from EVERYWHERE in the autism world. Come to think of it…EVERYONE at AAPC is cool and we get to see most everyone from there. Just look up “nice people” in the dictionary. Their picture is there!

Keith with Craig, Jamie and Jordan

(Eric:)Barry Grossman and Ruth Aspy from the Ziggurat Group. They are always helpful and ask about the kids. Simply put, they inspire me.

(Cam:) Steven Shore is a LOT of fun. He is a great guy who has been helping people with Autism and Aspergers advocate for themselves for many years. He has a great sense of humor and he is a brilliant presenter.

(Jordan:) I like Kirsten (from AAPC). I just love her passion for books and I like to talk with her. She is a nice friend that I can talk with about autism ideas.

(Craig:) I like hanging out with Dad the best. We have plenty of fresh seafood to sample here in Florida and at home we are always too busy for cooking and relaxing.

(Jamie:) I did not really meet him, but Elijah Wapner (presenter and comedian) was really funny…I enjoyed that presentation and laughed a lot.

ASA- Orlando Fl - Day One!

(Eric: ) We thought that we would blog a bit about our ASA Conference speaking experiences so that our family and friends can see what we are up to! We will include pictures here where possible and will be adding a Photo Gallery into it tonight!

Actually, we probably should start at Day 0 or even Day -1 (7pm…that’s when we took off on our 15 hour plus drive to Orlando). Long trips are always long and this was no exception, but Team Blackwell did just fine. By the time we got to Kissimmee (suburb of Orlando), everyone was READY to check into the condo and get some rest. Mom and Dad were pretty tired by overall it was a great trip.

We did decide that going through Lexington and south on I-75 through Chatanooga was a little more fun than through Nashville and it took about the same amount of time.

Day 2 - part one!

Here are some photos of the amazing Gaylord Palms Resort and the Conference center.

Alligators! Very cool!

Favorite Sessions for today:

Cam: My first 20 years, Learning to be an effective advocate. This was presented by Jordan Ackerson and Lisa Lieberman, Valerie Paraeiz, and Elijah Wapner. This was great because it had people on the spectrum and their mothers explaining how self determination and self advocacy have helped them in their lives. Awesome.

Favorite thing that he did today:

Jordan: I tried sushi and I liked it! It tasted different, like cold rice and greens, but I liked it!

Craig: Cooking Fresh Salmon last night and having some really good sushi today. Good eats.

Jamie: I like hanging out at the exhibit hall and finding some fun stuff at one of the jewelry places there! I also like to go swimming and that has been fun!