2016 Annual Conference Speakers Biographies, Presentation Titles, Topic Summaries International Dyslexia Association Houston Branch AVOIDING LEARNED HELPLESSNESS Cheryl Chase, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice near Cleveland, Ohio, and specializes in the diagnostic and neuropsychological assessment of various conditions impacting children, adolescents, and young adults including ADHD, Learning Disorders, and emotional concerns. She is also the owner and chief content developer of ChasingYourPotential.com, an online, educational portal containing easy to understand resources for those who serve children with unique educational needs. Additionally, Dr. Chase is an accomplished speaker at the local and national levels, leading workshops on such timely topics as executive functioning, anxiety in the classroom, and dyslexia. Finally, Dr. Chase serves as an adjunct instructor at several colleges in the Cleveland area. She is an active member of the International Dyslexia Association and the American Psychological Association. KEYNOTE SUMMARY: AVOIDING LEARNED HELPLESSNESS Summary: Children with learning and attention challenges, because they face many poorly understood obstacles, are vulnerable to developing a belief that their success or failure in school is controlled by external forces such as luck or chance, rather than by their own efforts. This can lead to the development of a condition known as learned helplessness, a powerful psychological situation in which the child displays a passive resignation to events and circumstances around him or her, and no longer puts forth effort. In other words, repeated struggles with reading can lead the child to stop trying. Once learned helplessness has developed, traditional reading interventions can fail to produce gains, but for reasons not often appreciated. This talk will explain the construct of learned helplessness, make the connection to children with learning and attention challenges, and offer the audience strategies and tools to combat the development of this condition in children they serve. Lenox Reed and Will Noel Lecture (Session I) Summary: Reading and Executive Functioning: What s the Link? Summary: Becoming a proficient reader involves many areas of the brain efficiently and seamlessly working together. Once a student is able to crack the alphabetic code, issues of fluency and comprehension become critical, and many students with weak executive functions can struggle with these aspects of literacy. Why? Because the executive functions, sometimes dubbed the air traffic controllers of the brain, are responsible for the coordination of multiple brain centers. This talk will explain, in easy to understand terms, what
the executive functions are and their critical role in the reading process. It will also offer strategies that educators and allied professionals can use to help and support emerging readers with weak executive functions. (Session III) Reading and Executive Functioning: What s the Link? Summary: Becoming a proficient reader involves many areas of the brain efficiently and seamlessly working together. Once a student is able to crack the alphabetic code, issues of fluency and comprehension become critical, and many students with weak executive functions can struggle with these aspects of literacy. Why? Because the executive functions, sometimes dubbed the air traffic controllers of the brain, are responsible for the coordination of multiple brain centers. This talk will explain, in easy to understand terms, what the executive functions are and their critical role in the reading process. It will also offer strategies that educators and allied professionals can use to help and support emerging readers with weak executive functions. NAVIGATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS: IDENTIFYING STUDENTS AND GETTING SERVICES Beth Egmon, Ed.D. CALT Beth Egmon is an Elementary ELA Curriculum Facilitator for Fort Bend ISD. She received a B.A. degree in Political Science, Economics and International Studies from Texas Lutheran University, a M.Ed. degree in Curriculum and Instruction Reading from the University of Houston- Victoria, and an Ed.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction Reading from the University of Houston. She is also an Abydos Literacy Learning Writing Trainer, as well as a Certified Academic Language Therapist. A published author, seasoned conference presenter, and experienced teacher, Dr. Egmon has worked extensively with students with dyslexia and has implemented a variety of reading and writing strategies to help struggling students. SUMMARY: The maze of public schools can often be overwhelming when trying to get your students the services they need. Come learn insights gleaned from a large district in the Houston area and learn ways to steer your child through what can seem to be a daunting system. I will touch on rights and responsibilities of those involved with your students (parent and educators) in order to best meet the needs of your child. I will share advice from people who work with dyslexia students and help you learn how to navigate the system to get the services your child needs to level the playing field. UNDERSTANDING THE NEW WOODCOCK JOHNSON IV Pamela M. Bass, M.A. CCC Pamela Bass has been in practice in the Houston area for more than 30 years. She has experience with young children as well as older adults returning to professional school for second careers. Ms. Bass has provided testing and prepared the documentation for special
accommodations for the SAT and professional exams, such as the Texas State Bar examination. Ms. Bass has presented professional papers on the local, state and national level. The presentations have focused on learning disabilities, especially associated with attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorders in both children and adults. Other presentations have covered her work in Selective Mutism. Ms. Bass has been an Adjunct Instructor and learning specialist for the University of Texas Medical School, Houston since 2003. She has been a volunteer consultant for the group SEARCH that serves the homeless in Houston. She provides diagnostic learning disability testing for The Chinquapin School. Ms. Bass may be emailed directly atpmajbas160@sbcglobal.net. SUMMARY: We will explore the good, the bad and the ugly of the Woodcock- Johnson IV. Both cognitive and achievement batteries have changed significantly, so the presentation will focus on those new areas. A PICTURE OF SUCCESS: USING IMAGERY TO OVERCOME LEARNING CHALLENGES Aisha Exford is the Center Director of the Lindamood- Bell Learning Center located in Houston, TX. Aisha began her career at Lindamood- Bell in the Atlanta, Ga. Learning Center and has since held various positions within the Learning Center Division over the past twelve years. She has led learning centers in Memphis, TN, Birmingham, AL, and Walnut Creek, CA. She also serves as Regional Manager for Learning Centers in Massachusetts, Colorado, New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and Canada. In addition to her extensive experience with Lindamood- Bell, Aisha was also a special education teacher and mentor for a private school school in Atlanta, Ga that served students on the autism spectrum. She is passionate about working with students to remediate learning challenges, and educating parents and professionals on how to best support them. (Sessions II, III) A Picture of Success: Using Imagery to Overcome Learning Challenges Summary: Sensory input is what connects us to the language that we hear and the language that we read. This presentation examines how concept and symbol imagery are related, and how improvements in imagery can have a lasting effect on word reading, and comprehension. Neurological and behavioral research will be shared, validating the imagery- language connection to reading, comprehension, and specific areas of brain function in students with dyslexia or Autism Spectrum Disorders.
KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL INTERACTIONS FOR THE LD CHILD Jill Wiseman, M.A. LPC Jill Wiseman is a Licensed Professional Counselor, has served for fifteen years as the Lower School Counselor at the Briarwood School, a private school specializing in educating children with learning disabilities and developmental delays. With training in family systems and extensive work with children with learning disabilities and A.D.H.D., Ms. Wiseman recognizes the importance of helping others understand how LD affects the whole child. This understanding enables caring adults to more effectively support and educate children who often struggle with social interactions. Ms. Wiseman received a MA degree in family therapy from the University of Houston- Clear Lake and a BS degree in psychology from Texas A&M University. She has presented numerous conferences and workshops, including the Houston Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, Neuhaus Education Center, and various private schools. She is a member of the American School Counselor Association and the Houston Area Independent School Counselor Network. SUMMARY: For many children with learning and attention difficulties, navigating the social world can be as challenging and as important - as reading comprehension or long division. Positive social relationships during childhood and adolescence are better predictors of adult happiness than intelligence or academic standing! This presentation will explore pathways for parents, educators and other professionals to guide children to successful social interactions with their peers in person, as well as through the use of social media as an interactive playground. Panel of Experts W. Daniel Williamson, MD is a developmental pediatrician who uses his knowledge and skills to diagnose and manage children with a broad spectrum of developmental disabilities including dyslexia. He is past president of the Houston Branch of The International Dyslexia Association and the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Neuhaus Education Center and is on their National Advisory Board and he served on The International Dyslexia Association Board of Directors. He established and practiced at Developmental Pediatric Associates with Nancy LaFevers for many years and currently is at the Dan L. Duncan Children s Neurodevelopmental Clinic, Children s Learning Institute in the Division of Developmental Pediatrics at UT Health Houston. He is recipient of many awards including the 2013 Nancy LaFevers Community Service Award.
Michelle Beard, Ph.D. holds a M.Ed. and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, with a specialization in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Beard is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. Before starting her own private practice, Dr. Beard also worked under two local psychologists and gained valuable knowledge about providing psychological services in the private sector and conducting assessments for children in private schools. She has been in private practice since 2006 and specializes in treating children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders. Dr. Beard has been a Lecturer at the University of Houston where she instructed doctoral students in personality assessment. She also volunteered at the Julianna Poor Memorial Counseling Center at Houston's First Baptist Church for several years. Currently, Dr. Beard serves on the Advisory Board of the Houston Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and is a Past Board Member and is also a former President of the Houston Psychological Association. She is a member of the Houston Psychological Association, International Dyslexia Association, Obsessive Compulsive Foundation, and Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Jim Carter, M.A. CCC- SLP is Manager of Speech, Language & Learning at Texas Children's Hospital. He is a certified speech- language pathologist and educational diagnostician whose clinical practice involves evaluating children for language and learning disabilities. A past president of the Houston Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (HBIDA), he is currently serving as the representative for the Western Region for the Branch Council of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA). In 2014, he presented at the IDA International Conference in San Diego, the Houston Branch IDA Annual Conference, and the Region IV Dyslexia Conference in Houston. Gordon Doran is a husband, a father of 2 children, and also a successful entrepreneur. In 4th grade he was diagnosed with dyslexia and placed in special education classes. Gordon persevered in his studies and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship from U of H in the Spring of 1998. Three months after graduation Gordon started his first business called That s Entertainment which advertised local businesses through coupon sales. In the summer of 2000, he started a successful home preservation company called Advantage Pro Services, Inc. which specializes in pressure washing, window cleaning, and gutter cleaning. In 2006, Gordon started Natures Pest Solutions, Inc., now known as Natran, which specializes in low impact green pest control.
Carole Wills, panel moderator, is currently the Head of School for The Briarwood School, a private, non- profit school (Pre- K - 12) for students who present with learning differences, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD and other language- based learning challenges. However her career began in 1986 as a classroom teacher. From there she held interim head of lower and special school positions as well head of middle upper school. She served as the Assistant Head of School just prior to her current position. Carole has played an active role in IDA at both the national and branch level. She is a past president of the Houston Branch of IDA and has also served on the Branch's Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Speakers Committee. Nationally, Carole has previously served on the national Nominating Committee, Branch Council Executive Committee, and currently serves on the IDA Board of Directors.