Saturday, March 14, 2015 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. DoubleTree Hotel, South Portland
Reserve "Chasing the Rabbit: A Dad's Life Raising A Son on the Spectrum" by Derek Volk and Dylan Volk
Presentation Slides
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| 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Registration/Exhibitors |
| 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
Welcome Remarks and Keynote
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): A welcome by Kim Moody, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Center
Chasing the Rabbit - The Unique Perspective of a Dad Who's Raising a Son on the Autism Spectrum: Keynote Address by Derek Volk and Dylan Volk |
| 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. | Break/Exhibitors |
| 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Breakout Session #1 (choose one of three presentations) |
| 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch/Topic Tables/Exhibitors |
| 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. | Breakout Session #2 (choose one of three presentations) |
| 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. | Cookie & Coffee Break sponsored by Spring Harbor |
| 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Breakout Session#3 (choose one of three presentations) |
Our Breakout topics include:
- Supporting Social Skills for Children with ASD through Music and Drama
- Students with Autism: Strategies for Success in the School and Classroom
- Strategies for Families of Kids with Picky Eaters
- Psychiatric Medication & Developmental Disabilities: Information for Parents and Caregivers
- Setting a Foundation for Future Employment for Young Adults with Autism
- Transition Under the IDEA and Alternatives to Guardianship
- The ABC's of FCT - Targeting Language Acquisition from a Behavioral Perspective
- Strategies for Improving Participation in Daily Occupations
- It's Not Easy Being Me: Highlighting the Strengths
For full details about all of our presentations, please click here.
Our 2015 Exhibitors include:
- Affinity
- Alpha One
- Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc
- Aucocisco School & Learning Center
- Autism Society of Maine
- Autism Speaks
- Back To Basics Behavioral Health Services
- Barefoot Books
- The Bridges Foundation
- Carlisle Academy of Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports
- Casa
- Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
- Child Development Services
- Choices Are For Everyone
- Derek Volk
- Disability Rights Center
- Easter Seals Maine
- Family Chiropractic Associates
- Group Main Stream, Inc
- Kelly's Books To Go
- KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs
- Living Innovations
- Maine Autism Institute for Education and Research
- Maine Behavioral Health
- Maine Center on Deafness
- Maine CITE
- Maple Leaf Center
- Maine Parent Federation
- New England Institute for Teacher Education and Research
- Pine Tree Society
- Providence Health Services
- PSL Services / STRIVE
- Riding To The Top
- Saco River Health Services
- Saco River Education
- SequelCare of Maine
- SNHU Graduate Programs
- Southern Maine Parent Awareness
- Spurwink Services
- Waban Projects
- Woodfords Family Services
The 7th annual Southern Maine Autism Conference will was held Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the DoubleTree Hotel in South Portland.
Lighting the way to hope
Pine Tree Society and Spurwink are pleased to present the 7th annual Southern Maine Autism Conference! The conference is designed for parents and family members of children with autism spectrum disorders, as well as their educators and other service providers. Our attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies that can be implemented immediately in the home, school and community. Maybe more importantly, we work hard to create an environment of networking and support. You will meet others who understand ? and hopefully you will stay connected beyond the end of the day.
Keynote Address
Chasing the Rabbit: The Unique Perspective of a Dad Who's Raising a Son on the Autism Spectrum
Presented by Derek Volk and Dylan Volk
Derek Volk?s oldest child ? his only son ? was two-years-old when his wife suggested, ?Something is not quite right with Dylan.? They struggled for the next several years as they were bounced from one ?expert? to another, each offering a unique perspective on Dylan?s challenging behaviors. Finally, at eight-years-old, Dylan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and the Volk family was able to start making sense of Dylan's differences.
Derek has watched Dylan grow into a young man who has always tried to live a normal life, but struggles to make that happen. When explaining how Dylan has functioned as someone living with Asperger?s in a fast paced and often confusing world, Derek uses the analogy of greyhound racing. In greyhound racing, dogs are lured to race around a track by chasing an artificial rabbit until they cross the finish line, but the greyhound never actually catches the rabbit. Dylan, like the greyhound, sees normality as the rabbit and believes that if he runs fast enough, he can catch it. Unfortunately, he doesn?t, no matter how hard he runs.
This colorful keynote presentation is peppered with anecdotes as Derek Volk shares his experiences raising a son on the Autism spectrum. Both Dylan and Derek will offer thoughts on the challenges, triumphs and coping strategies from the early days to the adolescent years to life in the ?real world? as a young adult. This session will showcase the unique relationship between a father and his son who has spent his entire life chasing the rabbit. Specifically, the keynote will address:
- How couples can fight the tendency to let the challenges of raising a child with autism derail their marriage.
- How important it is for parents to trust their instincts. No one knows a child better than his parents, so if advice or counsel doesn?t feel right, it probably isn?t.
- How parents can maintain a relationship with their child with autism and avoid becoming angry or resentful about it.
- What parents might want to know if raising a child who is ?chasing the rabbit? from a young adult who is living that experience.
Learn more about Derek and Dylan Volk
Made possible by:
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Autism Society of MaineChoices Are For Everyone |
