The Disability Information and Resource Centre

The Flinders University Research in Special Education RISE Conference will be held at

Flinders University Victoria Square Campus
182 Victoria Square (the old Reserve Bank Building)

Friday November 5th 2010

Conference highlights include

Keynote presentation by distinguished scholar Dr Brenton Prosser:

“More THAN Medical Answers: What educational research tells us About ADHD”

Conference Presenters

• Anne Bayetto
• Kerry Bissaker
• Katherine Dix
• Gaynor Dorrell
• Caroline Ellison
• Sue Farrent
• Linda Hale
• Mary Jacquier
• Mark LeMessurier
• Julie Maney
• Julie McMillan
• Annie O’Connell
• Gise Paine
• Jo Shearer

PLUS launch of the Flinders University new Special Education Degrees

Conference Registrations Opening Soon

For more information: http://caef.flinders.edu.au/events/index.php

For Enquiries Email: educationalfutures@flinders.edu.au

Verbal Behaviour Consultants will be holding several workshops entitled Intensive Introduction to Verbal Behaviour: Hands on teaching in the Natural Environment.

If you are a parent, teacher, professional or carer of a child with autism, downs syndrome, aspergers, ADHD, or other developmental delays and would like to master the skills needed to teach verbal behaviour, then this is for you!

Location: 112 Great South Road, Newmarket, Auckland
Date/Time: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th June 2010
Cost: TBA – Please e-mail for more information

Location: 250 Westminster St, Christchurch, New Zealand
Date/Time: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th June 2010
Cost: TBA – Please email for more information

To book or obtain more information email Verbal Behaviour Consultants at workshops@verbal-behaviour-consultants.com or you can look at this flyer/booking form.

Verbal Behaviour Consultants also have  consultants available for consultations in Australia, New Zealand & Tasmania in the month of June. Typically they see clients for 1 or 2 days for each consultation, in as many environments as possible. Beforehand, using assessment tools & parent intake forms, they’ll gather as much information as possible. During the consultation they’ll teach your entire family how to effectively teach your child, and they follow this up with a thorough report. To arrange a free initial consult, please contact Verbal Behaviour Consultants at info@networkinterventions.com.

Workshop for Professionals only

Date:      Monday  November 9th 2009
Time:     10am – 4.45pm
Where:  Grand Chifley Adelaide
208 South Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000

Cost:      $220.00; Early Bird Registration $180.00; by 6th October

Attendees will receive a Certificate for Continuing Professional Development Points- Attendance time

The program:-
10.00                 Arrive & Register
10.30 – 11.30  Dr Valsamma Eapen is Professor and Chair of Infant, Child and    Adolescent Psychiatry, University of New South Wales &  Sydney South West Area Health Service.

11.30 – 11.45    Coffee/Tea

11.45 – 1.15       Dr Andrew Kinsella Victoria who has a passionate personal understanding & awareness of ADHD

1.15 – 2.00        Light Lunch & Coffee/Tea

2.00 – 3.00      John Mendoza Chair, National Advisory Council on Mental Health

3.15 – 4.15        Karen Gosling, Singapore Counsellor, International update and awareness

Questions and forum discussion 30 min max
4.30.- 4.45      Light refreshments

To Register contact:

Attention Disorder Association of South Australia (ADASA)
302 South Road, Hilton, 5033      Email admin@adasa.com.au
Information & Support Line / Office  (08) 8152 0187;  fax: (08) 8152 0447

Date: Friday November 6th 2009

Presented by Respected Professionals Leading the information sessions and discussions on AD/HD

Attendees will receive a Certificate for Continuing Professional Developments Points

Cost: $60.00; Early Bird Registration $35.00, available until 6th October

The Presenters, Format & Program is planned as follows: -

Arrival time 4.30pm for 5.00pm – Light refreshments – Snacks & Finger food

Where: The Grand Chifley, 208 South Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000

5.00 – 5.45     Michele Toner. Originally training and working as a high school teacher, Michele was awarded a Master of Special Education Degree with Honours in 2001, and won the University of WA’s prize for Best Research in Special Education PhD – ADHD Educational Consultant and Life Coach WA

6.00 to 6.45     Mark Brandtman. Educational Consultant NSW. Supporting schools as well as to parents and school students with the effective management of A.D/H.D. Mark is a co publisher of Research with the University of Western Australia on Time Management in AD/HD Children and Adults presented at the World Federation of ADHD’s Conference in Vienna Austria in 2009.

7.00 to 7.45     Leonie Cecich. Professional Music Development WA She is a Primary School Music Specialist (B. Ed) and is the director of Kids ‘n’ Music. She is also the composer and author of the “You Gotta Get Up” series. Leonie was awarded the National Award for Excellence in School Music Education in 2008.  and
Geraldine Moore experienced Mother & Author. She was a secondary teacher [B.A. M. Ed]. More recently, she has been working in a voluntary capacity to support community understanding of ADHD. In 2005, after her boys had grown up, Geraldine published a book entitled “ADHD potatoes: A Journey from Darkness Into Light” Geraldine is also a trained youth mentor.

Followed by Forum Discussions driven by questions  30 min max

If you wish to register please contact

ATTENTION  DISORDER  ASSOCIATION  OF  SOUTH  AUSTRALIA   Inc. (ADASA) by phone, email, fax or post.
302 South Road, Hilton. 5033    Email admin@adasa.com.au
Information & Support Line  / Office      (08) 8152 0187        fax: (08) 81520447

Northern Suburbs Where & When: Saturday, November 7th 11.am to 3.30pm

This will be run at Bubble & Squeak Children’s Centre Golden Grove.

Southern Suburbs Where & When: Sunday, November 8^th 11.am to 3.30pm

This will be run at the Bubble & Squeak Children’s Centre Aldinga.

Speakers are:

•    Mark Brandtman   Educational Consultant.A.D/H.D.Coach Mentor
•    Michele Toner        PhD ADHD Educational Consultant and Life Coach
•    Leonie Cecich         Professional Music Development WA
•    Geraldine More      Author and Speaker

Parents – your children are invited. We are planning to have children’s activities music activities/clown/face painting etc

Is transport a problem? A bus may be available on the day if numbers warrant it.

Registration for Financial Members of ADASA will be subsidised – Registration $20.00

Please contact ADASA for further information or to register.

302 South Road, Hilton. 5033    Email admin@adasa.com.au
Information & Support Line  / Office      (08) 8152 0187        fax: (08) 8152 0447

Speakers and Presenters:

Michele Toner
Originally training and working as a high school teacher, Michele was awarded a
Master of Special Education Degree with Honours in 2001, and won the University of WA’s prize
for Best Research in Special Education PhD – ADHD Educational Consultant and Life Coach WA

Mark Brandtman
Educational Consultant NSW. Supporting schools as well as to parents and school
students with the effective management of A.D/H.D. Mark is a co publisher of Research with the University of Western Australia on Time Management in AD/HD Children and Adults presented at the World Federation of ADHD’s Conference in Vienna Austria in 2009.

Leonie Cecich
Professional Music Development WA She is a Primary School Music Specialist
(B.Ed) and is the director of Kids ‘n’ Music. She is also the composer and author of the “You Gotta Get Up” series Leonie was awarded the National Award for Excellence in School Music Education in 2008.

Geraldine Moore
Experienced Mother & Author.  She was a secondary teacher [B.A. M. Ed]. More recently, she has been working in a voluntary capacity to support community understanding of ADHD. In 2005, after her boys had grown up, Geraldine published a book entitled “ADHD potatoes: A Journey from Darkness Into Light”. Geraldine is also a trained youth mentor.

WHAT IS A.D.H.D?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an inherited neurological condition that often continues throughout a person’s life. The disorder is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, although not all people with the disorder are hyperactive.

All of us sometimes have difficulties concentrating. ADHD, however, means severe and on-going trouble with:

• focusing attention
• ignoring distractions
• setting and working towards goals
• difficulty following instructions

And, if hyperactivity is present:

• sitting still for long periods
• being patient
• tolerating frustration
• taking turns
• getting into physical danger

Children with ADHD have a lot more trouble with these things than other children of the same age. These problems may persist into adult life. To be diagnosed as ADHD the behaviour must have shown up before the age of seven, been present for at least 6 months, occur in at least two settings, and significantly impair the person’s life.

THE GOOD NEWS
Having ADHD doesn’t mean a person can’t live a productive, fulfilling life. Many people with ADHD are highly intelligent, creative and sensitive.

FAMILIES
Partners, relatives and friends can suffer stress. Support groups where people can share their stories are a great help.

RELATED CONDITIONS
ADHD hardly ever exists by itself. Many people have associated conditions and issues:

• learning disorders
• speech problems
• encopresis and enuresis (soiling & bed-wetting)
• conduct disorders
• depression and anxiety problems
• poor self esteem
• difficulties with assertiveness
• poor social skills

PROFESSIONALS WHO MAY HELP

• Your G.P.
• School Teachers
• Paediatricians
• Paediatric Neurologists
• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Natural Therapists
• Speech Pathologists

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

• State schools have ADHD information packages
• ADASA provides workshops for parents and teachers
• Centrelink may provide Health Care Cards and, in rare cases a Child Disability Allowance
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide services, but are severely limited by funding
• Each CAHMS office has a Consumer Representative

THINGS THAT WORK
A combination of strategies is usually best:

• Stimulant medication, which assists concentration and impulse control
• Behaviour and environmental change, for example, modifying teaching strategies; using memory aids
• Behaviour training and courses in social skills and self-esteem
• Family counselling and training in the management of ADHD symptoms
• Extra tutoring in academic skills, speech and physical co-ordination
• Nutritional programs have helped some children

SOME FACTS ABOUT ADHD

• People with ADHD cannot overcome their disabilities with will power alone
• All sorts of parents have children with ADHD. Parenting styles do not cause ADHD
• Stimulant medications do not ‘dope’ nor sedate the user. People using stimulants to treat ADHD do not become addicted
• People with ADHD are not “just lazy’
• ADHD is not gender specific. Girls have ADHD too, but don’t usually show hyperactivity
• The performance of someone with ADHD can vary widely from day to day
• Most parents try to avoid medication for their children if possible – the ‘Ritalin happy family’ is a myth
• The ‘controversy’ of ADHD only exists in the media -the reality of ADHD is accepted in professional circles

If you are unsure about the symptoms displayed by a member of your family, please consult a health professional. Always ask for a second (even third) opinion if you are at all doubtful about the diagnosis.

*Source : Attention Disorders Association of SA Inc.