Sarnia FASD Conference Schedule
Friday
8:30	Registration
9:00	Welcome & FASD Overview
9:30	Diagnostics, meds, etc.
10:30	jobStart
11:30	Parenting
12:00	Lunch
12:45	Parenting
13:30	Education	Adult Supports
14:30	Education	Stress
15:30	Education	Hearing / Alanon
16:30	End
	Break
18:30	Dinner
	Dr. Murari Patodia
	Bruce Ritchie - Great FASD Ride
	ISO
Saturday
8:30	Registration
9:00	Resources
10:00	Bridge of Signs	Adult Supports
11:00	Justice
12:00	Lunch
13:00	Justice	Art & Play
14:00	Justice	Autism, Advocacy
15:00	Family Survival
16:00	Wrap-up Discussion
16:30	END
19:00	Concert	Awareness

Sarnia FASD Conference Schedule

Friday, February 8, 2008
8:30 am	Registration
9:00 am	Overview - Bruce Ritchie, Moderator, FASlink Fetal Alcohol Disorders Society A new look at FASD incidence rates. FASD has been grossly under-diagnosed. New research indicates the rate of FASD in the general population is probably over 10%. Under-diagnosis has led to substantial under-funding for family supports, services and research, and for appropriate training for front-line workers. A review of primary and cascade conditions linked to prenatal alcohol exposure.
9:30 am	Diagnosis, Intervention, Medication, Nutrition, Learning Disabilities – Bruce Ritchie, Dr. Ian Connor, Pediatrician and Joanne Cully Early diagnosis and intensive intervention are keys to success. Canadian Diagnostic Criteria for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Comparison of diagnostic indicators for FASD with other conditions and co-morbid diagnoses. Useful screening tools. New research directions and tools. Impediments to diagnosis. Primary and cascade conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Learning Disabilities
10:30 am	Careers - Connie Burrowes and Morrell McCurrach jobStart – (Community Living Sarnia-Lambton) is a free eight -week interactive job readiness program for persons with disabilities which focuses on job retention. It is funded by Service Canada’s Opportunities Fund. Due to the changes in the ODSP Employment Supports system, pre-employment activities and assessments are no longer funded. This workshop allows us to assess participants before we contact employers, ensuring they are job ready and to make the best job match. We have confidence they are motivated and have the ability to be successful in keeping the job. The content will include: - Eligibility for the Workshop - Curriculum content - ice breakers, group activities and exercises; providing participants the skills to be better employees - Effective facilitating ensuring all learning styles are addressed - Community Partnerships including guest speakers, employers - Marketing Workshop - Self Esteem Workshop - Placement ideas that result in jobs
11:30 am	Parenting – Bruce Ritchie Strategies, not solutions. Shadow siblings. Living with FASD.
12:00 pm	LUNCH BREAK
12:45 pm	Parenting continued – Bruce Ritchie
1:30 pm	Adult Supports – Margaret Sprenger – Co-founder, Fetal Alcohol Support Network. Margaret has enormous experience dealing with the issues of FASD from infancy to adulthood. She provides “external brain” supports to adults in the Owen Sound area.
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm	Education – Allan Mountford, B.A., B.P.E., B.Ed., M.Ed. Writer and researcher. Allan teaches for a large district school board in southern Ontario in a Section 20 program for aggressive adolescents, many with FASD. He presents to educators through university additional qualification courses, and to health, police service and corrections organizations. He has participated on numerous committees with Health Canada and HRDC. Allan works with First Nations communities across Canada toward FASD solutions. He has authored two handbooks for educators of children with FASD, "'Cause it's not my fault: A handbook for educators of adolescents with FAS", and "The Golden Hoop of Life A Community of Hope: A handbook for caregivers of children ages 3 to 6 with FASD". For several years he sat on the Council of the Native Cultural Centre f Durham Region, and follows the teachings of his Ojibway heritage. (Wolf Clan). Allan is from Viewlake, ON. He can be reached at (705) 324-7801 or, on-line at mountfrd@allstream.net
2:30 pm	Stress and Distress - Lin Oliver, CEO, Sarnia Holistic Healing Centre
3:30 pm	Hearing - Christine Feige BC-HIS, Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist, President of ActivEars Hearing Centres, Co-Chair of Advisory educational group for Conestoga College's Hearing Instrument Specialist Program. Speaking on Consequences of un-treated Hearing Loss for Adults & Children. Al-anon - Connie Swift has been part of the support group, AL-ANON, a support group to understand the disease of Alcoholism. She will speak on what it has taught her and how AL-ANON can help others.
	BREAK
6:30 pm	Dinner – Background music by the International Symphony Orchestra Light Jazz Trio – Anne Brown on Flute, Dr. Charles Stevens on Bass, Doug Kreiger on keyboard. Speakers - Dr. Murari Patodia, HBsc, MD, FRCSC, D.Amer. B. Ophth. Eye Physician & Surgeon – Vision issues. - Bruce Ritchie – The Great FASD Horseback Ride Across Canada
Saturday, February 9, 2008
8:30 am	Registration
9:00 am	Resources - Bruce Ritchie Government programs; Discretionary Trusts and Wills. Many resources for supporting children, families and adults dealing with disabilities are not well known. This session will discuss government programs and resource such as Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities, Assistive Devices Program, Special Services at Home, Ontario Disabilities Support Program. It will also discuss support organizations such as FASlink.
10:00 am	Bridge of Signs – Dr. Anne Toth, MSW, Ed.D., RSW - Can sign language empower non-deaf children to triumph over their communication disabilities? · Children with cognitive and developmental disabilities face barriers in acquiring and using language to effectively communicate. Increasingly, childhood deafness is often not a "lone" disability. A child who is deaf is increasingly likely to have another disability. The objective of Bridge of Signs is to explore the potential of sign language to be a communication tool for deaf and hearing children, ages 0-6, who are cognitively disabled due to: · Autism · Down Syndrome · Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) · Developmental delays · Learning Disabilities
10:00 am	Adult Supports. Succeeding as an Adult. – Margaret Sprenger – Co-founder, Fetal Alcohol Support Network. Margaret has enormous experience dealing with the issues of FASD from infancy to adulthood. She provides “external brain” supports to adults in the Owen Sound area. The need for an external brain is ongoing, but with the right supports in place, adults with FASD can be successful and productive. Paying bills on time, staying off the streets and out of jail. Mother Hen.
11:00 am to 12:00 noon. Continues from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm	Justice - Doreen Reid, FASD Project Coordinator, Community Justice Division, Department of Justice, Government of the NWT, Yellowknife, NT. Individuals with FASD are highly concrete in their thinking, are impulsive, may not learn from past mistakes, may not recognize social cues, and may not be able to predict consequences of their actions. All laws are abstract rules of a society's customs. Often the difference between courting and seduction versus sexual assault is merely finesse. Punishment does not cure brain injury; yet the vast majority of inmates can be diagnosed with FASD. There are those with FASD from whom the public needs protection and those with FASD who need to be protected from society's predators. Alternatives.
12:00 PM	LUNCH BREAK
1:00 pm	Trauma & Loss; Art & Play Therapy – Joanne Morris, B.A., E.C.E., O.A.T.R., B.Ed. Failure, rejection, depression are part of FASD. Joanne will introduced the concept of using art therapy and play therapy interventions to help children with FASD cope with anxiety due to issues relating to trauma and loss. Joanne is a Registered Art Therapist, certified as a School Specialist and Consultant in Trauma and Loss. She is a certified Primary/Junior Teacher with Special Education qualifications. Joanne has received referrals and provided structured Trauma and Loss programs for pre-school, school-age children and young adults in her studio/playroom since 1994 in Bright's Grove.
2:00 pm	Autism and Advocacy –Susan Fentie, RN, Past President, Sarnia/Lambton Chapter of Autism Society Ontario. Cofounder, Ontario Autism Coalition Our children may have handicaps, but the biggest disabilities they have are in the battles their parents have to fight to get services to which the children are entitled.
3:00 pm	Family Survival –David Ashdown - President, CCMF - Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile. Households with disabilities are always in "survival mode". Having a child with special needs is a constant, never-ending series of challenges - emotional, financial and physical, and the stress can easily overwhelm even the strongest and most positive individuals. There are a number of strategies that you can employ to help you cope with the never-ending roller coaster ride, which can help to preserve your relationship, make it stronger, and help keep your life in balance.
4:00 pm	Wrap-up Discussion - Panel
4:30 pm	BREAK
7:00 pm	Wings of Eagles Concert – Benefit to support the work of FASlink Multimedia presentation of the Great FASD Horseback Ride Across Canada 2007 Musicians: Bruce Ritchie, David Ashdown, Terry Fletcher, Mark Meier, Mike Blackmore, Colin Graf, Pat Morrison, Conundrum and Spirit of the Drums.

Bruce Ritchie, QS, BA, FMC, ITP, APWFASD - Moderator, CEO, FASlink Fetal Alcohol Disorders Society. Parent with 20+ years in the FASD field. Recipient of the Toronto St. Michael's Hospital "Award for Pioneer Work in the Area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder". Led the Great FASD Horseback Ride Across Canada for FASD Awareness (2007 - 4 months & 22,000 km). Recipient of First Nations' Eagle Feathers and Métis Nation Honour Sash. A founding director of the Fetal Alcohol Support Network in 1991.

He designs knowledge management systems and is a life-long advocate for children’s issues. He publishes the FASlink website, CD’s and other educational material and is Moderator of the very active on-line discussion forum that shares about 50 letters daily with the members. He also deals with many direct queries from the general public and speaks regularly at seminars and conferences. He has established precedents in family law and courtroom procedure, was a charter member of Family Mediation Canada, and is a published researcher, author and musician. He has served for many years on School Councils and has been active in youth services, such as Scouts Canada, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the International Symphony Orchestra.

David Ashdown - President, CCMF - Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile.
Through the years, Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile (CCMF) has advocated the needs of medically fragile children, youth and adults in our society. These individuals, often the most vulnerable of our citizens, have not been forgotten because of the passion and belief of those who speak for them. It was that passion and belief that eventually brought about the construction of the home for the medically fragile located behind Pathways at 1212 Michigan Avenue in Sarnia Ontario. This was a joint venture of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Ontario March of Dimes, The Rotary Club of Sarnia and CCMF. It has shown what can be accomplished when different caring groups come together for a common good.

Allan Mountford, B.A., B.P.E., B.Ed., M.Ed. Writer and researcher. Allan teaches for a large district school board in southern Ontario in a Section 20 program for aggressive adolescents, many with FASD. He presents to educators through university additional qualification courses, and to health, police service and corrections organizations. He has participated on numerous committees with Health Canada and HRDC. Allan works with First Nations communities across Canada toward FASD solutions. He has authored two handbooks for educators of children with FASD, "'Cause it's not my fault: A handbook for educators of adolescents with FAS", and "The Golden Hoop of Life A Community of Hope: A handbook for caregivers of children ages 3 to 6 with FASD". For several years he sat on the Council of the Native Cultural Centre f Durham Region, and follows the teachings of his Ojibway heritage. (Wolf Clan). Allan is from Viewlake, ON. He can be reached at (705) 324-7801 or, on-line at mountfrd@allstream.net

Dr. Ian Connor, MD, Paediatrician. Well known and respected Sarnia pediatrician. Recently retired from daily office practice but continues serving the Lambton County hospitals neonatal units.

Dr. Murari Patodia, HBsc, MD, FRCSC, D.Amer. B. Ophth. Eye Physician & Surgeon. Internationally known eye specialist.

Dr. Anne Toth, MSW, Ed.D., RSW, is a clinical social worker who offers a wide range of services to individuals, couples, families, and groups in English, French, and American Sign Language. With over 30 years of experience in the field, she provides consultation, assessment, counselling, and psychotherapy for those affected by trauma, abuse, bereavement, adoption, substance abuse, addiction, interpersonal, and work related issues.

Anne Toth holds degrees at both the Bachelor and Masters level of Social Work and has also earned certificates in French, and an Honors Bachelor degree in the specialization of American Sign Language and Deafness. Committed to excellence, she has achieved the degree of Doctor of Education and continues to contribute to the field through her private practice, her work as a guest lecturer, and as an Applied Dissertation Chair to doctoral students. A strong proponent of life-long learning, Dr. Toth presents her work at provincial, national, and international conferences.

Among other publications on the topics of stress management and bereavement, Dr. Toth has written papers relative to bridging communication between the Deaf and Hearing, linguistic and cultural difference versus disability, discrimination based on cultural and linguistic minority status, and a research project that saw Deaf adults become the mentors to children who are Deaf and their families. Dr. Toth’s work on reducing the risk of psychosocial problems in children who are Deaf was recognized in 2001 with the Jeannie Harrell Award for Best Applied Research at Nova Southeastern University. In 2003, Dr. Toth received the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Association of Social Workers. In 2004, the Ontario Provincial government recognized her with an award for over ten years of service as a volunteer in Deaf Literacy programs. In 2005, Madonna University recognized Dr. Toth with a distinguished alumnus award in honour of her achievement in the Deaf community, specifically, in the area of literacy and social work. Dr. Toth’s work on Bridge of Signs, a research project of the Canadian Association of the Deaf, was nominated as a finalist for the 2006 Stockholm Challenge.

Joanne Morris, B.A., E.C.E., O.A.T.R., B.Ed. Joanne will introduced the concept of using art therapy and play therapy interventions to help children with FASD cope with anxiety due to issues relating to trauma and loss. Joanne is a Registered Art Therapist, certified as a School Specialist and Consultant in Trauma and Loss. She is a certified Primary/Junior Teacher with Special Education qualifications. Joanne has received referrals and provided structured Trauma and Loss programs for pre-school, school-age children and young adults in her studio/playroom since 1994 in Bright's Grove.

Doreen Reid, FASD Project Coordinator, Community Justice Division, Department of Justice, Government of the NWT, Yellowknife, NT.

Margaret Sprenger, Owen Sound FASD support group co-ordinator. Adult support worker and consultant. Recipient of the Toronto St. Michael's Hospital "Award for Pioneer Work in the Area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders".

Susan Fentie, Past President, Sarnia/Lambton Chapter of Autism Society Ontario. Cofounder, Ontario Autism Coalition, a team that organizes awareness rallies province-wide regarding autism and services needed. Sarnia/Lambton Mayor's Honour List, 2005. “Newsmakers of the Year” list, Sarnia Observer, 2005. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Associates Degree of Nursing. Featured – along with her family -- in a DVD highlighting ASO's presence in the community, and programs offered. Frequent guest on Sarnia 's CHOK radio. She speaks about autism and the rights and needs of autistic individuals on their hour-long “Talk Back” and also “Live With Lee” show. Interviewed frequently by reporters regarding the challenges, rights, and issues which autistic individuals face. Media Representative, Sarnia/Lambton Chapter of Autism Society Ontario. Active member of the Sarnia/Lambton Chamber of Commerce since 2005. Holds an Associates Degree of Nursing. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is a Registered Nurse specializing in high-risk obstetrics / labor & delivery / newborn / post-partum care. Duties included emergency management of patients / staff / anesthesia, staffing of the units for NICU and Labor / Delivery / Post-Partum, rounds for quality assurance and patient relations, scheduling, and physician relations.

Lin Oliver - CEO, Sarnia Holistic Healing Centre

Christine Feige BC-HIS, Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist, President of ActivEars Hearing Centres, Co-Chair of Advisory educational group for Conestoga College's Hearing Instrument Specialist Program. Speaking on Consequences of un-treated Hearing Loss for Adults & Children.

Connie Swift has been part of the support group, AL-ANON, a support group to understand the disease of Alcoholism. She will speak on what it has taught her and how AL-ANON can help others.

Connie Burrowes - Working in the social service field for over 18 years, Connie has specialized in Employment for the last 9 and currently supervises the jobStart pre-employment workshop for Community Living Sarnia-Lambton. As a certified Personality Dimensions® facilitator, Certified Lifeskills Coach and Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Intervention trainer, she was instrumental in developing and continues to facilitate the highly successful jobStart workshop by assisting clients with their return to work action plans. Connie has been successful in securing funding from different levels of government including Service Canada and the Trillium Foundation in Ontario.

Morrell McCurrach - Having worked in over fifteen different fields for the past thirty eight years, Morrell is very familiar with what employers expect from their employees. She is familiar with how important first appearances are, job searching, the interview process, selling yourself and your strengths, having a good work ethic, and motivation. She believes that our self esteem has a great deal to do with our failures and successes and learning how to nurture our own, can greatly improve our chances for success.

Joanne Cully, RN, President, Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County. Joanne is a prenatal nurse with Aamjiwnaang Health Centre.