Note:
Guest rooms are no longer available at the Wyndham Hotel the week of the conference!
Cancellations must be received 72 hours or more prior to arrival to avoid the penalty of one night’s room and tax being charged to your credit card.
Note:
Guest rooms are no longer available at the Wyndham Hotel the week of the conference!
Cancellations must be received 72 hours or more prior to arrival to avoid the penalty of one night’s room and tax being charged to your credit card.
KEYNOTE DESCRIPTIONS
Opening Keynote: Wednesday August 13, 2008 9:30a.m. – 11:30a.m. Rachel Coleman - Signing & Singing |
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Movement, Music and Sign Language Rachel Coleman has a unique perspective on parenting children with special needs. She experiences it as a great adventure and celebrates the daily miracles. Rachel is the mother of Leah, who was born deaf, and Lucy, who has spina bifida and cerebral palsy. Rachel learned from her two daughters the power of using American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate and is committed to building a world where communication is available for everyone. This was the motivation behind Signing Time. Rachel is the co- creator of Signing Time, which teaches ASL vocabulary to children of ALL abilities in a fun and engaging way. Since the release of their first video in 2002, parents and professionals everywhere praise the Signing Time series for opening up a world of possibilities for their children, whether they are using ASL as a means to communicate with their babies before they develop speech, or learning a second language, or even for children with special needs for whom speech is a challenge. ASL is the only language that incorporates both kinesthetic and visual learning styles. It is a tool that empowers hearing infants, toddlers, and children with special needs to express themselves. Combining the movement of sign language with music creates an educational environment that is fun and rewarding for everyone.
Second Keynote: Wednesday August 13, 2008 1:15p.m. – 3:15p.m.
Mary Koch, Ph.D. - Language and Literacy
During this keynote session, Mary Koch, Ph.D. will focus on the importance of language and its impact on literacy development in children regardless of communication modality.
Third Keynote: Thursday August 14, 2008 3:15p.m. – 4:45p.m.
Josh Swiller, Ph.D. - Living without Limits: One Man’s Story
Josh Swiller,Ph.D., author of The Unheard: A memoir of deafness and Africa was born hard of hearing and was profoundly deaf by age four. He attended NYC public schools, graduated from Yale, attended Gallaudet and has had a variety of jobs from slipper salesman to teacher to Peace Corps Volunteer in a rural village in Zambia. About writing he says, “Writing is something you do when the other jobs won’t stick!” Josh credits his love of books and writing to his parents. As powerful a speaker as he is a writer, you’re sure to be both entertained and inspired by his words.
Closing Keynote: Friday August 15, 2008 12:00p.m. – 2:00p.m.
Jerry Petroff, Ph.D. - Title To Be Announced
Jerry Petroff, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at The College of New Jersey. He recently co-authored the textbook Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities. Jerry is affiliated with the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University as a consultant on issues regarding families, inclusive education and personal futures planning and is a faculty advisor for Pennsylvania's Initiative for Higher Education Reform: Preparing Teachers to Teach All Students. He is actively involved in inclusive education initiatives for students with severe disabilities in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, West Virginia and North Carolina.
