EUGENE, Ore. -- (April 18, 2012) -- Two Rutgers University professors with extensive expertise dealing with families with autistic children will speak in separate talks Monday and Tuesday, May 14 and 15, in two Isabelle Cohen Littman Lectures presented by the University of Oregon's College of Education and Department of Psychology.
The talks -- one targeting development and the other education -- are open to the public, free of charge, but the May 15 lecture requires simple advance registration because of limited seating.
On Monday, May 14, Sandra Harris, professor emeritus, who founded the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center in 1972 at the New Jersey campus, will address "Living with Autism: The Experiences of Parents and Siblings" from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 220 of the HEDCO Education Building, 1655 Alder St.
Harris will address the need for educators to be tuned into the experiences of the family members of an autistic child to effectively develop and carry out an educational plan. Such an understanding and teamwork may, in turn, help families to structure their at-home instructional methods to build consistency and address behavioral problems that may arise.
On Tuesday, May 15, Lara Delmolino, a clinical professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers, will be featured in a three-hour workshop on "Matching Children with Autism to Classrooms: Elements for Parents and Educators to Consider." The session will be held in Rooms 2, 3 and 4 of the Lane Education Service District Building, 1200 Highway 99. Online registration is available at: https://oregon.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0p2cppHt9HTuYtu
Delmolino has more than 20 years of experience working with people on autism spectrum disorder, which includes autism, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder (atypical autism). The workshop will explore the components that need to be considered for finding the best fit in classrooms and treatment programs for children with autism spectrum disorders. Among the topics will be assessments, treatment philosophies and strategies.
The May 15 workshop is additionally sponsored by the Eugene School District 4J, the Bethel School District and Lane ESD.
The lecture series honors Isabelle Cohen Littman, a 1971 UO graduate who died in November 2009. As a child and educational psychologist at Eugene's Pearl Buck Center, Littman established a preschool program for children with special needs. She was active in political, professional and community groups devoted to improving the lives of young people, inside and outside of educational institutions.
The lecture series is intended to provide an opportunity for faculty and graduate students in the areas of psychology, counseling psychology and school psychology to come together on a regular basis and open avenues for collaboration and innovative thinking across disciplinary lines.
Media Contact: Jim Barlow, director of science and research communications, 541-346-3481, jebarlow@uoregon.edu
Source: Lisa Fortin, director of events and student recruitment, UO College of Education, 541-346-1607, lfortin@uoregon.edu
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