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Spectrum Autism Support Inclusion Symposium
July 22, 2020 @ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Spectrum Autism Support
Inclusion Symposium
Creating meaningful social connections for individuals and families impacted by Autism
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A virtual half day inclusion workshop will be offered via ZOOM with a focus on the importance of creating meaningful social connections for individuals and families impacted by autism. The workshop will offer sessions on creating social connections via virtual groups, creating social connections in the community, and creating social connections to enhance employment opportunities. Breakout sessions will be offered for more in-depth conversations on the topics. Join us to learn together, to be inspired with new ideas and to understand the value of social connections now more than ever.
FREE of charge for parents, caregivers, educators, professionals, and community members. Certificates of attendance will be provided up request. No CEU's given.
Contact Claire Dees with any questions.
Featured Speakers
Mary J. O’Connell worked in the Gwinnett County Public Schools for over seventeen years teaching children with Autism, before retiring in May 2012. She has experience working with children affected by all levels of developmental disorders. She holds a Masters Degree from Georgia State and is a Highly Qualified Certified teacher in the state of Georgia.
Mary is the director of Social Skills Today. Social Skills Today (SST) manages several programs and events in Gwinnett Roswell and Cumming including Spectrum Camps and Clubs, Roswell Adaptive Friendship Camp and Cumming Adaptive Friendship Camp.
Over the past ten years, SST has expanded its programs to include Social Skills Groups including Drama and Technology, summer camps, mini school-break camps, and overnight camps for children with developmental disabilities and their siblings. As the director, she provides high-quality instructional leadership guiding the teachers and staff toward developing meaningful and measurable outcomes for individuals with social interaction and behavioral needs.
Mary is also the founder, and former board member of New Directions Georgia, a day program she started for adults with moderate or severe Autism. In addition to directing Social Skills Today, Mary enjoys educating adults and teachers at educational conferences. In the school system, Mary designed and provided many training courses on a variety of educational issues and instructional strategies. She is an instructor for the Spectrum Kommunity Inclusion Program (SKIP), a program, which provides training on Autism to community organizations wanting to include children and adults with Autism.
She looks at each day as a chance to change the lives of persons affected by developmental disabilities.
Adrian Wilkins has a passion for working with individuals with autism and loves every minute she is with them. Over the past 16 years, she’s taught small group classrooms including children with autism and other developmental disabilities in Gwinnett County Public Schools, She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development. In 2011, she earned a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education with a concentration in multiple and severe disabilities from Georgia State University.
Adrian is an active community member and has served on various non-profit boards that serve children and adults with developmental disabilities
During the summers she has worked in various camps, which include Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett Summer Enrichment Program, Spectrum Summer Day Camp, and Camp Journey overnight camp.
Adrian is the assistant director of Social Skills Today and is presently active in the various school year and summer programs offered by Social Skills Today.
She is very excited to be working with Social Skills Today in order to be able to touch the lives of children and adults who have developmental disabilities.
Jackie Moore is the mom of Jordyn, her 19 year old daughter with autism. She started Jordyn's Summer Shirt Project to teach her daughter job skills. Since June 2018, they have sold over 55,000 shirts, teaching Jordyn job skills with every purchase. Jackie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Central Missouri. She lives in Cumming, Georgia with her husband Ben and their two kids, Jordyn and Hudson