10th Annual Project ACT Early Childhood Conference
September 20th & 21st, 2019
Community College of Baltimore County
Owings Mills Campus
10300 Grand Central Ave
Owings Mills, MD
Abilities Network Project ACT is excited to partner with the Community College of Baltimore County for our 10th Annual Early Childhood Conference. This year's theme, All Children Together, will focus on Project ACT's primary mission: to strengthen each early childhood professional's ability to include all children. In order to meet the needs of the early childhood community, a second day of programming has been added this year with a focus on capacity building for those in leadership roles.
Resource Tables & Vendors • Raffles & Prizes • Photo Booth • Free Parking • Easy Access from the Metro
6-12 COK Hours • Eligibility for 1 PAU
Thank you to our 2019 sponsors!
September 20th - Day 1 - Leadership Symposium on Inclusion
6 COK Hours
8:30 - Registration
Red Track
9:00 - Session A
Beyond the ABC's of ADA: A Closer Look at Inclusive Practices in Child Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Leslie Seid Margolis, Esq. & Rachel London, Esq.
Through this informative session, participants will discuss creating program policies that reflect ADA and inclusionary practices that help ensure that the needs of all children are met. Understand the components of a supportive classroom/ learning environment and be able to execute this in order to meet ADA requirements. Learn how to collaborate with community agencies and ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and monitoring, which benefits all children.
10:45 - Session B
Understanding Your Leadership Style
Isabel Lainez
Through this interactive session, participants will come to understand the conceptualization of leadership, the purpose of leadership within the ECE field, the qualities that make a good leader, and the different leadership styles. Additionally, participants will learn to identify how their leadership style and behaviors may impact the outcomes of their programs such as enrollment, staff retention, children success, while learning to adapt their leadership style and behaviors based on the situation and the people being led.
Green Track
9:00 - Session A
Teacher Well-Being & Program Quality: Strategies for Reducing Teacher Stress
Syretha O. Storey, Ph.D.
Teacher well-being considers stress, job-related exhaustion, and psychological load. Learn how teacher well-being effects overall program quality. Participants will also learn practical strategies for improving teacher well-being.
10:45 - Session B
Beyond the ABC's of ADA: A Closer Look at Inclusive Practices in Child Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Leslie Seid Margolis, Esq. & Rachel London, Esq.
Through this informative session, participants will discuss creating program policies that reflect ADA and inclusionary practices that help ensure that the needs of all children are met. Understand the components of a supportive classroom/ learning environment and be able to execute this in order to meet ADA requirements. Learn how to collaborate with community agencies and ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and monitoring, which benefits all children.
Blue Track
9:00 - Session A
Understanding Your Leadership Style
Isabel Lainez
Through this interactive session, participants will come to understand the conceptualization of leadership, the purpose of leadership within the ECE field, the qualities that make a good leader, and the different leadership styles. Additionally, participants will learn to identify how their leadership style and behaviors may impact the outcomes of their programs such as enrollment, staff retention, children success, while learning to adapt their leadership style and behaviors based on the situation and the people being led.
10:45 - Session B
Teacher Well-Being & Program Quality: Strategies for Reducing Teacher Stress
Syretha O. Storey, Ph.D.
Teacher well-being considers stress, job-related exhaustion, and psychological load. Learn how teacher well-being effects overall program quality. Participants will also learn practical strategies for improving teacher well-being.
12:30 - All Tracks - Lunch & Panel Discussion
Panel Experts
Leslie Seid Margolis, Esq.
Managing Attorney for Disability Rights Maryland
D'Lisa Worth, M.Ed.
Co-Director at the Center of Excellence in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Sharon Holloway-Gentemann, LCSW
Director of PACT World of Care Inclusive Child Care Program
Janette Guerra, M.Ed.
Section Chief of Early Childhood Intervention, MSDE Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services
Rene Averitte-Sanzone
Executive Director of Parent's Place of Maryland
Virginia Salzberg, M.Ed.
Community Based Preschool Inclusion Team Leader, Baltimore County Public Schools
2:15 - Session C
Teacher Well-Being & Program Quality: Strategies for Reducing Teacher Stress
Syretha O. Storey, Ph.D.
Teacher well-being considers stress, job-related exhaustion, and psychological load. Learn how teacher well-being effects overall program quality. Participants will also learn practical strategies for improving teacher well-being.
2:15 - Session A
Understanding Your Leadership Style
Isabel Lainez
Through this interactive session, participants will come to understand the conceptualization of leadership, the purpose of leadership within the ECE field, the qualities that make a good leader, and the different leadership styles. Additionally, participants will learn to identify how their leadership style and behaviors may impact the outcomes of their programs such as enrollment, staff retention, children success, while learning to adapt their leadership style and behaviors based on the situation and the people being led.
2:15 - Session C
Beyond the ABC's of ADA: A Closer Look at Inclusive Practices in Child Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Leslie Seid Margolis, Esq. & Rachel London, Esq.
Through this informative session, participants will discuss creating program policies that reflect ADA and inclusionary practices that help ensure that the needs of all children are met. Understand the components of a supportive classroom/ learning environment and be able to execute this in order to meet ADA requirements. Learn how to collaborate with community agencies and ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and monitoring, which benefits all children.
September 21st - Day 2 - All Children Together Conference
6 COK Hours
8:00 - Registration
8:30 - Keynote Address
Natural and Inclusive Learning Experiences
Mary Hendricks, M.Ed., Johns Hopkins Center for Technology in Education
Early childhood is a critical time for growth for all children, particularly those with special needs. Inclusive practices have evolved significantly over the years, and learning together in a natural environment benefits both children with special needs and their peers. Finding the value that true inclusion can bring to an early childhood program leads to a shift in adult mindsets that is the key to making a real difference in the lives of all children.
Mary has been working in the field of special education for over 40 years. She has been an inclusion teacher, a co-teacher, an advocate for families, and an instructor of Early Intervention courses at Johns Hopkins University. Mary is an advocate for inclusion and for change. She continues her work in her current role as a Program Quality Specialist on the Early Childhood Team at JHU-CTE.
10:15 - Session A
A-1. Self-Care: Filling Up Your Own Cup
Lauren Spigelmeyer, The Behavior Hub
This workshop will provide participants with an interactive way of understanding the concepts of self-care and wellness. We will walk through the importance of this subject as well as ways to create a state of inner calm and build resilience for the work we do.
A-2. Equity & Inclusion in Children's Literature: Promoting Advocacy for Children with Special Needs
Petrea Hicks, XYZ The End Result
Participants will review how advocacy contributed to the historic evolution of Special Education and American society. Discussions include reexamining teaching practices, literature featuring children with special needs, and engaging families.
A-3. Navigating the Birth to Five Special Education World through the Lens of Families
Christina Alexander & Dr. Beth Boyle, Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, IDEALS Institute
Focusing on families with young children, participants will explore the world of special education through the eyes of families. They will discuss roles and strategies for supporting families and children through screening, identification of disabilities and delivery of special education services. They will engage with real-life scenarios, tools and resources in order to apply to current work
.
A-4. Inclusion of English Language Learners in Classroom Settings
Isabel Lainez, Childhood Stages Consulting and Training Services
Through this informative and fun session, participants will learn about brain anatomy and language in young children, the process and ways of acquiring a second language, myths about bilingualism, the six stages of language acquisition, and practical ways to support second language learners in the classroom.
A-5. Roadmap to Rampage: Protecting Children from Bullying
Alicia J. Turner
How do we protect children from the wear and tear of bullying? By understanding that bullying and tolerant behaviors are connected and working to dismantle both! How a child responds to being bullied is about as significant as the things that hurt them. This interactive session challenges participants to explore their role in the developmental stages of bullying, and learn how early childhood relationships, tolerant behaviors, and self-esteem help shape the positive and negative impacts into a child’s character.
11:45 - Lunch & Vendors
12:45 - Session B
B-1. The Way I See It: Using Visuals to Support Children with Autism
Candace Cunningham, All Things Autism Consulting Services
This workshop will help participants understand what visual supports are, why they are important for students with autism and how they can use them to support students with autism in special education, as well as inclusion them in general education environments, at home, and in the community.
B-2. Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Childcare Setting
Trish Kane & Neal Lichter, Pathfinders for Autism
In this workshop, participants will gail a practical understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) using experiential exercises and personal experiences. They will discuss ways this understanding can facilitate successful interactions in the childcare setting. In addition, we will create an interactive opportunity where attendees can “Make and Take” sensory fidgets. These fidgets are especially helpful as self-calming tools for individuals with ASD.
B-3. Why Are These Behaviors Occurring and What Do I Do?
Lauren Spigelmeyer, The Behavior Hub
This workshop will provide participants with an interactive way of understanding and explaining how traumatic stress affects children and lends itself to challenging behaviors. We will also talk about the impact of stress on the brain and nervous system. Individuals will leave the workshop with techniques that build and strengthen relationships, foster respect, teach children to solve problems, and promote empathy and self-regulation.
B-4. When Lining up Crosses the Line: Inside the High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dr. Tiffany Garner, Psy.D.
This workshop will focus on the differences between Austim Spectruc Disorder and High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly as it relates to social, emotional and behavioral development and explore the day-to-day challenges both children and the caregivers of children with this presentation.
B-5. Seizure Training for Child Care Personnel
Mary Wontrop, Epilepsy Foundation of Maryland
This workshop is designed to dispel myths and reduce misunderstanding about epilepsy and seizures. General epilepsy information as well as seizure recognition and first aid will be covered. Resources such as seizure action plans and observation forms will be provided to all participants. Participants will learn how to create a safe and supportive environment for young children who have seizures.
2:30 - Session C
C-1. Brain Architecture-Connecting with the Developing Child
Sandra Graham, Kiddie Academy
This informative workshop focuses on giving participants a comprehensive understanding of how the brain develops, along with ways that early childhood providers can encourage healthy brain development in children from birth to 5 years old. In this training, we will explore early brain development through interactive and engaging activities and explore techniques that will help us better understand young children.
C-2. Developmental Perspectives on Behavior and Day-to-Day Behavior Management Strategies
Dr. Tiffany Garner, Psy.D
This workshop will provide a brief education about developmental mastery at stages of early childhood development, discuss the importance of identifying behavioral concerns, and explore strategies that are helpful for challenges related to separation, transitions, compliance, sharing and play
C-3. The Magic of Science
Dawn Baker, Director of Woodbrook Early Education Center
We will investigate how to inspire scientists in your classroom. We will explore how to create a climate that helps all children become excited about the magic of science and the mystery of predicting! Join us as we discuss how to set up science experiments for our children of all learning styles and abilities. We will consider ways to extend our investigations for our children who are ready to be challenged, and we will take into account our friends with special needs and how we can create an enthusiastic love of science . We will STEAM our way through teaching science!
C-4. Integrating Sensory Strategies in Early Childhood Settings: Supporting all Children
Caitlin Sprouse, OT, Director of Outpatient Services at Trellis Services
This workshop will outline what sensory processing is, as well as the sensory systems and how sensory processing is integral for the most important childhood occupation: play! Strategies to use in all early childhood settings to support the young sensory systems of all children will be discussed, as well as how to meet the needs of children with sensory processing difficulties. Participants will gain insight into their own sensory preferences and explore some materials/supports that could be used in Early Childhood Settings, such as childcare facilities.
C-5. Yoga and Mindfulness for Diverse Learners
Tara Geller, SLP, Zenergetic Kids
This workshop will teach why and how to use yoga and mindfulness techniques to teach language, literacy, physical, social and emotional skills to learners with a variety of special needs.
Conference Registration Rates
Standard Registration Rates
Day 1 & Day 2 - $140 | Day 2 Only - $80
Early Bird Rates - Before July 31, 2019
Day 1 & Day 2 - $140 | Day 2 Only - $70
Member Rates
Day 1 & Day 2 - $140 | Day 2 Only - $75
A group discount of $5 per person is available for groups of 5 of more from the same agency. Discounts cannot be combined. No refunds will be issued.