Friday, February 3, 2023

Our in-person registration is sold out! ** If you would like to be added to the waitlist for the in-person Together Towards Tomorrow Conference please email Sally Bishop. Or, sign up for the On-Demand option and have 90 days to hear from our fabulous speakers.

Thank you to our generous Sponsors for their support of our 50th Regional Conference!

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Daniel Ansari

Daniel Ansari is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning in the Department of Psychology and the Faculty of Education at Western University in Canada, where he heads the Numerical Cognition Laboratory (www.numericalcognition.org). Ansari and his team explore the developmental trajectory underlying both the typical and atypical development of numerical and mathematical skills, using both behavioral and neuroimaging methods. Ansari has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is member of the The College of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science as well as the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

“Searching for the Equivalent of Phonological Awareness in Early Numeracy”

In the study of typical and atypical reading key early predictors of later reading success, such as phonological awareness and phonics have been identified. The discovery of these key building blocks of the reading brain have been translated into screeners for children at risk as well as evidence-based interventions for struggling readers. In this talk, I will discuss whether similar key foundational skills can be identified for better understanding individual differences in early numeracy development and what they are. In this context, I will explain how children learn the meaning of numerical symbols (i.e. number words and Arabic numerals) and how differences between children in their processing of symbols maps onto their learning of arithmetic. I will discuss the implications of this work for screening and remediation of mathematical learning difficulties.

Guest Speaker

Dr. Matthew Zakreski

Matthew “Dr. Matt” Zakreski, PsyD is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist who utilizes an eclectic approach to meet the specific needs of his neurodiverse clients. He is proud to serve as a consultant to schools, a professor, and a researcher on Giftedness. He has spoken over 200 times all over the world about supporting neurodiverse kids. Dr. Zakreski is a member of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the New

Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC), and Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE). Dr. Zakreski graduated from Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP) in 2016. He is the co-founder and lead clinician at The Neurodiversity Collective and his website is www.drmattzakreski.com

“They Just WON’T DO IT: How to Help Your Neurodiverse Kid get Unstuck”

One of the hardest things about working with neurodiverse students is their refusal to participate in activities. These refusals can be incredibly frustrating for teachers, parents, coaches, and mental health professionals and often result in significant conflict between the student and their systems. Understanding how and why neurodiverse individuals get “stuck” allows for meaningful and empathetic engagement around these behaviors, which raises the likelihood of the students attempting and completing their work.

Guest Speaker

Dr. Norrine Russell

Dr. Norrine Russell is the founder of Russell Coaching for Students, which uses an innovative method of coaching for complex students, including those who are 2E; have ADHD, Autism, or Anxiety; and those with learning differences. This innovative method, Connected Coaching, has proven successful for hundreds of students since 2009. She is the author of the recently published guide for parents, “Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis.”

With twenty years of experience creating positive youth development and parenting education programs, Dr. Russell has extensive knowledge of child development, learning styles, special needs, and positive parenting philosophies. She blends this knowledge to provide students and parents with comprehensive support and the tools they need to grow and thrive.

Dr. Russell’s passion for providing support to frustrated students and weary parents is fueled not only by her processional training and expertise but also by her own experience of raising two complex children who are both neurologically atypical (her children’s diagnoses include autism, mood disorders, ADHD, giftedness, and learning differences). Dr. Russell knows firsthand the exhaustion parents face as they day in and day out seek solutions for their out-of-the-box children. She is committed to supporting the psychological well-being, education, and family life of all her clients.

Dr. Russell has a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University with a focus on psychology and education. She consults with and trains at both public and private schools across the Tampa Bay area. She has taught psychology and education courses at Sweet Briar College, University of Minnesota-Morris, and a number of other colleges. She has served on numerous boards and volunteered thousands of hours to give back, mostly recently as the Interim CEO (full-time volunteer) at Plato Academy Schools Corporation in ‘20-’21, serving on the Board at Plato Academy, and in July of 2021, joining the Board of Directors at One Circle Foundation.

Prior to starting her coaching and consulting practice, Dr. Russell worked at a variety of well-known non-profit agencies, including the YWCA of the City of New York, the Tampa Y, The Ophelia Project and Boys Initiative of Tampa Bay, and Girls Circle. Dr. Russell has created programs that help youth develop social, emotional, and leadership skills, as well as programs that help families and communities, support healthy youth development. Dr. Russell is dedicated to walking beside families and helping them turn chaos into calm.

“A Mindset Shift from a Behavioral Perspective of ADHD to a NueroDevelopmental Paradigm”

“A Mindset Shift from a Behavioral Perspective of ADHD to a NeuroDevelopmental Paradigm” will enable attendees to understand the latest research on ADHD, understand how to effectively engage students with dyslexia and ADHD, and most importantly how to shift from an interventionist stance to an empathy approach.

Schedule

Conference Registration Fees

In-person Attendance (February 3, 2023)

Includes access to the on-demand conference for 90 days (February 6 – May 7)

On-Demand Attendance (February 6 – May 7, 2023)

Save on conference registration fees by becoming a member of the International Dyslexia Association. There are some wonderful benefits to being a member and we hope that you will join us in our mission #UntilEveryoneCanRead!

Refunds will be allowed until January 25^th, 2023. After that date, all refunds must be approved by the Dallas IDA Board.

Become a Member

Conference Location Information:

Renaissance Dallas Richardson Hotel

900 E Lookout Dr, Dallas, TX 75082

Printable Registration Form

COVID-19 DISCLAIMER 

COVID-19 has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing and have, in many locations, prohibited the congregation of groups of people.

Dallas IDA put in place preventative measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 at its events and activities, including suggesting masks and having hand sanitizer readily available. However, Dallas IDA cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19 by attending and/or participating in its events.  Attending and/or participating in Dallas IDA’s events during the COVID-19 pandemic could expose you to someone who has been infected with COVID-19 and increase your risk of contracting COVID-19.

By participating in any Dallas IDA events, you: (1) acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19; (2) voluntarily assume all risk that you may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19; and (3) agree to release, covenant not to sue, discharge and hold harmless Dallas IDA and its officers, employees, agents, and representatives from any and all claims arising out of or related to exposure to COVID-19, including but not limited to claims for personal injury, illness, disability, death, economic loss, and expenses of any kind.

 Dallas IDA respectfully asks you not to participate in any of our in-person events if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, headaches, sore throat, loss of taste or smell).