Janet O'Keefe

We are delighted that Sue Madraszek of Symbol UK will be presenting at the Towards a Positive Future Conference on 16th June 2012 http://www.wordswell.co.uk/

Sue’s presentation will give information about the typical communication profile of children and young people with Down syndrome. It will explore the implications this has on how parents, health care staff and educators should interact with these children and young people in order to develop their full potential in the field of communication and thus enable them to access educational and other settings successfully.  Participants will gain knowledge about this population of children and young people and be shown some very simple ways of making interaction with the children and young people more effective as well as learning about how to encourage these children and young people to communicate effectively, thus achieving their communication potential and supporting them in reaching their potential educationally and socially.

One of the sponsors of TaPF2012 Conference, Field Fisher Waterhouse Solicitors, are generously providing bursaries of 50-100% of the delegate fee to enable parents of children to attend.  Early bird rates for bookings made before the 30th April 2012 are £96 per delegate including VAT or £180 for 2 delegates booking together.  This includes all refreshments and a delegate pack. 

I am organising this year’s conference.  The 4 keynote speakers at this years conference are Clive Rawlings, Barrister speaking on the future for children with SEN from a legal perspective, Tania Tirraoro, a journalist and parent (Special Needs Jungle) speaking on the SE7 pathfinder and experiences of the system as a parent, Charlie Mead, Educational Psychologist speaking on ‘The Careless System’ and Martyn Sibley, social entrepreneur speaking on what it was like growing up as a child with special needs with one aim ‘to change the world for disabled people.’ 

Jane Asher, Actress, Author and President of the National Autistic Society is coming and there are 12 seminars covering dyslexia, acquired brain injury, autism, deafness and Down Syndrome as well as influencing and communication skills, life after school, the ICAN Secondary Talk Programme,  Applied Behavioural Analysis and the SCAEP Social Skills Programme.  The focus as always is whatever the political context what do we know works and how can we navigatge the system and enable our children to get the support that they need so that they have a positive future.

To book your place go to http://www.wordswell.co.uk/tapf-conference-2012/booking.php

We are delighted that Sue Madraszek of Symbol UK will be presenting at the Towards a Positive Future Conference on 14/15 October 2011 http://www.wordswell.co.uk/conference/

Sue’s presentation will give information about the typical communication profile of children and young people with Down syndrome. It will explore the implications this has on how parents, health care staff and educators should interact with these children and young people in order to develop their full potential in the field of communication and thus enable them to access educational and other settings successfully.  Participants will gain knowledge about this population of children and young people and be shown some very simple ways of making interaction with the children and young people more effective as well as learning about how to encourage these children and young people to communicate effectively, thus achieving their communication potential and supporting them in reaching their potential educationally and socially.