AASR Live

Please join us for "Educator Well Being: Discussing the Current Conditions of Stress Response in Education" with Angelina Zara.Born and raised in the heart of Washington, DC, Angie found her passion in education in 2015, serving students and caregivers in her hometown. As an elementary school teacher in a Title 1, full-inclusion classroom, Angie learned early on about the power of research-based, trauma-informed strategies, and her philosophy was forever changed. She has first-hand experience of the impact of trauma-informed education and the direct correlation to powerful relationships and increased student achievement in diverse learning communities.Through what Angie refers to as “walking the walk”, she pioneered the vision and creation of the brand new position of Social Emotional Learning Specialist in her elementary school. Currently serving in this position, Angie provides professional development, classroom modeling, and coaching to educators on trauma-informed practices and strategies to promote awareness and relational safety for all in the classroom and school community. After accomplishing this role in its inaugural year, Angie is proud to say that it has been created across the entire local educational agency in the middle school and high school setting. This only further fuels the fire that this work must be shared widely and authentically.Angie completed Applied Educational Neuroscience Certification from Butler University in 2021, and has had the privilege to work closely with Dr Lori Desautels. These collaborations include designing and incorporating various applications within her Applied Educational Neuroscience (AEN) Framework. These have focused on wellness practices for the educator nervous system and intentionally incorporating equity within the AEN Pillars. In addition to national presenting and working full time at her school, Angie serves as an adjunct faculty for Dr. Desautels' Applied Educational Neuroscience Certification Program and consults with the Trauma Informed Educators Network under Mathew Portell. In 2023, Angie also launched her LLC alongside her business partner, Nicole Keler, entitled "LiveWellEd". This LLC provides advocacy and education coaching to caregivers and parents of neurodiverse students to empower parents from a strength-based approach.Support the show

Celebrating 5 Incredible Years: A Live Interview with Guy Stephens on the Past, Present, and Future of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint Join us for a unique event for the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR) as we present a Live, in-person interview with Guy Stephens, the visionary Founder and Director of AASR, that promises to be both heartwarming and enlightening, in celebration of AASR's 5th Anniversary.  For years, you've followed Guy and AASR's journey, supported our initiatives, and contributed to our live interviews, making our advocacy resonate across borders. This live interview will not only highlight the achievements and challenges of our collective journey, but will also offer a unique, personal perspective on the mission that has united us all. It's an opportunity for our community, volunteers, and professionals who have been an integral part of AASR to come together, share insights, and reinforce our commitment to a cause that impacts lives every day.We invite you to be a part of this inspiring event as we delve into discussions that will include reflections on our past, insights into our ongoing projects, and visions for the future of our advocacy. Whether you've been with Guy Stephens and AASR from the start or are just learning about our cause, your presence will make this occasion all the more meaningful. Tune in live to be moved, motivated, and reminded of the powerful difference we can make when we stand together against the use of seclusion and restraint. Don't miss out on this significant occasion that marks a new chapter in our journey towards a safer, more compassionate world.Support the show

Please join us for “How Neuroscience and a Mother’s Love Led to the Creation of CapeAble® Weighted Products” with Marna Pacheco.Marna Pacheco is the founder of CapeAble® Weighted Products and inventor of SmartWeight® Technology proudly manufactured in the USA. Marna embodies the saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” To help her adopted daughter with significant neurological and developmental early childhood trauma, Marna immersed herself in the latest research in neuroscience to invent SmartWeight® Technology, which offers a better approach to felt safety and effective weighted therapy, disrupting the industry, and changing lives. It all started with a Weighted Cape and continues to be fueled by her passion for helping others know they have value and deserve to reach their full capabilities. Learn more at www.CapeAble.com.Support the show

Please join us for “Our Story - From Suffering to Hope and on to Flourishing. Strategic Self-regulation, Co-regulation, and Coproduction: Leadership Lessons from My Brother” with Jamie Emberson.Jamie possesses extensive years of both lived and professional expertise across diverse roles in healthcare, social care, and wellbeing. His career has encompassed positions such as Care Worker, Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Tutor, Companies Director, Departmental Directorship, Consultant, and Performance Coach. Jamie's personal values and practices have been shaped by his own life experiences, including an early memory at age 5 of his brother Garry and his peers referring to themselves as "Freedom Fighters" while detained in secure facilities. Later in Jamie's life, he found out the meaning of this.Throughout his lifelong career, Jamie has focused on leadership, development, and systemic/organizational approaches, resulting in notable outcomes like reducing or eliminating restrictive practices and enhancing people's quality of life and well-being. His current passion revolves around positive psychology interventions and strengths-based approaches, which he applies to enhancing the well-being of others. Jamie is particularly interested in aiding those suffering from trauma and stress.Outside of his professional pursuits, Jamie is a father to Ollie, who also works in the wellbeing field. He shares his life with his dog Hendrix, and nurtures a parcel of ancient woodland to promote biodiversity. Nature holds a special place in his heart, and he has explored mountains in both the UK and the Indian Himalayas. Jamie's culinary interests lean towards Asian cuisine, and he finds joy in cooking.Support the show

Please join us for “The Why Toolkit: A New Tool to Better Understand and Support All Students” with Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP, is a highly experienced Speech-Language Pathologist and Educational Consultant. She has 20+ years of experience in educational settings and holds a certificate in instructional coaching, positive education, and applied educational neuroscience. She served as a member of the multi-state work group to help develop the Common Core Essential Elements for English Language Arts. Connie is a published writer for Autism Parenting Magazine and writes for Exceptional Needs Today. She created an innovative process to assess student behavior, which deviates from the traditional behaviorism approach and aligns with current relational and neuroscience while maintaining a trauma-sensitive and neurodiversity approach. Connie works from the guiding mission that Connection + Collaboration = Endless Possibilities.Support the show

Please join us for “Opposition Isn't Always Defiance: A Brief Introduction to the PDA Profile of Autism” with Courtney Hart.Courtney Hart, LCSW-C, RYT 500, RCYT, founded Healing Hart Wellness in 2018, a pediatric mental health and wellness practice, where she and her team, and their two therapy dogs, specialize in supporting anxious ADHDers and Autistic families through parent consultation, ADHD/Autism assessments, individual therapy, and interest-based social groups. In addition to her work at Healing Hart Wellness, Courtney also runs Therefore I Learn, offering children's yoga teacher training and mindfulness training for educators. When Courtney isn’t working, you can find her starting random projects at home, playing fetch with her dogs, scouring the internet to research topics of interest, reading, playing video games, or listening to music.Support the show

Please join us for “Lessons Learned from Working with Neurodivergent Learners: An Interview with Zach Morris.”Zach Morris M.Ed. is an advocate for learning and personal agency. His work aims to help individuals, families, and schools build structures that honor autonomy, celebrate strengths and interests, and prioritize a sense of safety and connection. With a focus on trauma and neurodiversity, Zach offers a lens into the psychophysiological experiences we can have as humans, and he offers support strategies for helping ourselves and our children learn, heal, and grow. Support the show

Learn about the 5th Annual PDA North America Conference with Diane Gould.Join us to learn more about the 5th annual PDA North America Conference on March 6 & 7 (virtual), and March 7 & 8 (in person). The event will include some incredible experts, including keynote speaker – Linda K. Murphy, MS, CCC-SLP and author of Declarative Language Handbook and Co-Regulation Handbook. Other experts & speakers include Diane Gould, Founder of PDA North America, Ruth Fidler, Education Consultant and author; Sally Cat, author of PDA by PDAers, Brook Madera of No Pressure PDA; Zach Morris, Education Consultant for PDAers; Sandra McConnell, PDA Certified Trainer & Parent Consultant, PJ Starling – adult PDAer and PDANA Board Member, and Colleen Hanson speaking on Polyvagal Theory.Support the show

Please join us for “Reframing Behavior: A New Program to Bring the Neuroscience of Behavior to Schools” with Susan Driscoll.Susan Driscoll is President of Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and oversees the development of all products and programs, the trainers who deliver them, and for the support and care of the clients who use them. She joined CPI in 2017 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in 2022 was named a Director of the company.Prior to joining CPI, Susan served as President and CEO of Wolters Kluwer Health, Professional, and Education, where she transformed the business from a traditional book publisher to a subscription-based healthcare content business. She has extensive experience in both healthcare and higher education publishing and training.Susan also has startup experience: prior to joining Wolters Kluwer, Susan was CEO of iUniverse, an internet-based provider of self-publishing services that was funded by Barnes & Noble and Warburg Pincus.Her expertise is broad. In addition to her CEO experience, Susan has served as VP of Operations, VP Strategy, VP Marketing, and VP of Product and Technology. She has direct experience in global markets, including India and China. Susan was named one of the Top 50 Women in Publishing in 2009, and served on the Executive Board of the Association of American Publishers. Currently, she serves on the board of ISA, the Association of Learning Providers, and is a trustee of The School of the Holy Child in Rye, New York.Susan is a graduate of The University of Notre Dame and currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Council for the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at Notre Dame.Support the show

Please join us for "Preschool to Prison": An Interview with Dr. Karen Baptiste About the New Documentary Film.Karen “Dr. K” Baptiste is a visionary who can make magic and transform any space she’s in. Dr. K leads with compassionate courage and has bridged her love of supporting individuals with special needs and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system with storytelling in film. Growing up in the Bronx and becoming a special education teacher in the Bronx, seeing kids drop out of school was the norm. Dr. K founded Preschool to Prison, LLC, and is the film Director of her new documentary, Preschool to Prison. She has served on the International Board of Directors and the Education Legislative Committee at ASCD where she advocated to Congress and developed national educational policy points to address systemic barriers. She is also a co-author for The New Classroom Instruction That Works.Support the show

Please join us for “Neither Comprehension or Learning Can Take Place in an Atmosphere of Anxiety” with Linda Cervenka, Michele Ricamato, and Deanna Tyrpak. Linda, Michele, and Deanna are the co-founders of Soaring Eagle Academy, a not-for-profit ISBE-approved therapeutic day school serving students 3 to 22 years of age with autism and related disorders. Linda Cervenka is a licensed speech-language pathologist.  At Soaring Eagle Academy, Linda is a Trainer/Expert Clinician focusing on teaching, facilitating, and supporting children during a crisis. Linda believes in preventative and proactive practice and supporting a culture within the school environment that views a child’s actions within a developmental framework. Additionally, she has a private practice near Chicago, IL. Michele Ricamato is a licensed speech and language pathologist who works primarily with children diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. Michele's expertise is in developmental language models and supports curriculum adaptation to support students’ ability to make meaning through learning.  In addition, she has a private practice in the western suburbs of Chicago.Deanna Tyrpak is a licensed speech-language pathologist and serves as the executive director and board president at Soaring Eagle Academy.  Deanna is also a parent of an adult daughter with autism and leads her individualized programming in the community.Support the show

Please join us for Designing an Environment for Everyone with Daniel Hodges, JD. Daniel Hodges, JD, is an activist dedicated to assisting others with disabilities and chronic illnesses to reach their full potential. While in law school, Daniel founded Peaces of Me Foundation; a nonprofit that promotes universal access and inclusion. Daniel’s perspective has been shaped by his experience as a blind man with chronic pain and other conditions. He has spent a lifetime surpassing the low expectations placed before him, and his personal calling is to help others do the same.Support the show

Join us for “Why This Matters: Stories from AASR Volunteers” with Guy Stephens, Karen Bures, Amy Kriewaldt, Braden Flax, Heathyr Watson, Sidney McGillicky, Arielle Silverman, Chantelle Hyde, Angie Vigliotti, Cass Griffin Bennett, Erica Cotter, and Courtney Litzinger.In this episode of AASR Live, you’ll have an opportunity to meet some of our amazing AASR volunteers and hear their stories. Learn why these amazing individuals are supporting the work and mission of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint. We will also talk about our end-of-year giving campaign and hope that you might support our work.Support the show

Please join us for “Getting to the Deeper Why: Exploring The Why Toolkit” with Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP, hosted by Jennifer Abbanat, C-TSS, EXA-CE, SSP Provider.Connie Persike, M.S., CCC/SLP, is a highly experienced Speech-Language Pathologist and Educational Consultant. She has 20+ years of experience in educational settings and holds a certificate in instructional coaching, positive education, and applied educational neuroscience.She served as a member of the multi-state work group to help develop the Common Core Essential Elements for English Language Arts. Connie is a published writer for Autism Parenting Magazine and writes for Exceptional Needs Today. She created an innovative process to assess student behavior, which deviates from the traditional behaviorism approach and aligns with current relational and neuroscience while maintaining a trauma-sensitive and neurodiversity approach.Connie works from the guiding mission that Connection + Collaboration = Endless Possibilities.Support the show

Join us for the Release of the Audio Documentary: “We Warned Them: Freedom Village” with Creator Margaret Mayer. A Deep Dive into an IFB Troubled Teen SchoolMargaret is a 24-year-old artist and activist originally from Rochester, NY. In 2020, Margaret became aware of the Troubled Teen Industry after hearing horror stories from her friends who had been trafficked to a private, for-profit religious, residential school located near her hometown (Freedom Village, USA). This led her to research and further investigate Independent Baptist Homes. Through networking, she connected with more survivors from Freedom Village and joined them in launching the We Warned Them Campaign in September 2021. She is passionate about storytelling and building genuine connections with people.Support the show

Join us for The CALMER Approach: Sharing how to co-design the right level of therapeutic support at the right time to end seclusion with Francisco and Amy De Paula.Francisco de Paula is passionate about supporting all to reach their potential. The CALMER Approach developed out of his passion to close the gap between theory and practice while looking for ways to make a more meaningful impact in positive behavior support.Francisco has been working in the disability sector for over 20 years, starting as a support worker in accommodation, day programs, recreation programs, and employment settings. Since 2011, he has been working as a Behaviour Support Practitioner and an Education and Training facilitator (in both TAFE and private courses). He is a certified Person Centered Active Support facilitator since 2016 (through Greystanes Disability Services, NSW). Person-centered practice, PBS, neuroscience, and trauma-informed practice strongly influence his practice and training.Amy de Paula is an Occupational Therapist who has been working in community disability settings for over twenty years. With a passion for meaningful engagement and co-design, she loves anything that leads to people having autonomy and participation in their lives.Support the show

Learn about the upcoming 7th Annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference.Learn about the largest gathering of trauma-informed educators in the United States with Ginger Healy and Kimberly Smathers. The 7th Annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference is dedicated to building trauma-reformed schools. It is being held in Dallas, Texas, on February 18-23, 2024. Registration is now OPEN.Feb 18th Academy Day PreconferenceFeb 19-20 In-Person ConferenceFeb 22-23 Virtual Conference Onlinehttps://www.attachmenttraumanetwork.org/conference/Join us live to learn more about this amazing upcoming event.Ginger Healy MSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker who began her career as a non-profit case manager and child abuse investigator. She then became a hospital social worker and spent 15 years as the social service supervisor at an international adoption agency and was able to travel to provide support for orphanages all over the world. This job continues to inform her work on attachment and trauma needs in children. After serving in that capacity, she worked as a school therapist and served on the charter school board. She is currently the director of programs for the Attachment & Trauma Network. She co-anchors the podcast “Regulated and Relational” and speaks nationwide on trauma-informed schools, therapeutic parenting, and community engagement. Ginger is also the author of Regulation and Co-Regulation: Accessible Neuroscience that Brings Calm into the Classroom.Kimberly Smathers brings over two decades of experience in strategy, research, system design, policy, and communications across the health and human service, education, and nonprofit sectors. As Principal and Owner of Flourishing Spark LLC, she collaborates with organizations striving to create supportive systems and environments for human flourishing, especially for those whose experiences are shaped by sociodemographic disparities, trauma and toxic stress, neurodiversity, complex health conditions, and functional limitations.Kimberly serves as the Vice President of the Attachment and Trauma Network Board of Directors and as the Parent Education Programming Chair for the Family Association at Bennett Day School. She holds an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and a human-centered design certificate from Ideo U. She resides in Chicago with her husband and son.Support the show

Join us for "What is EMDR, and how can it help in the treatment of complex trauma?" with Sidney McGillicky.Sidney is an Approved EMDR Consultant and also a Certified EMDR therapist who specializes in the treatment of complex and developmental trauma with 20 years of experience working as a therapist. Sidney also is a Certified NMT(c) Level One Practitioner utilizing advanced knowledge and understanding of neurological development resulting from adverse and traumatic experiences throughout the lifespan. Sidney is client-centered and integrative, with an understanding of the consequences of trauma and developing interventions that focus on healing and recovery.Support the show

An interview with Liora Schwartz: Trauma-informed and neuro-developmentally sensitive approaches for parents and professionals.Liora Schwartz (she/her) has over two decades of experience in the trenches of the New York City public school system and is a parent of a complicated, brilliant, neurodivergent teen. As such, she has a unique perspective that has broadened outside many traditional boxes. Liora's work with parents and professionals aims to be trauma-informed and neuro-developmentally sensitive and is informed both by current research and the lived experiences of autistic advocates.Support the show

Author McAlister Huynh joins us to talk about: "Listen, Learn, and Grow: A Whole Body Listening Larry Story."McAlister Greiner Huynh is an educator, also known as The Neurodivergent Teacher.McAlister Greiner Huynh is a National Board Certified special educator, behavior support specialist, consultant, and international speaker who calls North Carolina, USA home. She has been working with and learning from Neurodivergent individuals professionally for twelve years, steadily growing in her passion for neurodiversity, disability culture, and radical acceptance. McAlister is the educator behind “The Neurodivergent Teacher” on Facebook and Instagram, where she connects with families, professionals, and neurodivergent folks worldwide to share philosophies around teaching, self-advocacy skills, accessibility, and coping strategies.Support the show