Preparing Your Child's IEP

Hillary D. Freeman is deeply committed to her work representing people with disabilities and their families. As the sister of a man with autism, she is able to combine personal experience with her legal training to help families advocate for services and supports. She has experience before administrative agencies and Superior Court in special education issues, higher education issues including accommodations on high stakes testing and graduate school admissions tests, Section 504, guardianship and adult services. She is a member of the American Association for Trial Attorneys, the International Dyslexia Association and Autism New Jersey. She is a member of the Elder and Disability Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and serves on the Professional Advisory Board of the Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey. She holds a JD from Widener University School of Law and is licensed to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Recent QEEG Brain Imaging Findings in Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the Implications for Connectivity-Guided Neurofeedback as a Way to Address Autism Symptoms

Neurofeedback or "biofeedback for the brain" has been the subject of research for the symptoms of Attention Deficit disorders for over twenty years. Now with the use of the QEEG, evidence of specific brain patterns have been shown to exist in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Using QEEG as a guide, neurofeedback training has been used to train specific deficiencies identified in the autistic brain map. Training these areas with a specific type of neurofeedback called Connectivity Guided Neurofeedback has been demonstrated to be effective in improving attention, behavior, communication and socialization. In a large study conducted by Dr. Robert Coben in 2007, all 85 children in the experimental group showed a decrease in autistic symptoms from 20% to 100%. The average overall improvement for this group was a 57% decrease in autistic symptoms. Follow up of these subjects after one year showed that these improvements held and some subjects made additional cognitive and social gains.

This presentation will focus on what the QEEG reveals in the autistic brain and how connectivity guided neurofeedback works to make functional changes in the brain. Ann Stout will explore recent ongoing research into neurofeedback with autism and provide clinical case illustrations from her own practice.

Ann L. Stout is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 24 years in the mental health field, working with children, adults, families, and couples. Ms. Stout added brain mapping neurofeedback to her practice in 2001 and has utilized this method to address the symptoms associated with neuropsychological conditions including ADD/ADHD, autism, addictions, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, post traumatic stress and others with a great deal of success.

Ms. Stout earned her MSW at Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to entering private practice in 1997, she worked in hospitals and outpatient settings and held supervisory positions within them. Ms. Stout has also been a field placement instructor for graduate students.

Ms. Stout is certified in EEG biofeedback (BCIA-EEG) through the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. She earned a two-year postgraduate certification in Family Therapy and is certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). She is also a member of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR), the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA), and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Independent Assessments

Why now, more than ever, parents need to know this tool.

Special Education Law

How to Read and Understand Lab Results

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families.

Get Your Questions About Biomedical Treatments Answered!

4:30-6:30 p.m.

Send us your biomed questions about diet, chelation, hyperbarics, methylation, supplements, sleep problems, poop problems, yeast issues, anything! Your questions will be answered and become the catalyst for our discussion. Join us for some GFCFSF food and a great biomed discussion with Sonja and Barry.

Sonja and Barry come to us from Dr. Anju Usman's practice at True Health Medical Center in Naperville. Sonja is a nurse and has a son who has recovered from autism. Barry is a physician's assistant and is also the father of a child with autism.

Making Breakthroughs Using Video Modeling and Other Visual Resources to Help your Child Succeed

Susan Ellis will share with you the inspirational story of how she has helped her son in many ways through various video-modeling techniques. Helping you navigate through the choices, she will discuss several different video-modeling companies and their specialties, offer suggestions on how to supplement school curriculum using video resources, and give pointers on how to create your own video modeling social stories to help your child overcome his/her struggles.

Susan Ellis is the co-founder of The TV Teacher, LLC and mother of two children with special needs (her nine year old son was diagnosed with autism.) Motivated by the breakthroughs she made with her son through video modeling in 2005, she has produced and directed award-wining handwriting programs that are now used in school systems and clinics across the country. Susan has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, CBS, and syndicated radio stations. She continues to be an avid user and advocate of video modeling for children on the autism spectrum.