Program Opening:

  President Michelle Torbert welcomed families and opened the program at 9:15am.  She introduced the first time families, and then made announcements about the book table, free stuff, T-shirts for sale, and the raffle tickets.  She concluded by presenting the first speaker.

Session 1  -  Speaker:  Dr. Pauline Buck, Behavioral and Developmental Optometrist  -  Topic:  Success through Visual Development

Success through Visual Development

Dr. Pauline Buck, Behavioral and Developmental Optometrist

  Dr. Pauline Buck began by explaining what an Optometrist is and how Classical Optometry differs from Behavioral Optometry, which looks at how behavior effects vision.  She discussed how a person can have perfect vision (20/20) and still have trouble with their eyes. She expressed the importance of looking at more than just visual acuity, but other factors such as: 

·  focus – can be a result of being tired, usually worsens by end of the day

·  eye teaming – trouble of the eyes to work as a team, can result in a slight blur

·  eye movement – improper following of an object, reversals, losing place in reading

·  visual perception – trouble seeing size and shape differences, clumsiness

Dr. Buck did several fun visual activities with the audience showing how each eye works differently, and how life experiences affect how we see things. She then went on to show a series of pictures of children with commonly seen behaviors and what these behaviors may indicate visually:

·  Girl standing to do school work – may need distance to see more clearly

·  Child falling asleep when reading – visual system may be overwhelmed & fatigued

·  Student covering one eye – brain may not be able to compute with both

·  Boy rubbing eyes – may be trying to make image clearer

·  Child doing work close to paper – may be compensating to help process info visually

·  Child with head tilted – may not have good balance in visual system

·  Student following lines with finger – eyes may be creating reversals

Dr. Buck shared some of the common therapy done to help improve these visual interferences, again involving audience participation. She ended with a question & answer session and gave her contact information:

  Dr. Pauline K Buck,  4770 Biscayne Blvd.,  Suite # 550, Miami, FL 33137,  305–576-5338, PaulineKbuck@bellsouth.net

Session 2  -  Speaker:  Mark Lister, Behavior Analyst Assistant  -  Topic:  Behavior Issues that Face PWS – How to Manage Diet and Exercise

Behavior Issues that Face PWS – How to Manage Diet and Exercise

Mark Lister, Behavior Analyst

  Mr. Lister began by expounding on the key concepts of behavior analysis, which included functional  relationships, reinforcement, punishment, and aversive control.  He touched on the 4 main reasons for behavior, the 2 main consequences of behavior, the 2 types of reinforcement, and the side effects of aversive control.

  Mr. Lister then went on to discuss general parenting techniques.  He covered being proactive, the  advantages of positive interactions over negative ones, gave tips on how to be positive, showed examples of negative interactions from u-tube; and encouraged using techniques such as planned ignoring, redirection, reinforcement, and setting expectations.

  Mr. Lister concluded with specific recommendations for those with PWS.  He discussed using PWS characteristics, like obsessive compulsiveness, to an advantage.  He gave ways to handle tantrums, outbursts, argumentativeness, and diet problems.

  At the end the audience was divided into Q/A groups based on PWS age level.  The elementary/school age group was lead by Behaviorist Melanie Smith (melbcaba@yahoo.com); Behaviorist John Adelinis (Adelinis@behavioral supports.com) led the adolescent group; and Behaviorist Mark Lister (lister@behavioralsupports.com) led the group for adults with PWS.

Groups were completed by lunch time, 12:30.

President Michelle Torbert called the meeting back to order at 1:30, and introduced the speaker for Session 3.

Session 3  -  Speaker:  Sara Plager, Language Pathologist from the University of Florida  -  Topic:  Tapping and Sliding: Are You Sure this is Speech Therapy?

Tapping and Sliding: Are You Sure this is Speech Therapy?

Sara Plager, Language Pathologist from the University of Florida

Mrs. Plager began by introducing and giving background on herself. She shared her life and practice philosophies that included:

·  If it works, do it!

·  If you look for trouble, you might find it!

·  Follow your gut instinct!

·  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

She just recently started a PWS clinic where evaluations and therapy are provided.  She covered what both entails. She pointed out that there is no evidence of oral/motor therapy being successful for speech, only eating.  She then gave suggestions for language stimulation; as well as a handout that gave ideas to help the development of receptive language, expressive language, association, and auditory memory.  Some important points she stressed included:

·  Need to set the child up for success

·  The child needs to know what the goals are; what “working on”

·  Give the child therapeutic tools to help themselves

·  Get on the child’s level; be face to face

·  Use open ended questions, readying cues, and give choices

·  If not seeing results with one form of therapy, may need to consider a different approach

Sara Plager ended by recommending a book by Michael A. Gary, PhD, dealing with Apraxia (Motor/Speech Disorder).  She then took questions, and gave her personal contact information:

Sara Plager, M.Ed./CCC,  Language Pathologist from the U of F in Gainesville, FL,  Phone:  352-273-5308,  SSPSLP@phhp.ufl.edu

Information Session:   President Torbert covered the following information:

·          Discussed the new website (www.pwfa.org) that was put together by Deborah Peaton.  She encouraged everyone to check it out if they haven’t already.

·          District Leaders have been established in various areas in the state with the role of contacting  and mentoring new families, as well as organizing a once a year area get-together.  Presently there are still some areas in need of a District Leader.

·          PWFA is still in the process of designing a new brochure, which should be completed soon.

·          The Movie Night and Casting for a Cause Fundraisers were very successful.  Michelle thanked all those who came out and helped support these events.

She encouraged families to participate again in the Skip-a-Lunch Fundraiser in May for PWS Awareness month.

·          The winner of the dues contest, Michelle Wallace, was announced.  She received a $45 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse.  All those who paid their dues before January 30th were eligible for the drawing.

·          Jennifer Cheshire was presented as a new Board Member.  She came forward and shared some successful fundraisers she has been doing and gave some really great ideas for increasing awareness.

·          Plans are in the works for the PWSA –  USA National Conference to be held in Orlando in 2011.

·          Check the website and newsletter on information about the next PWFA Conference.

Michelle Torbert concluded the information session at 3:00 and the raffle began.

After the raffle, the families were dismissed for the hayride and BBQ, followed by a rodeo in the evening.