Virtual Conference, May 2nd & 3rd, 2022. Open to caregivers and professionals such as Early Interventionists, Early Childhood Educators, Nurses, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Special Education Teachers, Psychologists, Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors and Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
Key Note Speaker: Meredith Pizzi will present Prioritizing You: 6 Keys to Support Your Well-Being.
* Meredith is founder of Roman Music Therapy Services and Sprouting Melodies®, an award-winning early childhood music program.
* Meredith knows that as helping professionals, we are pulled in many different directions, and it’s easy to feel spread thin.
* Frustration and burnout fuel feelings of inadequacy and a sense that we’re not giving enough anywhere. We start to question ourselves. What do I have to give? Should I be doing this? Who am I anyway?
* Meredith’s keynote presentation, Prioritizing You: 6 Keys to Support Your Well-Being, will help you clear the noise and find your way back. She will share music, stories, and simple strategies to help you prioritize your own well-being.
For more information visit https://meiconsortium.org/annual-conference/ or contact MEICconference@gmail.com
2022 Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium Workshops.
- Autism in Girls: Why We Are Missing Them and What We Can Do About It
Presented by Dr. Jenny Landry, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CEIS, and Jess Austin, M.Ed., CAGS - The Importance of the Foot in Early Intervention Treatment: Presented by Louis J DeCaro, DPM
- Feeding Picky Eaters: Beyond the Chicken Nugget! Presented by Edith Benisty, OTR/L, CEIS
- Intake Processes to Address Racial Disparities in EI Referrals and Enrollment. Presented by Kathleen McAuslin, MATL, CEIS, CEIM
- Plenary: Discipline vs. Punishment Using Empowering Approaches. Presented by Jill Vetstein
- Supporting A Positive Partnership: Early Interventionists & Foster Parents in Massachusetts. Presented by Kelly F. Brown, M.Ed. CEIS, and Dr. Serra Acar, Ph.D.
- Supporting Infants and Toddlers with Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). Presented by Kathleen McAuslin, MATL, CEIS, CEIM.
- Families Living with a Potential Diagnosis of Autism. Presented by Yvonne Nieves, Ph.D. & Certified Early Intervention Specialist
- The Music in Me! Using Music Therapy Strategies and Interventions with Young Children
Presented by Meredith R Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC
New Virtual Platform for 2022 – This year they are offering the conference through a more robust platform that will allow all participants additional tools to deepen the virtual experience, including:
- Live chat, moderated Q&A, and polls during workshops
- Digital booths for exhibitors and sponsors, where participants can view materials and chat with representatives via appointment or drop-ins
- A virtual community where attendees can better connect with each other through chat, one-on-one appointments with other attendees, and special breakout sessions for group networking opportunities
The 2021 Conference Agenda covered:
Keynote: Inclusion of Disability in the Media (45 Years on Sesame Street). Emily Perl Kingsley will share her personal experience raising a child with a disability at a time when there was little to no guidance for parents. She will describe how this journey impacted her career as a writer and curriculum developer on Sesame Street and how it led to a life of creative advocacy. Ms. Kingsley spearheaded the groundbreaking inclusion of children and adults with disabilities on Sesame Street and will demonstrate this through delightful video clips and stories.
The goals of the conference are to:
* Instill a sense of confidence, energy, and achievement for continued work on behalf of infants and toddlers with special needs, and their families.
* Encourage connections among all early childhood professionals and families.
* Promote interventions that support, challenge, and celebrate individual differences.
* Explore current perspectives, research and trends related to best practice in the field.
* Expand knowledge of issues affecting the development of infants, toddlers, and families.
PLUS – Exhibitor Expo for families and professionals to find resources, products and services for children birth to six years old and their families.
For more information contact https://meiconsortium.org/annual-conference/ or MEICconference@gmail.com
2021 Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium Agenda
- Welcoming Remarks – Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium and MA Department of Public Health
- Keynote: Inclusion of Disability in the Media (45 Years on Sesame Street) – Presented by Emily Perl Kingsley
- Examining Early Childhood Anxiety During an Era of Anxiety – Presented by Ashley Abesamra
- Integrating Technology with Parent Coaching to Optimize Language Development -Presented by Barbara F. Hecht, PhD, Marian C. Hartblay, MAT, MEd, LSLS Cert AVEd, and Britani Schwaiger, M.E.D., CEIS
- Racial Equity and Early Intervention – Presented by Craig Andrade, RN, MPH, DrPH
- Monitoring Developing Communication Skills in Monolingual and Bilingual Infants and Toddlers – Presented by Rachel G. Aghara, PhD, CCC-SLP.
- Techniques and Tips for Your Sensory Tool Kit – Presented by Lisa van Gorder, OTR/L, CEIS
