Building A Spectrum of Opportunity

Telehealth (the virtual delivery of health services like virtual doctors visits) have been with us for many years but the COVID-19 crisis has forced the rapid adoption of these 'virtual' services almost overnight. Parents, educators and caregivers have been overwhelmed by the sudden reliance on virtual services on every aspect of our lives: our jobs, our children's education, our families access to healthcare. All of us had to suddenly become comfortable with virtual doctor visits, virtual classrooms, working virtually from home and ordering our groceries virtually! But what does this mean for the individuals diagnosed with autism and them accessing the crucial therapies they need? We will discuss what research has learned about the delivery of services (focusing on ABA services), how effective they can be, what types of individuals benefit most and least from the 'virtual' modality, lessons we've learned on how to improve efficacy as well as share insights into what parents like about remote services and how they've learned to adapt.

Presenter Bio: Adam Dreyfus, MA, LBA is the co-founder and chief science officer for AnswersNow, an innovative Richmond-based start-up that delivers ABA services via a virtual platform. AnswersNow was founded in 2016 by Adam and Jeff Beck to address a simple problem: reducing the barriers to parents in getting access to Board Certified Behavior Analysts. In working directly with over 1,000 parents of individuals diagnosed with autism and individuals diagnosed with autism themselves they are uniquely positioned to help demystify some of the questions surrounding telehealth services and ABA specifically. Adam is also the Senior Director for the Sarah Dooley Center for Autism at St. Joseph's Villa located on Richmond's northside.

Raising a child is not easy, especially when the goal is to eventually get them to leave you to go out into the world on their own. This presentation will focus on defining independence and the skills necessary for a successful launch into adulthood. There will be a focus on how to start this process early in childhood as well as how to support individuals with disabilities. Behavioral and cognitive strategies to teach the skills necessary for independence will be discussed. There will be an emphasis on individualized instruction and support.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Melinda Moore is co-owner of Spectrum Transformation Group and the Director of Outpatient Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a long history of working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Moore received her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed a specialized fellowship through the Virginia LEND program in treating children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Her postdoctoral experience was at the feeding clinic through Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Dr. Moore is a certified ADOS-2 examiner and has completed advanced training in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). She is a published author and speaker and her work has been featured at professional conferences throughout the southeast and in Canada.

This presentation provides an overview of supports and strategies that are designed to benefit adults with ASD in the workplace in obtaining and maintaining employment. From requesting accommodations to developing compensatory strategies in the workplace, information will be provided on how to navigate and open lines of communication with employers so that barriers can be removed. When individuals are empowered to be self-advocates, they better showcase their unique strengths and skills to their employers—which have historically undervalued, underrecognized, or dismissed the potential contributions of workers with disabilities.

Presenter Bio: Justin Sheets, MS, CRC, Licensed Professional Counselor-Resident
Justin is the Autism Services Manager for The Choice Group, an employment services organization serving Virginian’s with disabilities. Justin is a Vocational Counselor with over 12 years experience in the field of rehabilitation, who actively works within the community to provide disability awareness training and reduce barriers to employment. Justin believes that the benefits of working with individuals with disabilities could be better recognized by employers, and strives for an equitable workforce that is representative and reflective of the unique talents and strengths of all employees who have a disability. Justin is a PEERS certified facilitator and ACRE certified in Customized Employment, as well as a Resident in Professional Counseling.

Turning 18 is a big deal for all individuals. An 18-year-old is legally considered an adult in Virginia. Therefore, when your child turns 18, he/she is the person that makes legal, financial, medical, and educational decisions in his/her life. For some individuals with disabilities, this will not be an issue. Others may need support. This workshop will share basic information about things that need to be considered as your loved one turns 18.

Presenter Bio: Tammy Burns

Save for today’s needs or invest for tomorrow in a simple, affordable and tax-advantaged account that won’t impact certain disability benefits. ABLEnow accounts are made possible by the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which authorized states to establish tax-advantaged ABLE savings programs. As the Virginia-sponsored ABLE savings program, ABLEnow is administered by Virginia529. Learn more and start your savings at able-now.com.

Presenter Bio: Gabriella (Gabby) Barnes serves as Marketing Associate for ABLEnow, the national tax-advantaged disability savings program administered by Virginia529. With accounts in all 50 states, ABLEnow is one of the fastest-growing ABLE programs in the country. Gabby is honored to help build this entirely new financial product that can empower millions of Americans with disabilities to save for their future – just like everyone else. Gabby holds a Bachelor's Degree from Hampton University and lives in in Richmond, Va.