Education Conference Headed to Long Island Campus

April 16, 2012

PATCHOGUE, NY April 17, 2012 The Department of Child Study at St. Josephs College, in conjunction with Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), will host the conference, "Educating All: Diverse Learners in an Evolving World on Saturday, May 19 at its Long Island Campus located in Patchogue, NY.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Rick LaVoie, M.A., M.Ed., author of Its So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success and a 30-year administrator of residential programs for children with special needs. Additional guest speakers include Gary Mesibov, Ph.D., an internationally recognized leader in autism research and practice, and Stephen Shore, Ph.D., autism spectrum expert and author of Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome.

"The Child Study Department at St. Josephs College is proud to partner with Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) in presenting this years conference, with a keynote speaker who promises to be motivational and an inspiration to all who attend, said S. Mary Ann Cashin, chair of the Department of Child Study at St. Josephs College. "The affordable student registration makes this professionally rich opportunity accessible to our undergraduate and graduate students. We are delighted to host this gathering, which will explore positive approaches and current trends in teaching diverse learners.

This education conference will include workshops on timely teaching topics, such as autism, transition planning, current educational practices and behavior assessment. Throughout the day, attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the Apps Caf, view an art exhibition and enjoy musical entertainment. Vendor and exhibitor tables will be set up all day for attendees to receive information and make purchases.

The pre-registration cost is $70 for an individual and $20 for a student, which includes the full event program, breakfast and lunch. The deadline for pre-registration is April 29. For more information, to register or become a vendor, call 516.870.1694, email [email protected] or visit www.familyres.org. St. Josephs College is accessible via the South Service Road of Sunrise Highway, just east of Exit 52 (Waverly Avenue).

ABOUT FAMILY RESIDENCES AND ESSENTIAL ENTERPRISES, INC. (FREE)
FREE founded in 1977 and headquartered in Old Bethpage, benefits and proudly supports more than 3,000 individuals with different abilities and their families each year. Its mission is to support individuals of all abilities to realize their full potential and to achieve personal happiness. FREE provides a diverse array of support and services including: housing, rehabilitation services, prevocational/day and employment services, family services, education and after-school support, health care/clinical services and advocacy. For more information, please call 516-870-1622 or visit www.familyres.org.