Workshops

We have offered many learning & resource sharing opportunities for those caring for children with special needs and the community at large.  

• Transitioning to Independent Living: Speaker:  Aimee Combs of ECAC; Date:  Thursday, October 24; Time:  6-8 p.m.; Location:  Lake Forest Church Meeting Room; 8519 Gilead Rd; Huntersville; RSVP: Laraine Nicklaw, jlnicklaw@gmail.com

• Transitioning to Adulthood: Presented by Elizabeth Hobson: Financial Advisor; President, Special Needs Planning & Wealth Management, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management AND Margaret Gaffney: Director, Transition 2 Independence, LLC. Discussion: Supplement Security Income (SSI): We will review and distribute SSI form applications; discuss age and income requirements; checklist of what to bring to your appointment; and Medicaid eligibility. After High School: We will discuss options for higher education; grants and scholarships; vocational rehabilitation vs supported employment; housing options; and maintaining Medicaid benefits.  ABLE Accounts: We will review ABLE account basics; who is eligible; how to open your ABLE account; and ABLE Account planning strategies. Retaining Your Supports: We will review options to retain Federal, State, and local supports. 

• Developmental Trauma: How trauma affects the developing brain, Neurological Reorganization and Neurofeedback as treatment options.  Speakers: Melanie Berry of Carolinas Biofeedback Clinic & Dawn Bradley of The Beatitude House

• Brain Integration: Building the Pyramid for Optimal Functioning: Presented by Adele Shiessle, Brain Integration Specialist, Optimal You

• Building Healthy and Nutritionally Sound Families: Presented by:  Sheila Kilbane MD of Touchstone Care 

• Financial Planning Seminar: Presented by Ryan Platt, MBA and Tom Nichols of A Special Needs Plan

• Sensory Workshops: Exploring how the sensory processing and integration issues can impact a child's ability to perform in an academic environment and offering simple methods to enhance brain function and educational performance. Presented by: KidsAbilities Occupational Therapists Valerie Goodfriend OTR/L & Norma Wright OTR/L.

• "The Missing Link in Autism, ADD/ADHD, Asthma and Allergies": Addressing vital issues such as nutrition, beneficial supplementation, toxicity and the chronic disease process, your immune system and the “Gut-Brain” connection, and more. Presented by: Anthony Castiglia, MD of Advanced Integratvie Medicine in Mooresville, NC.

• "Presentation on Services Available for Families Dealing with Developmental Disabilities (Including CAP)": An overview of what services are available and information on how to go about getting those services. Presented by: Mecklenbury County Employee, Gena Chambers