Here’s a reminder that Project ACCESS proudly serves as host for the Autism Educators’ Network (AEN) meetings twice per year.
Due to the rapid growth in the numbers of children with autism being served in schools, the Autism Educators Network (AEN) was organized in the spring of 1999 to network key educators involved with students who experience Autism Spectrum Disorder across the state of Missouri. All interested educational professionals are welcome to attend for informative and enjoyable collaboration. Important programming, assessment, resource, and legal issues are among the topics addressed at meetings, both informally through a facilitated discussion, as well as via presentations that vary in content. The AEN meetings are not intended to be training sessions, but information dissemination and networking meetings. While school districts are certainly welcome to send multiple representatives from the same district, we encourage you to send a district representative who will share information learned with colleagues. Each attendee is asked to bring resources or materials appropriate to share, as time allows.
AEN will be meeting at a new location in Jefferson City: Hawthorn Bank Community Center, 3600 Amazonas Drive. Attendees must register for each meeting since there is a limited amount of space, and a lunch meal is served (there is a $10 fee to cover the cost of the meal and refreshments).
The Fall 2019 meeting will be held on Friday, November 8th. Our featured guest speaker will be Dr. Linda Barboa, speaking on “Autism: What Schools are Missing”. Dr. Linda Barboa holds degrees in speech pathology and audiology, psychology, and early childhood education. She is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist, with a background as a Special Education Director, Director of a Center for Autism, and University Professor. She has worked as an educator in the United States and Europe and has presented numerous programs to professionals across the country.
Dr. Barboa is the founder and the Executive Director of STARS for Autism, a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about autism. She is also the author of several bestselling books and training manuals about autism. She is the recipient of the prestigious JEFFERSON AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, and creator of an award-winning program proclaiming Battlefield, MO., the First Autism Friendly City in the State of Missouri. Dr. Barboa serves on the advisory board for Cox College MSOT program and serves as the VP on the school board for Infinity Academy. She currently serves on the International Board of Sensory Accessibility.
The AEN meetings are held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.The Fall 2019 AEN meeting flyer may be viewed at the following link: Fall 2019 AEN
If you are interested in joining AEN and attending meetings, please contact the Project ACCESS office at 866-481-3841 or Tina Neal-Fox at tinaneal@missouristate.edu
#AEN #networking