October 15, 2022, 9am-4pm

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Please note that speakers, times and rooms are subject to change
Sessions in Berg Hall will be offered by Zoom (except at lunch)

9:00-10:30am: Session 1 (Plenary) — Berg Hall

Con traduccion al español / With Spanish translation

9:00-9:10am  Welcome 

Stephen Prutsman, President, Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area studioajea@sbcglobal.net

Quyen Nguyen, MD, for Antonio Hardan, MD, Director, Stanford Autism Center, Conference co-chair

Jill Escher, Conference co-chair, Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area jill.escher@gmail.com

Housing Horizons Panel:

9:10-9:35am  The Case for Choice: Different Models for Different Needs

Ashley Kim Weiss, National Coordinator, Together for Choice ashley@togetherforchoice.org

This presentation will showcase a variety of housing models that illustrate why we need a wide array of options for different needs and preferences. She will also discuss opportunities and challenges in creating various housing options in California, concluding with some practical recommendations.

9:35-10:00am  Building Homes People Can Afford

Tom Toronto, President, United Way Bergen County, New Jersey (virtual) ttoronto@bergenunitedway.org

Overview of his organization’s efforts to build affordable housing in New Jersey with particular focus on our supportive housing projects for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

10:00-10:15am  Best Practices for Planning & Designing IDD Housing 

Pamela Anderson-Brulé, ABA Architects pamela@aba-arch.com

Daniel Ho, ABA Architects daniel@aba-arch.com

Planning and design issues involved in two models of IDD living, group homes and independent living, through case studies from ABA's work: Briarwood House, a group residence primarily serving teenagers, and the Willow Commons Residential Community that supports independent living for adults with IDD.

10:15-10:18am  Urban Housing in San Francisco

Ryan Berman, Director of Disability Services, JFCS ryanb@jfcs.org

Shupin Community offers 4 residential programs in Laurel Heights. Residents are helped with independent living skills services, care management, and an active social club.

10.18-10.30am  Q&A with panel

10:30-10:45am Break

10:45am-12 noon: Session 2 (Plenary) — Berg Hall

Con traduccion al español / With Spanish translation

10.45-11.10am  California’s Autism/DD Policy Landscape

Teresa Anderson, Policy Director, Arc of California (virtual) teresa@thearcca.org

An overview of recent legislation, regulation, and policy in California that impacts individuals with autism and their families.

Q&A

11.10-11.35am  Key Considerations for the Assessment and Care of Individuals with Autism and Severe Intellectual Disability: A Provider and Parent Perspective

Tom Frazier, MD, Professor, Department of Psychology, John Carroll University, Former Chief Science Officer, Autism Speaks (virtual) tfrazier@jcu.edu

​​A discussion of improving the assessment and intervention processes for individuals with autism and severe ID, plus recommendations for system enhancements.

Q&A

11:35am-12 noon  Transitioning to Self-Determined Services

Suzanne Bennett Francisco, Exceptional Rights Advocacy suzannebennett2022@icloud.com

David Grady, State Council on Developmental Disabilities david.grady@scdd.ca.gov

Self Determination is an alternative regional center program where individuals and families have a greater role in developing the budget and spending plan, allowing for the greater flexibility in arranging services.

Q&A

12 Noon-1.00pm: Lunch 

• Online option – Stanford research studies presentation (Robin Libove)

• Pick up bag lunch

• Visit sponsors

• Berg Hall will be divided into three rooms

Optional informal discussion groups:

LK 203/204: Follow-up Discussion on Housing

Want to dig in deeper with questions about housing development and design? Here’s your chance.

Ashley Kim Weiss

Pamela Anderson-Brulé and Daniel Ho

LK 208: Follow-up Discussion on Self-Determination

Learn more about the regional center Self-Determination program.

Suzanne Bennett Francisco

David Grady

LK 209: Creating Engagement for Adults with Challenging Behaviors

A “prequel” to the 1pm session on employment and engagement for adults with more severe challenges.

Laura Noland laura@thebayschool.org

Jim Toohey jtoohey@thebayschool.org

Berg Hall C: Staffing for Your Adult Child with Autism/DD: A Discussion of What Works and What Doesn't

Finding the right people to work with our population can be challenging. What have we learned?

Irene Litherland, ACCESS irene.litherland@accessdd.org

1.00-1.50pm: Session 3 (Breakouts)

Berg Hall A: Complementary and Integrative Approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Con traduccion al español / With Spanish translation

Robert Hendren, D.O., UCSF robert.hendren@ucsf.edu

1) Critical review the wide variety of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) treatments proposed for the treatment of people with ASD using the US Preventive Services Task Force criteria; 2) Describe in more detail the studies with stronger evidence of efficacy; 3) Describe how CIM treatments with the strongest evidence can be incorporated into effective interventions.

Berg Hall B: Vocational and Day Programs for Autistic and I/DD Adults Incapable of Engaging in Competitive Employment

David Grady, State Council on Developmental Disabilities 

Laura Noland, Director of Community Engagement and Development, The Bay School

Jim Toohey, Coordinator of Vocational Services, The Bay School

Can a person requiring greater levels of support build skills and meet employer expectations? Customizing and increasing the levels of support with a person-centered focus for career planning will be the focus of this presentation. Work is more than just a 9-5 job and new ways to consider earning an income will discussed.

Berg Hall C: Estate Planning for Loved Ones with Special Needs

Kevin Urbatsch, Attorney at Law, Urbatsch Law Firm kevin@urbatsch.com

What happens when a parent can no longer provide care and supervision? With effective planning, a person with disabilities will have legal instructions in place to cover their lifetime financial and personal care needs, including protection against predators and ongoing eligibility for public benefits. Topics include Special Needs Trusts, ABLE Accounts, Memos of Intent, and much more.

LK 203/204: Understanding Conservatorships

Alexis Lynch, Attorney at Law alexis@alexislynchlaw.com

Conservatorship is an important step for some families of a child with DD who is transitioning into adulthood. In order to maintain the legal rights to make important decisions concerning your child's care, such as place of residence, medical treatment, and educational placement after age 18, you need to be appointed conservator by a judge. We cover the steps necessary for being appointed a conservator through the local courts and alternatives to conservatorship.

LK 208: CA START Services

Dylan Alto, MA, Program Director, CA START San Andreas

1.50-2.00pm Break

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2.00-2.50pm Session 4 (Breakouts)

 Berg Hall A: Psychopharmacological Interventions to Address Severe Behaviors 

Con traduccion al español / With Spanish translation

Dr. Janani Venugopalakrishnan, Stanford University Medical Center

What medications are appropriate in different scenarios? Case studies will be discussed.

Berg Hall B: Creating Homes for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Dana Hooper, Executive Director, Life Services Alternatives dhooper@lsahomes.org

What does it take to open a home at LSA? How does the model work? If you are a parent looking to DIY a new group home for your loved one or just exploring this housing model, this presentation will give you a few items to consider when looking for or setting up a new licensed residential care home.

Berg Hall C:  Financial Planning and Fiduciaries

Jon Elfin, Financial Planner, Open Advisors jon@myopenadvisors.com

Ellen Cookman, Attorney, Cookman Law ellen@cookmanlaw.com

(1) Fiduciaries are an extremely important aspect of legal and financial planning, eg, a Successor Trustee for revocable trust, Executor for Will, Attorney-in-Fact for Durable Power of Attorney, Agent for Health Care Directive, Conservator for Limited Conservatorship for child with DD, Successor Trustee for SNT. 

Who do you name? Friends, family? PPFs, banks, nonprofits, pooled trust? Plus, oversight options: trust protector, advisory committee.

(2) Financial Planning: How much is enough to support your special needs loved one? Disposition of assets- avoid common mistakes. Protecting assets- life and LTC insurance. ABLE accounts.

LK 203/204: Creating ADUs for Adults with Autism/DD

Dennise Jaregui, Acting Director, Housing Choices

Many parents are considering creating Accessory Dwelling Units on their properties to serve their adult children with autism or DD. This session will discuss some examples.

LK 208: The Four Pillars of Care Planning 

Kyle Daniels, Equitable Advisors kyle.daniels@equitable.com

Mitchell Bortolotto, Equitable Advisors mitchell.bortolotto@equitable.com
A care plan can help guide the appropriate types of supports, based on the whole individual, their strengths, goals, and sources of happiness. Combining a care plan with an estate plan can unlock an individual's potential without compromising their safety. Utilizing an interdisciplinary team of professionals (including money managers, trustees, and care coordinators) individuals with special needs can have appropriate guardrails and support.

2.50-3.00pm Break

3:00-3:50pm Session 5 (Breakouts)

Berg Hall A: Working Together to Improve Oral Care

Con traduccion al español / With Spanish translation

Inge Henderson, Speech Pathologist, parent of a severely affected young adult inge@speechtree.net

Paula Lee, Paula Lee MPH, RDHAP, Dental Hygiene Consultant, California Department of Public Health, Office of Oral Health paula.lee@cdph.ca.gov

Oral care for people with autism/DD is complex: sensory issues, anxiety, understanding what to expect, and transitions can all make a visit to the dentist difficult. How can a parent, caregiver, and dental practitioner adjust and improve collaboration? We present 10 principles, a framework useful for many other care moments as well, e.g., doctor visits, blood draws, COVID tests, vaccinations, haircuts.

Berg Hall B: Wearable Technology for Health and Autism

Dr. Amir Bahmani, Stanford Lecturer and Director, Stanford Deep Data Research Computing Center (DDRCC), Stanford University, CA

Digital wearables and sensors can be used to monitor many vital signs, and thus track individual health in a continuous, passive, real-time, and low-impact form. This presentation will give an overview of different types of wearable technology, its use in measuring physiologically important biometrics, detecting disease at a pre-symptomatic stage, and its applications for health, sleep, epilepsy, and research in autism.

Berg Hall C: Limited Conservatorship and Alternatives

Lorna Drope, Special Needs Law Group lorna@specialneedslawgroup.com

Learn how a limited conservatorship can protect an adult with developmental disabilities from harm or exploitation while allowing for the development of maximum self-reliance and independence. The process of establishing a limited conservatorship will be covered as well as alternatives to conservatorship.

LK 203/204: SLS (Supported Living Services)  - A Parent Perspective

Clare Meyerson, Parent cjmeyerson@comcast.net

With SLS support, a home of one's own can be a reality for a person with DD. Hear the story of a man who has been living on his own for the past five years with the assistance of a Supported Living agency. Hear how the family prepared, what the transition looked like, how his family and caregivers currently balance supporting him, and plans for the future to make him less dependent on his family.

LK 208: Dos and Don’ts of Funding a Special Needs Trust

Ken Prodger, Certified Financial Planner ken@snpg.org

Explore key financial planning decisions regarding funding a Special Needs Trust. Discussion on estimating how much a special needs trust will need, various funding methods and critical tax consequences. Common mistakes families make regarding the funding of the special needs trust.

3.50-4.15pm Visit with sponsors, conference closes               

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