Laura Riffel, Ph.D.
Speaker Bio:
Laura A. Riffel, Ph.D. is a behaviorist who specializes in assisting adults to make proactive changes so that targeted behaviors of children disappear like magic. She has trained thousands of teachers, parents, counselors, psychologists, administrators, and bus drivers how to make data based decisions as a way to change behavior. Her trainings are filled with humor and make data collection easy to understand and use in any setting.
Laura served as the webmaster for the National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports sponsored by the Office of Special Education Programs (www.pbis.org) from 1999-2012. Laura travels the world presenting on Functional Behavior Assessment and Writing Effective Behavioral Plans as a private consultant. She also presents on Positive Interventions and Effective Strategies for classroom teachers, autism, oppositional defiant disorder, adhd, and learning disabilities. Her website (www.behaviordoctor.org) is filled with free resources for educators and parents. In the early 1970's, she began her career as a volunteer at the School for the Blind which led to her interest in special education. She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Kansas State University with a minor in special education. Her Master's Degrees were in: 1) special education with an area of concentration on learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities; 2) special education consulting; and 3) personal counseling. Her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas is in Cognitive and Multiple Disabilities, Families and Policy, with a minor in research. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Riffel has had the opportunity to teach the following students:
• Inclusive classrooms in Kindergarten, First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth grades.
• Resource and self-contained classrooms in learning disabilities, emotional behavior disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, moderate intellectual disabilities, severe and profound intellectual disabilities and medically fragile students. (Elementary and Middle School levels)
• Students who were deaf using Signing Exact English (SEE II) in an inclusive setting where all students and teachers were taught to use sign language as they spoke.
• District tutor for adjudicated youth; teaching middle and high school grades at detention facilities.
Previously, Dr. Riffel enjoyed teaching at the college level at the University of Kansas, Georgia State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. She taught the following courses: Families and Quality of Life, Applied Behavior Analysis for Classroom Teachers, and Managing Classroom Behavior. She is currently teaching a similar course at the University of Central Oklahoma as a visiting professor. Laura Riffel and her husband, Tom, lived with Jay Turnbull as his housemate and friend for almost a decade. Jay was 41 years old and had autism, intellectual disabilities, bi-polar condition, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Jay passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack on January 7, 2009. He taught them the value of life for individuals with disabilities and his friendship is dearly missed. Website: http://www.behaviordoctor.org/index.html .
Title:
Quantum Secrets of Creating a Quality Life for Learners with Autism.
Description:
After 30 years of working in the field with students with autism and living with an awesome friend, Dr. Riffel will share secrets learned on how to create a quality life filled with meaningful work, friends, and leisure activities starting from preschool through adulthood. Dr. Riffel will share real examples of behaviors and interventions and give tips for keeping adults in proactive thinking mode instead of reactive mode when a child or student with autism loses their cool. .
Objectives:
1. Overview of Autism, Asperger and PDD NOS.
2. Autism Spectrum Disorders are now recognized by the Center for Disease Control to be prevalent in one out of every 166 births. This translates to an increased need in understanding the spectrum for the regular classroom, special education classroom, and any other organization that has children for clients.
3. Provide information on interventions for access to sensory input and escape from sensory overload.
4. Maximize communication efforts by utilizing Picture Exchange Communication Symbols (PECS), Sign Language, Visual Schedules, Object Schedules, and Now/Then Schedules.
5. Social stories in a unique PowerPoint format with audio and visual output for the learner.
6. Potty Training techniques for children with autism.
7. Transition difficulties are one of the most frequently cited problems for children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will learn techniques to make transitioning as easy as ABC.
8. Academic skills are often underplayed in children with autism. This presentation will focus on ways to teach Spelling, Venn Diagrams, Math, and Reading at higher levels.
9. Calming activities for children with autism spectrum disorder; what works and what doesn't.
10. Famous people with Asperger Syndrome….you will be surprised.
