Feeding Children With Autism and Other Picky Eaters

Friday March 5th (Clinician or Parent) & Saturday March 6th (Parent + Team)
TELUS Convention Centre, Calgary, Alberta

This workshop will be of benefit to clinicians who are working with families with children who have significant feeding challenges, as well as parents facing these issues at home. The workshop will cover the status of research support in the area of picky eating particularly as it relates to those impacted by autism. This workshop will compare and contrast some different approaches to dealing with feeding challenges with children with autism. Treatment approaches will also be relevant for those populations affected by flexibility issues, sensory issues and other food aversions. Numerous feeding resources will be available for delegates to explore.

Friday March 5th , 2010   8:00 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.

8:00 – 8:30        Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00       Welcome
                        Description of picky eaters
                        Strategies for picky eaters
                        Problem feeders
10:00 – 10:15      Break
10:15 – 12:00      Feeding challenges in Autism Spectrum Disorder
                        Assessment
                        Intervention approaches
12:00 – 1:00        Lunch on your own
1:00 – 2:30         Intervention continued
2:30 – 2:45         Break
2:45 – 3:15         Oral motor issues
3:15 – 3:45         Considerations relating to special diets
3:45 – 4:15         Research directions
                        Resources
4:15 – 4:30         Wrap-up & Door prizes

Registration Form (right click and chose “save as” to save to your computer)

Saturday March 6th, 2010    9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This half day participatory workshop provides an opportunity for parent/caregiver and a member of their service team to get together to trouble-shoot on different issues that the parents are facing in feeding their child with autism or related conditions. While there will be an overall format to guide the discussion, the format will largely be determined by the questions of the participants. At the beginning of the session participants will be asked to outline three issues relating to feeding that they would like discussed. Discussion will be mostly on a large group format with some opportunity as needed for small group discussions.

It is recommended that at least one member of the service team be present with the parent.

8:30             Registration and continental breakfast
9:00 – 10:00     Initial question and answer period
10:00 – 10:30    Networking break
10:30 - 12:00    Continued Discussion and Q & A

Registration Form (right click and chose “save as” to save to your computer)

Presenter: Laura G. Rogers MScRS, OT(C)

Laura is an Occupational Therapist who has spent her career in pediatrics supporting children and families impacted by disability.  She has worked in all areas of pediatric OT and has developed expertise in assisting families in feeding their children, particularly those with picky eating, sensory challenges, rigidities, and autism.  She has worked with service providers representing various models including SCERTS, ABA, Floortime, Relationship Development Intervention and Pivotal Response Training.  She has worked at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital on the Pediatric Feeding Team and the Autism Follow-up Clinic. She is currently in her last year of the three year CIHR Autism Training Program. Laura has a private practice working with children and families with feeding challenges. Her personal practice is guided by the Family Centred Care model and she enjoys mentoring others.