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Partners In Care Conference: Families & professionals partnering on behalf of Children with Special Needs
2007 Partners In Care Conference
December 6, 2007
at the Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center, Burlington

Keynote | Workshops | Sponsors & Exhibitors | Biographies of Speakers | Schedule | Directions | Registration
Partners In Care Award Nomination Form (pdf) | PIC Award info

Keynote: "Together, We Can Move Mountains"
Too often, families must seek out information and support from multiple agencies that don't seem to speak to each other and that aren't aware of each other's resources. By joining efforts, child and family-serving agencies can meet families' needs more effectively and without duplication of effort.
Together, we can move mountains; alone, we can't move at all.

Keynote Speaker: Diana Autin, parent, attorney and Co-Executive Director of SPAN (Statewide Parent Advocacy Network) of New Jersey

Workshops:

Morning Workshops

#1 - Taking a Medical Diagnosis to School
How do parents, school and healthcare professionals, and service providers address a child’s physical disability in the school environment? The panel will address distinctions between an IEP, 504, Health Plan, and EST; challenges of integrating children’s medical needs with requirements for educational relevancy; transmission of information among team members; and creative suggestions for meeting a child’s educational needs when medical/health conditions exist.

Presenters:
Penny Bessom, Parent from East St. Johnsbury
Kim Brittenham, Parent from Montpelier
Arthur Green, JD, Parent
Cari Kelley, Parent from Grand Isle
Jill Rinehart, MD
Peggy Owen Sands, PT, MS
Moderator: Deb O’Rourke, PhD, PT, UVM Dept. of Rehabilitation and Movement Science

 

#2 - The 411 on Disability Disclosure
Disclosing a disability is a very personal decision, a decision that takes both thought and practice. Come and learn information about making informed choices about when, where, and how to disclose your disability, an important decision that can affect your education, employment, and social life. Young people with hidden disabilities (those not readily apparent to others), as well as those with disabilities that are visible, will benefit from information shared in this workshop.

Presenters:
Marsha Camp, ACCESS Director
Sarah Hobart, Associate Director of Admissions, UVM
Shannon Kilpatrick, Full time college student
Cindy Seguin, VOC/Rehab

 

#3 - Piloting A New Social Skills Program
In response to the rising number of students with social thinking/social communication challenges, Williston's special education department embraced the "I LAUGH" model of social skills training created by speech-language pathologist Michelle Garcia Winner. Her practical strategies and interactive exercises are ideally suited for students in the 2nd grade and older who exhibit social cognitive delays, including those with autism spectrum disorders and ADD/ADHD. You’ll be introduced to the curriculum and language of "I LAUGH" and hear about successful outcomes. There will be tips to take home and ideas on how to introduce "I LAUGH" in your school district.

Presenter:
Tori Cleiland, Special Educator, Williston School District

 

#4 - From Institution to Community: Robert’s Life Story
Robert entered the Brandon Training School, Vermont’s last state institution for individuals with developmental disabilities, when he was two years old and he remained until he was nearly twenty. The next twenty years he lived in a community based program where he had much difficulty and ended up in jail. Finally, the last nearly ten years, he has been in a program where he has flourished and now has many friends and relationships, a job he enjoys, money in the bank, regular vacations, and also takes good care of his health. Robert will explain and contrast these experiences.

Presenters:
Robert Brace, Self Advocate
Al Vecchione, Francis Foundation & Upper Valley Services

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Afternoon Workshops

#5 - Advocacy for Systems Change
Attendees will learn about the legislative process in Vermont from four different angles: a legislator, a parent who has testified before committees, a parent who has helped put an Act into a law, and an experienced consultant/policy analyst. We hope participants will gain a better understanding of how the legislative process works, and the roles they can play in effecting change.

Presenters:
Una Connelly, Spectrum Youth and Family Services
MaryKay Hill, Parent, VT Food Allergy Organization
Ginny Lyons, Vermont State Senator
Moderator: Kay Van Woert, Consultant, Policy Analyst and Family Voices Coordinator

 

#6 - Basics of Attachment
Attachment is a way of relating to others that is learned through positive patterns of interaction between a child and primary caregiver during the first three years of life. Attachment can be impacted by many things, including: prolonged separation from the primary caregiver, including hospitalizations; undiagnosed or painful illness; and traumatic experiences. The presenter will offer tips and strategies to foster secure attachment patterns that will last a lifetime.

Presenter:
Elizabeth West, MA; Family Center of Northwestern Vermont

 

#7 - Relationship Building and Cultural Competency
Designed for professionals, this workshop will review types of outreach to connect with diverse populations, including those with language, cultural, and learning differences. We will discuss “Cultural Brokering” as a new framework for reaching out to a variety of populations, including families with special needs.

Presenters:
Hal Colston, Neighborkeepers
Phelippa Marriner, Parent, Vermont Parent Information Center
Moderator: Al Robinson, Executive Director of Imani Center

 

#8 - Yoga and Meditation for Parents and Children
Parents will learn a short yoga posture sequence they can practice on their own. The postures will focus on back care and core strength. We will also practice a simple meditation technique, encouraging relaxation and living in the present moment. In addition, we will discuss and demonstrate yoga posture adaptations for children with special needs. Please bring your own mat - a very limited number of mats will be available.

Presenter:
Julie Peoples-Clark, Certified Yoga Instructor, Parent

We will be applying for Continuing Education credits.

Workshops | Sponsors & Exhibitors | Biographies of Speakers | Schedule | Directions | Registration
Partners In Care Award Nomination Form (pdf) | PIC Award info | Back to top

Sponsors & Exhibitors:

		Platinum Vermont Department of Health, Children with Special Health Needs Vermont Interagency Coordinating Council Gold Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council Silver Department of Children and Families, Child Development Division Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living HowardCenter National Life Group Charitable Foundation Vermont Assistive Technology Program Bronze Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont Center on Disability and Community Inclusion Pediatric RehabGym Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
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Exhibitors
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Center on Disability and Community Inclusion
Dept of Children and Families - Child Development Division
Dept of Disabilities - Aging and Independent Living
HowardCenter
Kids on the Block - Vermont
Make-a-Wish Foundation of Vermont
MAXIMUS/Vermont Health Access Member Services
Partners in Adventure, Inc.
Pediatric RehabGym
Pine Ridge School
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
SNHU - Graduate Program in Community Mental Health
Stern Center for Language and Learning
Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Visiting Nurse Association
VSA Arts of Vermont
VT Adaptive Ski and Sports
VT Assistive Technology Program
VT Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Vermont Chronic Care Management Program
Vermont Children's Hospital at FAHC
Yankee Medical

 

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities: If your company or organization is interested in learning more about sponsoring and/or exhibiting at the conference, please contact Angela at (802)764-5290. This is a wonderful opportunity to inform participants about your products, services, and programs. 

Workshops | Sponsors & Exhibitors | Biographies of Speakers | Schedule | Directions | Registration
Partners In Care Award Nomination Form (pdf) | PIC Award info | Back to top

To Register: print out Registration Form; click for Registration Form pdf file and mail with check Professional $85 (early bird registration before November 9 is $75) Students $40 Family members* $40 *Scholarships (full and partial) are available to family members. Print out Scholarship Form pdf file or contact Angela for scholarship information.  Click for: Printable version (pdf file) of Partners In Care Conference Brochure, with registration form, keynote and workshop information. (If your computer can't read a pdf file, download the free reader software from here.)

Directions:
Sheraton Burlington Conference Center; Williston Rd., So. Burlington, Vermont.
Immediately off Interstate 89, Exit 14W, right at the first light.

Workshops | Sponsors & Exhibitors | Biographies of Speakers | Schedule | Directions | Registration
Partners In Care Award Nomination Form (pdf) | PIC Award info | Back to top

Schedule:

Schedule for Partners In Care Conference
Thursday, December 6, 2007

8:00 - 9:00am	Registration, Coffee/Tea & Exhibits
9:00 - 10:15	Welcome & Keynote: Diana Autin
10:15 - 10:45	Refreshments & Exhibits
10:45 - 12:15pm	Morning Workshops: #1 - #4
12:30 - 1:45	Awards*, Lunch, Exhibitors, & Super Max**
1:45 - 2:30	General Session: The Awareness Theater Company
2:30 - 2:45	Refreshments & Exhibits
2:45 - 4:15	Afternoon Workshops: #5 - #8
4:15pm	Conference Adjourns

Lunch We have three very exciting events for and after lunch time:

• *Partners in Care Awards Presentation - we will be presenting 4 awards: 1) Parent/Caregiver, 2) Child/Youth/Sibling, 3) Professional, and 4) Organization.  The Nomination Form: http://www.partoparvt.org/PICNominationForm2007.pdf, we are now accepting nominations - please feel free to email or tell people about this! 

• **A reading of The Adventures of Super Max, by the author, Ash Brittenham. Ten-year-old Ash, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is in the fourth grade. He wrote and illustrated the book, which tells the story of his German shepherd. The dog, wanting to be a superhero, develops the ability to fly. The book earned him a Reading Rainbow Award from Vermont Public Television, and he received the 2nd annual Deborah Lisi-Baker Leader of Tomorrow Award from the Vermont Center for Independent Living. (for more information, you can click here http://www.vcil.org/news/press-releases/ADA-Celebration-Honor.html)
  Ash will also be signing and selling his book at the conference.

• Our General Session will be a performance from the Awareness Theater Company. (http://www.vsavt.org/awareness/about.html)  Awareness Theatre Company is comprised of individuals with and without disabilities. The mission of this theater is to create good theatrical pieces that highlight the skills and issues of the members of this company.  We are very excited about having them perform for us.

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Partners in Care Award:
We are expanding the categories for the Partners in Care Award this year.  A total of 4 awards will be given out, in 4 separate categories.  The Parent/Caregiver, Professional and Organization categories will honor individuals and organizations who exemplify and promote the ideals of family-centered care.  The 4th award will be given to a Child/Youth who has made a difference in his/her community in terms of disability awareness. 
We invite you to nominate people from your community who you believe exemplify the ideals of the family-centered care philosophy.  Nominations are due NOVEMBER 15, 2007.  For a nomination form, contact Angela at 802-764-5290 x 34, or click here for pdf file.  Nomination forms can be emailed to Angela Smith, mailed to Parent to Parent's Williston address, or faxed in to 802-764-5297.  

The Family-Centered Care Philosophy:
Family-Centered Care is a holistic philosophy that redefines the roles of families, health care professionals, educators, and communities. Family-Centered Care appreciates families as families and children as children, recognizing that they possess a wide range of strengths, concerns, emotions, and aspirations beyond their need for specialized services.
For a more detailed description of Family-Centered Care click here. | For Past Award recipients click here.

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for a one-page pdf PIC Flyer

Workshops | Sponsors & Exhibitors | Biographies of Speakers | Schedule | Directions | Registration
Partners In Care Award Nomination Form (pdf) | PIC Award info | Back to top

  Biographies:

Keynote: Diana Autin
Diana Autin is the Executive Co-Director for Health and Special Education of the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), New Jersey's "one-stop" for families of children with special needs. SPAN works to educate, empower and engage families and concerned professionals on issues affecting children from birth to age 21. SPAN’s primary commitment is to children placed at greatest risk due to disability, poverty, discrimination, immigrant or language status, or other special circumstances. SPAN is NJ's Parent Training and Information Center and Family to Family Health Information Resource Center, and houses Family Voices-NJ, NJ Statewide Parent to Parent, and a chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Nationally, Autin is a member of the National Center for Cultural Competence Workgroup on Assessing Cultural and Linguistic Competency in Family Organizations, the Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health Consultant Pool, and the Board of Family Voices. She co-directs the Region I Parent Technical Assistance Center. In New Jersey, she serves on numerous committees and task forces regarding early childhood, education, child care, health, and human services. In her spare time, Autin is the Health & Wellness Liaison to the Montclair Council of PTAs and Co-Chair of its Health and Wellness Advisory Committee and Healthy Adolescent Partnership and Parent Training & Newsletter Coordinator for the Special Education Parent Advisory Council. She is the mother of multiracial adopted children ranging in age from 15-31, two of whom have special needs.... .Back to Top

Advocacy for Systems Change

Moderator

Kay Van Woert - Consultant/Policy Analyst/Family Voices Coordinator – Kay holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller School at the State University of New York at Albany, and has more than twenty-five years experience working in government at state and local levels. Kay helps Parent to Parent’s Family Support staff disseminate health care system and financing information to families and professionals, and monitor federal and state family support and health care financing policies and practices.  With others at Parent to Parent, and in conjunction with partners like the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR) she works with policy makers to improve those services and supports. 

 Panelists 

Una Connelly, Spectrum Youth and Family Services, Charlotte, Vermont - Una earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University. She has worked as a Grants and Contracts Manager at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MIT, and serves in a similar capacity at Spectrum Youth and Family Services. She currently lives in Chittenden County with her husband George, her 8 year old son, and her over-enthusiastic 83 pound puppy, Gouda. Una is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Vermont Parent Information Center.

MaryKay Hill, VT Food Allergy Organization – MaryKay is the founder and Executive Director of VT Food Allergy Organization (VTFAO).  She is responsible for Parent Support & Educational Assistance for VTFAO and spearheaded the legislation that became Act 158: An Act Relating to Life-Threatening Chronic Allergies and Illnesses in Schools.  She is the Recipient of the 2007 “Mariel C. Furlong” Award for Advocacy. Most importantly, MaryKay and her husband are the parents of two children, one 11 year old son w/o food allergies and a 7 year old daughter with life-threatening food allergies to peanut, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, etc.) soy, peas, beans, pumpkin, sesame and poppy seeds.

Virginia Lyons, State Senator – Ginny is a resident of Williston, Vermont and is married to Richard Lyons, a physician, and they have two daughters. She was educated at Drew University (B.A. in Zoology and Psychology), Rutgers University (M.S. in Nutritional Biochemistry) and the University of Vermont (Ph.D. in Administration, Planning & Policy). She was a Professor of Biology at Trinity College until 2000. She has also served as a democratic Senator with the Vermont State Legislature from 2001 – 2002. Ginny has been actively involved in serving her community and state for many years, including involvement with the Town of Williston Selectboard, Williston School Board, Vermont League of Cities and Towns Quality of Life Committee, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Regional Impact Task Force, Channel 17 Board of Directors, Sigma Xi Science Research Society Vermont Chapter President, Regional Director and National Board member. Ginny has been a member of the Board of Directors at Parent to Parent of Vermont since 2001.

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Taking a Medical Diagnosis to School

Moderator

Deb O’Rourke - Deb lives in Burlington with her husband, Bernie, and they have two young adult children, Matt and Sarah. Matt has Type 1 diabetes and Deb has been involved in family support, education, and advocacy activities since his diagnosis in 1991. Deb is a pediatric physical therapist and she worked in Canada before joining the faculty in the Dept. of Physical Therapy at UVM in 1987. She received a B.Sc. and M.Cl.Sc. in Physical Therapy from the University of Western Ontario and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from UVM. She is a core faculty member with the Vermont Interdisciplinary Leadership Education for Health Professionals (VT-ILEHP) Program, a training grant funded by the Maternal Child Health Bureau. Her teaching, clinical work, and research focuses on children with special health needs and their families.

 Panelists  

Jill Rinehart, MD, FAAP – As the eldest sibling in a family with two children with special health care needs, Dr. Rinehart’s medical education began at home in St. Paul, Minnesota. Graduating from Dartmouth College in 1991 with a degree in English and Women’s Studies, she took her interest in families with her to the University of Minnesota Medical School where she complemented her studies with research on the resiliency of families with children with special needs. She returned to the east coast in 1996 for her pediatric residency at Fletcher Allen Health Care, where, together with colleagues Nancy DiVinere and Barbara Frankowski, MD she created a curriculum for the Pediatric Residency program on family centered health care. Immediately after residency she settled in Vermont in 1999, joining partner Joseph Hagan, MD in private practice in Burlington while participating as a fellow in the Vermont Interdisciplinary Leadership Education for Health Professionals (VT-ILEHP). As a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics since 1999 she’s become a leader in Medical Home Improvement practice. Dr. Rinehart remains active as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics for the University of Vermont Medical School, teaching medical students and residents about child development, family centered care and the medical home model. Hagan & Rinehart, Pediatricians is a busy primary care practice in Burlington whose mission is to provide quality family centered health care for all children. Dr. Rinehart lives in South Burlington with her husband, Michael Dabroski and their two sons. 

 

Arthur Green, JD, Parent, Private Practitioner, Adjunct Faculty at Nova Southeastern University – Arthur currently teaches and develops courses on Special Education Law, Disabilities and the Law and Law in Health and Human Services at Nova Southeastern University.  He has been a statewide Certified Parent Advocate Trainer, and is the co-founder and co-director of Camp SuperNova, the largest state funded summer camp for children with craniofacial conditions and their families (Florida). He received his JD from the University of Cincinnati, and his BS from Cornell University.                                

 

Cari Kelley, Parent - Cari Kelley lives in Grand Isle with her husband Mark, and her nine year-old twins, Calvin & Jacquie.  Cari is the Executive Director of the Leadership Champlain program, which is a division of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Before that, she was the Development Director at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Vermont and was able to watch her daughter, Jacquie, receive her wish of an Art Studio.  Jacquie was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Type III, at the age of two.  She is still very mobile and strong and uses her crutches and wheelchair on occasion.  Jacquie loves to do art, horseback ride, ride her scooter, and be with her friends and family.  Jacquie’s twin, Calvin, is SMA free, but being the twin of a special needs sibling has its own challenges.  Calvin does attend the Baird School, and has since December 2005. The family hopes to transition him back to Grand Isle Elementary this school year and continue to work with him on the emotions surrounding this issue.  Calvin is very athletic and loves baseball, basketball and football.  He loves to be outdoors and has an incredible imagination.  Cari and Mark have been married for twenty years and just love spending time with their kids.  The family loves to spend time on the lake, go camping, kayaking and boating. 

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The 411 on Disability Disclosure
Panelists

Marsha Camp, ACCESS Director – Marsha Camp has 24 years experience as a consultant in 504/Special Education, case management, organizational outreach, training and curriculum development. She received degrees from the University of Vermont and Lasell College, and is currently a Peer Navigator for the Vermont Parent Information Center. Additionally, she is a Cognitive Educator for several clients with learning disabilities and local school districts.

 

Cindy Seguin, Voc/Rehab - My history of living with disabilities began when I was very young.  My brother was diagnosed with developmental disabilities at the age of 6.  My mother was part of the parents group that lobbied for special education services to be provided in public schools.  When my parents won, my brother was moved into regular classes at his local elementary school.  He went to high school and always held a job in food services without any supports until he reached his late thirties. My second daughter was born with numerous disabilities.  She was visually impaired, had cognitive impairments, and cerebral palsy.  I managed her teams, sometimes consisting up to 18 service providers at once.  My experiences sparked an interest to help others reach their goal of being independent.  I received my Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 2000.  Soon after I started college, I was hired by the Family, Infant Toddler Project in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to be the Community Resource parent.  Soon after this, my personal life changed and I wanted to move to a different region in the state.  I was hired at the State of Vermont Division for the Blind as a Rehabilitation Associate.  While working in this position, I developed a strong interest in working with teenagers.  During my Master’s program studies at Springfield College, my research led me to some gaps in independent living skills that visually impaired students were experiencing.  Out of this research I developed a life skills program that was held in an apartment setting.  Students were required to manage a budget, create a dining menu for a weekend, buy the appropriate groceries, use a debit card, clean their apartment, and prepare brunch for a guest.  This was done with the supervision of a teacher for the visually impaired.  After this my goal became to work with teenagers as a Vocational Counselor.  I’ve been working as a Transition Counselor for Voc Rehab Vermont in St. Albans for the last year.

 

Sarah Hobart, Associate Director of Admissions at UVM

Shannon Kilpatrick, Full Time College Student - Shannon Kilpatrick graduated from Champlain Valley Union H.S. and Burlington Technical Center (Design and Illustration Program) in 2005 and is currently a full-time student with a 3.2 GPA at CCV in Burlington, VT. She will graduate in May of 2008 with an A.A. in Liberal Studies and hopes to transfer to UVM to pursue a B.A. in the fall of 2008. Shannon is also a part time employee at Macy’s in Burlington, VT where she has consistently placed among the top associates for sales over the past two years.  Shannon was diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of four and received support through an Individualized Education Plan throughout her time in public school.  Shannon currently receives some accommodations at the college level through a 504 plan. She is also in touch with Vocational Rehabilitation and has written an Individualized Plan for Employment. Over the years Shannon has learned to advocate very effectively for herself both at school and at work. She has spoken to groups in her high school and in the community to help raise awareness of important issues and attitudes that effect students with disabilities.

 

 A Special Educator Tells All: A New Social Skills Program  

Tori Cleiland, Special Educator- Tori Cleiland is a special educator at Williston Central School where she's assisted special needs middle school students and their parents in the Voyager Houses since she joined the department in 2004.  She was introduced to the teachings of Michelle Garcia Winner through her books "Thinking about You Thinking about Me" and "Think Social!”  She pursued further instruction in the I LAUGH model at three a day conference presented by Ms. Winner this past spring.  

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Basics of Attachment

Elizabeth West- Elizabeth West is the Program Supervisor for the Family Center of Northwestern Vermont. She has been in the field of early care and education and/or primary prevention and support services for about 16 years in various capacities. She received a BA in Psychology and an MA Clinical Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling . She was a Registered Child Care Provider, for 8 years and a Provider Group Leader for 3 of those years. In 1998 she became a National Service Member through the AmeriCorps ACT program at the Family Center.

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Relationship Building and Cultural Competency

Hal Colston, Executive Director, Neighborkeepers - My life long interests of social justice and entrepreneurship have been blended in my career path as a Program Director for Lutheran Social Services of New England (LSS).  As the founding director the Good News Garage was created to address the need of transportation equity for people in poverty.  Good News Garage has become a national model with locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.  I left the GNG in March 2004 to create a new non-profit, NeighborKeepers, breaking the bonds of poverty one family at a time.  Currently, I am an adjunct professor at Champlain College where NeighborKeepers is an incubation project.  NeighborKeepers launched in January of 2006 engaging families in poverty to be in an intentional relationship of support with allies for an 18-month commitment.  Circles of Support (three allies per family) are created based on trust and reciprocity where allies are in solidarity with the participant family to help them achieve their goals and break the isolation of poverty.   My first career path after college (University of Pennsylvania, 1975) involved work in the food service industry for 17 years as a manager and a chef.  After relocating to Vermont to work and teach at the New England Culinary Institute I transitioned my career from food service to social services.  I first learned about the needs and challenges of social services while working for Chittenden Community Action for three years.  Have served on the board of several organizations: Vermont Development Credit Union, United Way of Chittenden County, and the Howard Center for Human Services.  Currently serves on the board of Mobius, New England Synod Council, Vermont Health Foundation, Center for Media and Democracy, and the Visiting Nurse Association.  Graduate of Leadership Champlain (2000) and Snelling Center’s Vermont Leadership Institute (2004).  I volunteer with the Outreach for Earth Stewardship organization as a caregiver for injured raptors and have served the community on newspaper reader panels as well as on panels discussing diversity issues.   

 

Phelippa Marriner, Parent - Phelippa is currently a Family Consultant in Southern Vermont with the Vermont Parent Information Center, where she works with families of children with special needs to improve the child’s education and quality of life.   She is also the Director of the Southern Vermont Chapter of the Asperger’s Association of New England. 

 

Al Robinson, Executive Director, Imani Center – Allen Robinson holds a degree in Social Work from Trinity College, and has been working in the social services field for many years.  He currently works as Executive Director of the Imani Health Institute in Burlington.  Prior to that, he was the Director of Prevention Services at ALANA Health Care Organization. 

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Yoga and Meditation for Parents and Children 

Julie Peoples-Clark, Parent, Certified Yoga Instructor- Julie is certified in the Yoga for the Special Child (LLC) method and a Registered Svadhyaya Yoga teacher with the National Yoga Alliance.  She is a former professional dancer and teacher of professional and college level modern dance.  Julie's daughter Ella is an amazing 4 year old girl with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. Julie's search to help Ella lead her to Sonia Suma and the Yoga for Special Child program.  Julie, her husband Dave, and Ella moved to Vermont in May 2006, after spending two years traveling the world volunteering to help children with brain injuries and their families and exploring many different healing options for Ella.  Currently, Julie teaches adaptive yoga classes for children and adults at Yoga Vermont in Burlington.