Registration is now open with early bird savings!

Internationally respected speakers already scheduled -- you can join them!

2011 was tremendous. 2012 will be even better!

Now in its fifth year (!), the Social Thinking Providers Conference is a time for practitioners of Social Thinking, nationally and internationally, to to share ideas about advance treatment and program ideas and to network.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Educators and therapists from around the country will present their innovative strategies they have used for their settings. Check back for more details!

Saturday June 23, 2012 Special Workshop Day Featuring:

• Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., an ABA specialist and Chair of Scientific Council Organization for Autism Research
• Dr. Peter Vermeulen, an ASD specialist who developed the concept of Context Blindness and is co-director of the Centre for Concrete Communication
• Michelle Garcia Winner, founder of Social Thinking and the related treatment approach; author of numerous related books and articles on social learning challenges

Dr. Peter Gerhardt and Michelle Garcia Winner will explore the continuum of treatment services from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); how to decide who benefits from which treatment and how to evolve between treatments with age.

Dr. Gerhardt was recently featured in an interview on NPR titled "Learning To Love, And Be Loved, With Autism" -- click here to listen and read the transcript

Dr. Peter Vermeulen, an ASD specialist from Belgium who teaches individuals with autism spectrum disorders, will present on the concept of “Context Blindness.” With his engaging speaking style and numerous visual examples, he will inspire the audience to explore the significant power of context in the acts of social communication and problem solving.

June 22-23-24, 2012
South San Francisco Conference Center

This is not Social Thinking 101. It is assumed that all people who attend this conference are familiar with the core Social Thinking treatment paradigm and many core concepts.

Comments from Past Providers Conference Participants

"This was awesome and got me thinking about how our social thinking groups could incorporate many of the ideas presented…very valuable."

"I feel validated that everything I've been doing is on the right track…I'm inspired to go home and actually pull everything together and call it a program, so I can develop understanding in my students, teachers, parents, fellow specialists AND administrators—I'm EXCITED."

"I loved hearing about all the different ways people are putting social thinking into practice. I have met so many wonderful people from around the country. I really would like to make this an annual event."

What is the Social Thinking Providers Conference?

This is not Social Thinking 101! It is assumed that all people who attend this conference are familiar with the core Social Thinking treatment paradigm and many core concepts.

The Providers Conference is a time for practitioners of Social Thinking®, nationally and internationally, to come together to share ideas and to network. As the “Social Thinking movement” grows the hope is for attendees to gain knowledge and not have to “re-create the wheel” as they develop practical programs and services allowing them to expand upon what others have already started. While started specifically to help treatment providers develop teamwork and share core principles, this international conference has expanded to include parents and family members!

Social Thinking is a language-based treatment paradigm and related treatment strategies to be used specifically for our students with near normal to way above normal language and intelligence in order to provide more sophisticated lessons for those who are expected to participate in more sophisticated social exchanges. We also acknowledge the social mind also impacts how one interprets many aspects of the academic curriculum in addition to how students participate in all types of groups, including being members of their own classroom communities. Hence the teachings of Social Thinking are not limited to teaching social play and conversation, but are expanded to address how we share space effectively as individuals as well as how we interpret and respond to core elements of the curriculum (reading comprehension, written expression, etc.).

The Conference Will:

• Allow professionals who are running Social Thinking programs both in schools and private practice settings to come together to network, brainstorm and problem solve the delivery of Social Thinking services.
• Report on any research projects currently in progress or that has been completed.
• Establish networks for continued communication beyond the conference and report on latest plans to further develop networks of communication.
• Develop ways to take data on the application of teaching social thinking concepts both to fellow professionals as well as students. Determine ways we can take collective data for possible research studies to document progress we are making.
• Build bridges between different but complimentary treatment ideas to help build stronger and more student centered programs.

Each year Michelle Garcia Winner, the founder of Social Thinking, invites innovative professionals to share their specific expertise to help build bridges between Social Thinking and other complementary treatment models or treatment ideas developed for students with social learning challenges.

This year Dr. Peter Gerhardt will co-present with Michelle to explore the continuum of treatment services from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); how to decide who benefits from which treatment and how to evolve between treatments with age.   

Dr. Peter Vermeulen, an ASD specialist in teaching individuals with autism spectrum disorders from Belgium, will present on the concept of “Context Blindness.” With his engaging speaking style and numerous visual examples, he will inspire the audience to explore the significant power of context in the acts of social communication and problem solving.

Practitioners apply to speak for this event for typically two of the three conference days. Speakers present on topics which range for the use of Social Thinking strategies for all students in inclusive teaching settings, specialized treatment programs which provide specific in-depth social cognitive and emotional regulation teachings, information on unique teaching ideas that have grown out of core Social Thinking lessons, courses on how a treatment professional blends the use of related treatment programs successfully to provide a larger array strategies for students, transition to adulthood issues and some talks on living as an adult from a social cognitive and mental health framework.

More specific information about the specific selected speakers, topics and related learning objectives will be posted on our website no later than April 15, 2012.

Continuing Education Units will be offered through ASHA for SLPs and through the Commonwealth Educational Seminars for Psychologists and Social Workers. Details to come.

LOCAL HOTELS:

Holiday Inn (Next Door to Venue)

Click here to book your room with the conference rate, online.

275 South Airport Blvd. South San Francisco, CA 94080

(650) 873-3550

Make sure to mention the Social Thinking Providers Conference to get your discounted rate!

Conference rate: $115/single or double – tell them you are with the Social Thinking Providers Conference.

Special Conference rate available until: May 31, 2012 – book early, limited number of rooms available at this rate.

Four Points Sheraton (Directly Across the Street from Venue)

264 South Airport Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080

(650) 624-3700

Conference rate: $125/single or double – tell them you are with the Social Thinking Providers Conference.

Special Conference rate available until: May 31, 2012 – book early, limited number of rooms available at this rate.

Workshop Questions?

Call 408.557.8595 ext. 309
Fax: 408-557-8594 (Fax in purchase orders using your own form)
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

No refunds for cancellations made seven (7) days or less prior to the event. A $25 handling fee will be charged for cancellations made before that time.

June 22, 23, 24, 2012 in South San Francisco (5 minutes from the SFO airport)

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