4th Annual FERIA Partnership Conference

Saturday, November 10, 2018
8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (PST)

“Lighting the Pathway to Success and Wellness”

Our goal is to provide families in the South Bay and San Diego area with educational information to better support their children’s education, mental health well-being and access to community resources.

Keynote Speaker

My Journey Through the Mountains

Clarisa Solís

is an Educational Psychologist since 1987, has a Master’s Degree in Neuropsychology and a Doctorate in Psychology. She was the founder of the first private special education school in Tijuana.

For more than 25 years she has worked with children with special needs, such as autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, learning disorders and attention deficit. This experience allowed her to develop integration programs to change the behavior of the whole family. Other programs focused on communication between the couple and their children and emotional codependence.

Since 2005, she has been leading support groups for women’s self-improvement, as well as offering conferences for parents on issues related to sexuality, communication, relationships and family discipline. She worked as a special education teacher at CETYS Tijuana University for eight years and received training from the National Center for Montessori Education, as a teacher of the system.

In 2011 the book Barreras de la Comunicación was published together with Montana and Mayorquin. For two years, every Tuesday she participates in the Radio Aprendiendo a Vivir program.

Workshop Topics

Our workshops are presented by experienced speakers that work closely within our San Diego community and the topics we discuss are determined by what our community needs the most.

Learn how parents play a critical and important role in language development in children and how through songs, dances and rhymes you can stimulate and promote language. Get ready to sing!

Grade: Early School Years
Presenter: Marcela Múñoz

This workshop is dedicated to assisting parents organize all their essential information to effectively organize their child’s educational documents, from Assessment, Medical Records, IEP Documents and more.

Grade: School Years
Presenters: Beatríz Hernández, Claudia Ayala, Karina Padilla, Eriberto Iriqui

In this workshop we will focus on identifying the various functions of behavior. That is, instead of worrying about the “causes” or “reasons” of behavior as most people do, we focus on their function; how it “serves” the individual. By being able to identify the function of a behavior, we can apply ABA techniques to increase or decrease various behaviors (social interaction, language, tantrums, crying, self-help skills)

Grade: School Years
Presenter: Nancy Chávez, M.A., BCBA

This workshop will discuss eligibility criteria for Early Start and Regional Center Eligibility after Early Start. The workshop will focus primarily on regional center services and coordination of services through the regional center to support eligible people with developmental disabilities to live in their chosen communities.

Grade: Special Topic K-12
Presenters: Michael Lombardi & Karina Morales

Parents play an important role in the child’s education. They know their child best, create continuity and remain a constant in their life. Learn how to share valuable information about your child throughout the IEP process: communicate effectively and participate collaboratively as an equal IEP team member.

Grade: All
Presenter: Moira Allbritton

In this workshop we will work with materials and stories to explain to children how to identify danger signs and how to ask for help when someone makes or attempts inappropriate physical contact. The workshop is designed for parents with children with or without language.

Grade: Adults
Presenter: Clarisa Solís

This workshop will cover information on speech and language development of first and second languages from birth to grade school as well as the many ways you can help stimulate language development with your child in the home setting. Information will be provided how second language is acquired and how to help your child be a successful English Language Learner (ELL). Information will also be presented on why a child may be having trouble with learning the second language.

Grade: Birth to Kindergarten
Presenter: Debbie Múñoz

The workshop will focus on the development on confidence and self-esteem. How should I teach my child to give himself / herself value by initiating with respect to themselves?

Grade: School Years
Presenter: Clarisa Solís

The workshop will focus on the empowerment of parental voices in advocating for their daughter/son academic, physical, and socio-emotional development. The workshop is design to share the experiences that parents have used to enhance and/or address the barriers in the development of their daughter/son.

Grade: Adults/Parent
Presenters: Dr. Alberto M. Ochoa, Moisés Padilla, José Melchor, and Guilibaldo Aguilar

State and federal law guarantees parents and student certain rights and responsibilities in the IEP process. Learn your rights, responsibilities, and advocacy skills to help navigate the special education system and ensure your child receives the educational services they need.

Grade: K-12
Presenter: Michael Lombardi

Self-care refers to activities and practices that we can engage on a regular basis to reduce stress and enhance our health. Come and develop your self-care plan, identify what you need daily to maintain self-care, and learn yoga exercises you can employ in stressful situations.

Grade: Special Topic All
Presenters: Laura Andrews & Marcela Múñoz

Our children are now adults. They need behavior redirecting in their daily life routines. Are our children still open for changes that would ease their day to day?….This workshop will answer that question and more as we explore behaviors that obstruct harmony and wellbeing in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their performance during program and at home.

Grade: Adult
Presenters: Raquel Arce-Vasquez & Nancy Chávez M.A., BCBA

Student Leadership Program

TAKING CARE OF YOU (YEAH, YOU!)- PROMOTING SELF-CARE FOR TRANSITION AGE YOUTH
During this interactive session, participants will explore and experience ways to relieve stress and promote relaxation by engaging in mindfulness practices, gratitude journaling, and by exploring simple self-care tips and tricks.

Presenter: Kristina Josafat, Veteran Special Educator

Students will:

Obtain tips from SWC students provide tips on transitioning from high school to college.
Learn about the use of Disability Support Services, study strategies, college support services, college clubs, including ABLE Club.
They will have questions answered!

Presenter: Southwestern College Students

Students will:

Participate in a career planning activity used by a professor with college students.

Learn what they can do now to prepare for work or college.

Presenter: Kim Letendre, SWC Professor

Conference Offerings

Workshops/Resource Fair Designed for Families: Birth – Adult Years

Early Years Strand
School Age Strand
Secondary – Student Leadership Academy
Adult Strand
Parent Strand
Professional Strand