2008 Annual Conference - Friday Schedule

Keynotes • Presentations and Downloads • Directions

8 - 9 a.m. - Registration and Exhibits Open

9 - 10:30 a.m. - Keynote Address

Positive Behavior Supports for Individuals with Challenging Behavior: Common Sense Systematically Applies

Tim Feeney, Executive Director and President of School and Community Support Services in Schenectady, New York, will be presenting the Thursday Keynote Address which will provide a framework for the development of behavioral supports for individuals with challenging behaviors that focuses on assessment that is context-sensitive and collaborative and intervention plans that are pro-active and developed to prevent problems from emerging. In addition, positive behavior supports integrate cognitive and communicative approaches, focus on the integration of meaningful activities in an individual's daily routine, and most importantly, are developed in collaboration with the individual and his or her natural network of support.

10:30 - 11 a.m. - Break and Exhibits Open

11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Breakout Sessions I

1. Transition Tools: Practical Student Made Projects to Look Towards Life After High School*
   Darwin Dyce, Physical & Health Disability Consultant, SW/WC Service Cooperative
   This session reviews several teacher and student friendly activities that involve students with a wide range of needs in self advocacy, seeking career information and planning their future. Participants will learn techniques to actively involve students.
2. Disability Services Overview
   Rebecca Slininger, Home and Community Living Services Training and Education Policy Consultant, Department of Human Services; Audrey Fischer, PCA Policy Consultant, Department of Human Services
   Disability Services Division provides an array of services for individuals with disabilities to live independently in the community. This session will provide an overview of the programs. The presenters will share success stories as well as best practices and an introduction to some of the policies behind the programs.
3. Practical Approaches for Individuals with Brain Injury Who Abuse Alcohol and Drugs
   Brian P. Sammon, MA, LMFT, LADC, Behavior Professional, Options Family and Behavior Services
   This session will present strategies intended to help practitioners, staff and families intervene in the behavior of drug and alcohol abusing consumers who are also struggling with brain injuries.
4. Considerations When Working with Culturally Diverse Populations in a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program
   Angela Folie, PsyD, Clinical Psychologist, Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute; Julie Gephardt, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
   The focus of this presentation is to identify and address factors that may hinder or foster assessment, intervention and meaningful outcomes so clinicians can better provide culturally competent services.
5. Establishing a "Successful" Support Group in a Rural Setting
   John W. Johnson, Advocate, Trainer, Option Center for Independent Living
   This session will provide answers to the questions; what are the challenges involved in setting up and maintaining a support group, how do distance and isolation factor into success of a group and who are the key players for success?
6. Craniectomy: "I Needed This Operation Like a Hole in the Head"
   Mark Larkins, MD, Chief Neurosurgery, Regions Hospital
   This session will explore experiences with the use of craniectomy for acute head trauma and unusual complications and innovative approaches to reconstruction.
   

12:15 - 1:15 p.m. - Lunch

"Family Retreat 2007" by Deb Williamson, Minnesota Department of Education
Introduction by Courage Center, Thursday Lunch Supporter

1:15 - 2:30 p.m. - Breakout Session II

1. Helping People Without Making Them Helpless: Fun, Functional and Other "F" Words*
   Tim Feeney, PhD., Executive Director and President of School and Community Support Services
   This presentation will provide a framework for the development of positive, personal, and meaningful supports for individuals with acquired brain injury. The ultimate goal is to provide participants with an understanding of a manner to interact with others that encourages humor and fun while simultaneously doing serious work.
2. Building a Therapeutic Alliance with the People You Serve
   Norman Cohen, PhD, Neuropsychologist, Courage Center
   In order to maximize benefits of any therapy for individuals with brain injury, the therapist and client must communicate clearly and efficiently. This presentation will explore the relationship that develops between therapist and client, and the specific strategies to use to form a working bond to smooth the way to success.
3. Ending Homelessness in Minnesota
   Laura Kadwell, Minnesota Director for Ending Long Term Homelessness; Julie Grothe, Case Management Supervisor, Guild, Inc.
   One-third of people who are homeless report a brain injury. This workshop will look at the relationship between homelessness and brain injury and present plans to end homelessness as a "door" through which people with brain injury access appropriate services.
4. From the Past to the Future: A Historical Survey of Treatment in Brain Injury Rehabilitation
   David Tupper, Director of Neuropsychology, Hennepin County Medical Center
   This presentation will review the history and evolution of neuro-scientific and psychological concepts seen as important in empirically based brain injury rehabilitation, including as examples: neuronal plasticity, re-education, electrotherapy, retraining of mental faculties, substitution and compensation of function and constraint induced therapy.
5. Consumer Panel*
   Russ Philstrom, Nicolas Dennen, Aaron Clow, Gene Kaiser, John Johnson
   This panel consists of five men who have experienced brain injury and wish to tell their story. Learn about the personal journey that these men experienced for future consideration as you serve people living with brain injury.
6. Caring for Those Who Serve: Rehab Innovations for Military Service Members
   Jessica Kovacevich, MOT, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MVAMC); Hillari Olson, DPT, Physical Therapist, MVAMC; Colleen Schreffler, Med, CTRS, Recreation Therapist, MVAMC
   This presentation will discuss the Veterans Affairs Medical Center's interdisciplinary team approach to polytrauma rehabilitation, including innovative programming, assistive and diagnostic technology, and the importance of lifelong care for our veterans.
   

2:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Break and Exhibits Open

2:45 - 4 p.m. - Breakout Session III

1. Asking About Depression: Is it Grief, Depression or Something Else?
   Robert Karol, PhD, Program Director, Brain Injury Services, Director, Psychology and Neuropsychology, Bethesda Hospital
   After a brain injury, what appears to be depression can often be a mask for grief or other issues. This talk will highlight the variables, address how to conceptualize the information the person presents to the professional, and help the professional ask the right questions.
2. Acute and Long Term Nutrition Support for the Person with Brain Injury
   Karen Koppy, MPH, RD, LD, Clinical Dietician, Hennepin County Medical Center
   The presenter will review the strategies used to provide patients with adequate nutrition in both the acute and long term settings. Topics will include age specific challenges in providing adequate nutrition, various methods for delivering nutrition support, and new developments in nutrition intervention for people with brain injury.
3. Identifying the Mild Brain Injury - And Now What?
   Marilyn Haight, Sr. Occupational Therapist, Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC); Linda Mabbs, Speech Language Pathologist, HCMC; Helen Mathison, Speech Language Pathologist; Chris Lofgren, Sr. Occupational Therapist, HCMC
   Changes in function may appear even if the CT or MRI appear normal. What tests might be used to identify the mild brain injury condition? What remediation or compensation interventions can be used? What are low cost options? Audience sharing is encouraged.
4. White Matter and Neurocognitive Changes in Adults with TBI: What Does Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tell Us?
   Mary R. T. Kennedy, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Speech-Hearing-Language Sciences, University of Minnesota (U of M); Jeffrey R. Wozniak, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, U of M; Ryan Muetzel, Junior Scientist, Psychology, U of M; Bryon Mueller, PhD, Information Technology Professor, Psychiatry & Radiology, U of M
   This presentation will review Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) findings after TBI, describe a recently completed study at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, and to discuss the usefulness of DTI given the current evidence.
5. What About Social Emotional Learning?*
   Katherine Utter, LICSW, Social Emotional Learning Coordinator, Intermediate District 287 and Virginia Nyhus, Social Emotional Learning Coordinator, Intermediate District 287
   This presentation will provide a brief introduction to Social Emotional Learning (SEL), including a framework for understanding and implementing SEL to learners with unique needs.
6. TBI on the Inside: Traumatic Brain Injury in the Minnesota Prison System
   Marlena Wald, MLS, MPH, Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Steve Allen, Director of Behavioral Health, Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC); Dr. Kenneth Carlson, Psychologist, MN DOC; Elizabeth Hopkins, TBI Project Coordinator, MN DOC; Dr. Adam Piccolino, Neuropsychologist MN DOC
   This presentation is an overview of the prevalence of TBI in the prison population and a more detailed progress report on the training and release planning efforts. CDC information will be presented giving a national perspective on the issue of TBI among offender populations.

4:15 - 5 p.m. - Thursday Atfernoon Special Presentation and Reception

The Central Park Jogger: A TBI Survivor's Perspective on Healing to Wholeness

Trisha Meili, author of I Am the Central Park Jogger, will be speaking at a special Thursday afternoon presentation, with a reception following. Ms. Meili will share lessons of healing from her journey of recovery that allowed her to move beyond being a victim, reclaim her life and become whole. She will provide the audience/participants with a patient's perspective of the non-clinical aspects of recovery, or the "art" of recovery. This includes care, support, hope and trust. Ms. Meili will discuss the possibility of attaining a full life despite the restrictive parameters of a traumatic brain injury. This presentation will be open to the public.

5 - 5:30 p.m. - Book signing with Ms. Meili.

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Reception and refreshments (for Conference attendees).

Keynotes • Presentations and Downloads • Directions