Let's Talk Sped Law Let's Talk Sped Law by Special Education Attorney, Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of how a multidisciplinary evaluation can help to more fully inform your child's IEP placement and programming needs with guest speaker, Dr. Chris Bogart, owner and Co-Director of Sasco River Center LLC located in Fairfield County, CT.

Dr. Bogart is licensed clinical psychologist who has worked in both the private and public sectors for the past twenty-five years, Dr. Bogart works with children, adolescents and parents, conducting comprehensive psychoeducational and AD/HD evaluations as well as therapy services. He also provides program consultations to local schools, as well as supervision to doctoral students in psychology.  Dr. Bogart serves as the Board President of the Board of Trustees of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities; as a member of the Board of Trustees for New Canaan Country School; and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education.

Prior to co-founding the Sasco River Center, Dr. Bogart held various clinical positions including staff psychologist at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City and Director of Psychology at the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg, New York. While serving as director, Dr. Bogart organized and administered an American Psychological Association approved externship training program for clinical psychology and social work graduate students. He supervised staff psychologists on children’s and adolescent inpatient units and he devised a hospital-wide behavior modification program for the children. Dr. Bogart has provided numerous classes, lectures and training programs on various topics such as parent education, executive functions assessment and coaching, psychological testing, and stress management. He has also conducted research studies in various areas including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Social Skills Training, and depression in children.

Dr. Bogart received his undergraduate training at Georgetown University and received his doctoral degree from The American University in 1986.

For more information, visit: https://sascoriver.com/

Dr. John Molteni is the Director of Behavioral Health at Prism Autism Education and Consultation, located in Farmington, CT. Dr. Molteni is a clinician and educator with over 20 years of experience in the field of Autism and Developmental Disabilities as a Psychologist, Behavior Analyst, and Educator. He has have provided clinical and educational services from preschool to young adulthood in various settings. Throughout his career, Dr. Molteni has had the opportunity to establish unique programs in public schools, higher education, and clinically at the Hospital for Special Care. In 2012, in partnership with the Hospital for Special Care, he launched the Autism Center, an outpatient clinic, and later the Autism Inpatient Unit, one of 10 in the country.

In this episode, Dr. Molteni shares Prism's big announcement about launching Prism Academy. For more information about Prism, visit: https://www.prismautism.com/

Parents unit! The COPAA 2021 Annual Conference is virtual this year. What does that mean for you? Well, you can attend "virtually" for a fraction of the cost and become more fully informed about your child's education rights. In this episode we talk with the CEO of COPAA Denise Marshall.

Denise Stile Marshall, M.S., Chief Executive Officer
Denise has led the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) since 2005. She  graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Science. Denise has over 40 years’ experience in the field of disabilities in a variety of support, management, and advocacy capacities. She has a wealth of non-profit association management experience and is a dynamic trainer, experienced in leading sessions for participants of diverse abilities and experience levels. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of COPAA Denise was the Director of Training and Educational Outreach for the national organization TASH from 1995-2005, the Program Manager and trainer for Maryland Leaders in Disability Policy; and a Positive Behavior Support specialist and Director of the National Training Center for The Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland among other consulting and management positions.  Denise's specific areas of interest are civil right to quality education, positive behavioral supports, prevention and reduction in the use of restraints, abolishment of seclusion and aversive techniques, family supports, grassroots advocacy, self-advocacy, and experiential learning.   Denise can be reached at exec @ copaa.org or 844-426-7224 x 700.
For more information about Denis, visit: https://www.copaa.org/page/COPAATeam

To Register for COPAA 2021, visit: https://www.copaa.org/page/2021-conference

In this episode leading clinical expert Dr. Elizabeth M. Krysak discussed conducting comprehensive remote evaluations during the COVID pandemic. Liz Kryszak, PhD, is a psychologist at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Child Development Center (CDC) and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Ohio State University. Liz’s clinical and research work focuses on the evaluation and assessment of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities including Autism, with a particular focus on assessment of very young children and creating system changes to improve access to services for families. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, she led her clinic’s transition to assessment through telehealth, developing an observation protocol that allowed clinicians to partner with parents to assess for symptoms of autism in a home environment. To learn more about Dr. Krysak visit, https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/elizabeth-m-kryszak

In this episode of Let's Talk Sped Law, we interview Sharri Lungarini! Shari is an amazing parent, advocate, and clinician within the Connecticut disability rights community. Her story both personally and professionally is so inspiring that it absolutely must be shared with fellow parents, clinicians and advocates.

Sharri Lungarini is a Registered Behavior Technician working in the CCSN Behavioral Health ABA Clinic. Sharri received her master’s degree in Behavioral Education from the University of Cincinnati and is currently receiving supervision towards becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Sharri’s clinical experiences include working with learners with complex learning profiles across a variety of environments including in the home, in the community, and at school.  Her prior work experiences and/or supervisory experiences extend across children ages 18 months old through 21 within the CT Birth to Three system, public schools, and in DCF mandated programs.  In addition to her clinical experiences, Sharri actively volunteers with local organizations advocating for the advancement of the behavior analytic profession such as the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis (CTABA) and the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council (BALC).  She served as a Vice-Chair with Connecticut Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordination Council (ICC).  Her professional interests include early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), family training, advocacy, and legislation.

To learn more about Shari and CCSN, visit: https://www.ccsnct.org/

Chris Abildgaard, LPC, NCC, NCSP is the owner and director of the Social Learning Center, LLC. located in Cheshire, CT. Chris has been in private practice for over 13 years. Chris is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, a Board Certified national Counselor, & a Licensed Professional Counselor with a specialization in Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition to a Masters and 6th Year degree in School Psychology, he has earned a Graduate Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in Behavioral Interventions in Autism. Chris is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) in School Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. 

In this episode, we talk about the importance of providing further mental health support to our kids as we continue to transition to more in-person school learning.