What ’soft skills’ can be highlighted to add to a personal skill set to create dynamics for relationships, jobs and self-pride?

Presentation:

The presentation will include steps towards growth in areas of self-awareness, building and sustaining relationships, navigating the environment, making personal choices and advocacy skills. We hope this presentation provides a variety of ideas for parents, stakeholders and educators. We have gained a better understanding that supporting and teaching realistic skills that promote self-determination and ‘grit’ from a young age may produce and create more positive experiences for learners. while respecting the autonomy and dignity of autistic individuals. Part of this discussion will focus on the aspect that helping people get a job is only the first step; it is also about learning how to keep a job.

The idea of having connections/connectivity to one’s learning can enhance a participant’s productivity, helping them become a more active learner and engage in their personal education and growth. There is a big difference between memorizing skills and conceptualizing and using them in your daily life. These days, the buzzword is ‘independence’; however, that can be interpreted in many ways. Let us discuss what that may mean to individuals, both positively and with a cautionary tone.

The age range of this discussion will highlight early elementary to later elementary years. We look forward to a healthy and energetic discussion and questions from our audience that pertain to general strategies.

Guest Speaker:

Bohdanna Popowycz, M.Ed BCBA LBA

Bohdanna has been working in the field of autism and unique learners since the late 80’s. Prior to that, while attending University she worked in group homes with adults ranging in ages from 19-70. This, and her work with early learners, has given her the ability to understand learning through the ages. Bohdanna has worked and trained in the United States, Canada and the UK. She was integral in starting the charity Harmony House CARES (Centre for Autism and Research and Education Society) in 2006 along with two parent advocates. She lives on the Coast and continues to travel to Vancouver, as well as the USA to work alongside families, individuals and schools. Bohdanna enjoys speaking at conferences and creating relationships with educators in workshops and focus groups. Her main source of pride and love is her three children.