Last summer, John and his parents, Jim and Denise, traveled from Central Indiana to Syracuse, New York to attend Syracuse University’s (SU) Institute on Communication and Inclusion (ICI) to attend their 2013 Facilitated Communication (FC) Summer Institute: Connection, Communication, and Creativity. It was an educational and engaging journey for the entire family, with workshops, presentations, panels for parents, FC users, educators, and more.

ICI Conference Highlights

In addition to having the rare opportunity to see old friends from points far and wide, and meet new ones, a few of the highlights of the conference included:

• Keynote addresses from:
  • Professor and blogger Ibby Grace
  • Author Anne Donnellan
  • A panel discussion with filmmakers and film stars including:
    • Doug Biklen, Dean of the School of Education at SU
    • Larry Bissonnette
    • Jamie Burke
    • Sue Rubin
    • And Tracy Thresher
  • Workshops on creative expression, music, and movement
  • Research presentations on lexical analysis, and message passing
  • Hands-on skill building and training workshops
  • Panels on FC users in schools, blogging, local advocacy, transitioning, and higher education

  Featured presenters included:

  • Artist and educator Jacqueline (Jackie) Adamo
  • Christine Ashby, Assistant Professor in the Teaching and Leadership Department of the School of Education at Syracuse University and the Director of the Institute on Communication and Inclusion
  • Doug Biklen, Dean of the School of Education at Syracuse University and author of Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone (NYU Press, 2005)
  • Sheree Burke, the parent of son Jamie who has autism and uses supported communication with various communication devices
  • Marilyn Chadwick, who has provided training on Facilitated Communication across the United States, as well as Canada, Israel, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Europe
  • Rosemary Crossley, director of DEAL Communication Centre in Melbourne, Australia
  • Darlene Hanson, speech and language specialist with an expertise in working with individuals with severe communication impairments, and the Director of Communication Services with the Whittier Area Parents’ Association for the Developmentally Handicapped (WAPADH) in the Los Angeles area
  • Eun Young Jung, a Graduate Student in the Special/Inclusive Education Program at the School of Education in Syracuse University
  • Christi Kasa, Ph.D., an Associate Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Special Education in the College of Education at the University of Colorado
  • Quiet Thunder Maine Typing Group, a group of FC speakers who use supported typing and meet each week to communicate with friends, share thoughts and ideas, plan and participate in social activities within the community, and provide each other with emotional support

  More information: 2013 ICI Summer Institute Featured Presenters (SU website opens in new window)

  A good time was had by all. Take a look at some of the friends, old and new, that John had a chance meet up with.
  (Click on an image below to open slideshow. Click on gallery picture or press Esc to exit.)

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