No Tears for Fears in the School Age Years: IEPs — Presentation

Presented by Kerrie Lemons Chitwood, PhD, CCC-SLP, Laura Greiss Hess, PhD, OTR/L, and Anne Hoffmann, PhD, CCC-SLP

This interactive family-friendly presentation will focus on considerations for school-age children with fragile X syndrome. This interdisciplinary presentation with speech-language pathologists and an occupational therapist will provide a review of language, literacy, sensory, and social implications within the school setting and IEP process. Practical evidence-based applications will be provided with suggestions for implementation. A collaborative team-based approach will be highlighted including benefits and potential barriers to this approach, and suggestions for caregiver and family involvement in the educational process.

Runtime: 1:02:09

About the Presenters

Kerrie Lemons Chitwood, PhD, CCC-SLP

CSU Monterey Bay
Assistant Professor

Kerrie Lemons Chitwood is a licensed speech-language pathologist with 24 years of clinical and research experience. Kerrie currently is the program director for the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), and an assistant professor in the Department of Education and Leadership at CSUMB. Kerrie is also co-director of the Center for Reading Diagnosis and Instruction (CRDI). Kerrie completed her PhD in Education from the University of California, Davis, and her bachelor’s and master’s in communicative disorders from the University of the Pacific. Previously, from 2002-2014, Kerrie worked at the U.C. Davis MIND Institute, where she was part of the Fragile X team. She values intervention research and has extensive experience working as an integral member of a collaborative interdisciplinary team. She collaborated on national and international presentations as well as research publications specific to Fragile X syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders. She is committed to translational research and thrives to bridge the gap between research and practice specifically as it pertains to students and families with FXS and other neurodevelopmental disorders in educational and community settings.

Laura Greiss Hess, PhD, OTR/L.

Dominican University of California
Associate Professor

Laura Greiss Hess completed her bachelor’s degree in special education and human development at Vanderbilt University and began her career as a special education teacher serving students with moderate/severe disabilities in 1992. She went on to complete her MS in occupational therapy (OT) from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and earned professional comprehensive certification in sensory integration, and certification in assistive technology applications. Laura was a school-based OT practitioner for 17 years. Additionally, Laura worked at the UC Davis MIND Institute for 12 years collaborating on research and clinical teams specializing in fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, learning/intellectual disabilities, and assistive technology applications. This work contributed to national and international conference presentations and publications. Laura completed her PhD in Education from U.C. Davis and is now an assistant professor in the occupational therapy department at the Dominican University of California.  She has been passionate about bringing FXS literature and research to pre-service occupational therapy graduate students.

Anne Hoffmann, PhD, CCC-SLP

Rush University Medical Center
Assistant Professor & Speech-Language Pathologist

Anne Hoffmann is an assistant professor and speech-language pathologist in the Communication Disorders & Sciences, and Pediatrics departments at Rush University. Her research examines language and social communication development in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Fragile X syndrome. Her teaching and clinical interests focus on pediatric speech and language disorders. Hoffmann completed her doctoral work at The Ohio State University and then completed her post-doctoral position in pediatrics at Rush University.