2006 Speaker Information

Speaker Information for the

2007 Michael Golds Conference

1. Presenter: Michele Novotni, Ph.D.

www.michelenovotni.com

Keynote Title: "What Does Everyone Else Know That I Don't Know? Social Skills & ADHD"

Session Title: "Coaching ADHD Adults at Work"

Dr. Michele Novotni is an internationally recognized expert in the field of AD/HD. She is the former president and CEO of the national Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), an inspiring speaker, best selling author, psychologist, coach and parent of a young adult with AD/HD. She is author of Adult AD/HD, What Does Everybody Else Know That I Don't?, The Novotni Social Skills Checklist, and Songs of the Soul. She has been interviewed on hundreds of television and radio stations, been quoted in leading national publications, and served as a keynote or invited presenter throughout the world. She is a regular columnist for ADDitude Magazine.

Michele was the lead facilitator and lobbyist in the creation of national ADD Awareness Day (the third Wednesday in September). She was awarded the national "Make a Difference Award" by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) in 2005 and ADDA originated The Novotni Scholarship Fund to assist college students with AD/HD in her honor.

Michele has experience as a college professor, high school teacher, and consultant for education, business and mental health organizations. She has been helping children, teens and adults with AD/HD and co-occurring conditions for over 25 years. Inspiring individuals to unlock their potential is her passion whether 1:1 or speaking to thousands.

Objectives: KEYNOTE

Understand the impact of AD/HD as contributing factor to social skill challenges

Understand the role of Social Exchange Theory and Attribution Theory in the area of AD/HD
Identify components of social skills and likeability
Identify strategies for improvement of social skills
Identify three methods to promote generalization of social skills

Brief Description

Because of the blinks and blanks of AD/HD, it can be difficult picking up the finer points of social interaction. It seems that everyone else knows and follows these unwritten social “rules” and those with AD/HD are often left out. Learn to improve social connections and improve relationships.

Description

It is frustrating to know you are making social mistakes and yet not know what you are doing wrong. And more important, not know what you are “supposed” to do. Because of the blinks and blanks of AD/HD, it can be difficult picking up the finer points of social interaction. It just seems that everyone else knows the rules and those with AD/HD often don’t. Learn to improve social connections in this multimedia presentation.

Sometimes the most troubling impact of AD/HD isn’t the ability to get things done—sometimes more troubling, are the social challenges which arise as a result of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity or disorganization. There are often social consequences that arise as a result of these challenges.

Many people of all ages with AD/HD often have trouble understanding and following along with expectations. Due to violations of these unwritten social “rules,” relationships in the areas of friendship, school, work, marriage and family often suffer.

The symptoms of AD/HD often leave their mark creating havoc throughout the lifespan. However, armed with information, strategies, structures and skills social relationships can improve.

Objectives: "AD/HD @ Work"

We are just beginning to understand the impact of AD/HD in the workplace. Initial research indicates significant money is lost each year due to untreated and under treated AD/HD. Jobs are lost, productivity is compromised and self-esteem is negatively impacted many times when AD/HD goes into the workplace.

With structure and support job turn over, efficiency and productivity can increase and self-esteem can flourish creating a “working” work environment.

Most accommodations cost little in terms of money and/or time and can result in significant increases in effectiveness and efficiency.

The bottom line-- money can be saved and the impact of AD/HD managed through proper diagnosis and treatment in the workplace.

Objectives:

Identify the impact of AD/HD in the work environment.
Learn to recognize and better utilize strengths to create success in the workplace.
Learn strategies, structures and skills to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace for those with AD/HD.
Become familiar with legal issues involved in workplace accommodations.

2. Presenter: Terry Dickson, M.D.

Title: "Child & Adolescent Medication"

The Behavioral Medicine Clinic of NW Michigan, Phone: 231-932-1250

Biographical Sketch: Dr. Dickson is the Director of The Behavioral Medicine Clinic of NW Michigan located in Traverse City, Michigan. His practice is completely devoted to helping and supporting children, adolescents and adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Dr. Dickson regularly speaks on the subject of AD/HD locally, statewide, and on a national level. He has been a speaker at the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) annual conference, the International CHADD annual conference and the Michigan State CHADD Conference (Michael Golds Conference). Dr. Dickson coordinates a local CHADD Chapter in his community. He also serves on the Board of Directors of ADDA.

Dr. Dickson has published articles on AD/HD, in Attention! Magazine (CHADD) and FOCUS (ADDA). His clinic has been involved with Phase III and Phase IV clinical trials for investigational AD/HD drugs.

Objectives:

Updated information on Medication Management for children & adolecents with AD/HD will be presented. The benefits & side effects of different medications within each class of current AD/HD medications will be presented. Medication(s) selection criteria & appropriate monitoring will be discussed. A brief description of medications that may be approved for use with AD/HD in the next two years will also occur.

3. Presenter: Fran Parker, Ph.D.

Title: "Raising AD/HD Kids Through the Lifespan"

28800 Orchard Lk Rd, Suite 250, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, 248-932-2500

Biographical Sketch: Fran Parker is a fully licensed psychologist in private practice at Comprehensive Psychiatric Services in Farmington Hills. She has presented nationally at CHADD and ADDA on Selecting, Transitioning, and Making it in College with AD/HD based on her research in finding the right fit for her son. She sees a lot of AD/HD college students and has run support groups for them. She is the Coordinator of Eastern Oakland County CHADD. She is on the Membership Committee of National CHADD. She is a certified teacher of Parent-to-Parent for CHADD and has taught parenting classes in proactively raising AD/HD kids through the lifespan in preparing for college and beyond.

Objectives:

- Parental education & empowerment to understand Executive Functioning Impairments your child may have & understand the services your child or teen may need to learn life management skills.

- Understand that Resilient Parenting is knowing when something is NOT working & switching gears when it is needed.

- Keeping communication open between parent & child.

- Using discipline & guideance to manage the parent / child relationship.

- Using positive reinforcement & natural consequences to enhance adaptive behaviors.

4. Presenter: Kevin Roberts, ADD Coach, Comedian

Title: "Coaching and Mentoring Teens with AD/HD"

kevin @ addguy.com, 888-800-5653

Biographical Sketch: Kevin’s background is rooted in Education. Teaching his way through undergrad at The University of Michigan, Kevin worked as an accent reduction coach for foreign students at The University. He went on to teach foreign languages and Social Studies at the Middle and High School levels at The Roeper School for the gifted. It was during his four years there that he began to unravel the mystery of his own ADHD and developed an interest in helping ADD-ers succeed in school. Since 1998, Kevin has been running ADD study groups, coaching kids to be successful in school and he has been teaching kids and parents how to feel good about themselves as ADD-ers. His most recent project is called ADD For Fun, an intense workshop designed to teach ADD teens comedic writing and performance. Kevin is also a standup comedian and performs about being ADHD, primarily at conferences and conventions.

Description: I will draw on ten years experience coaching and mentoring ADHD young people to offer participants skills and methods that they can use to effectively connect with ADHD teens. Objectives: -Lighten up and learn to enjoy the positive side of ADHD, even see the humor in it! -Learn to identify triggers that cause us to react to ADHD behaviors. -Practice identifying ADHD strengths and encouraging those as vehicles for success.

5. Presenter: Arthur L. Robin, Ph.D.

Title: "How to Succeed in Marriage When Your Spouse Has ADHD"

Child Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, 3901 Beaubien Blvd., Detroit, MI 48201 313-966-0602

Dennis, Moye, and Associates, 1750 Telegraph Rd., Suite 101
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, 248-451-9085

Biographical Sketch: Dr. Arthur Robin is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University, Chief of Psychology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and a Licensed Psychologist in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He specializes in adolescent and adult ADHD. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1975. Author of ADHD in Adolescents, Negotiating Parent-Adolescent Conflict, and Defiant Teens (with R. Barkley and G. Edwards), Dr. Robin has been a member of the CHADD Hall of Fame since 2002, is the Co-Director of the Professional Advisory Board of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, and is the Professional Advisor for CHADD of Eastern Oakland County.

Description: Dr. Robin will highlight the impact of AD/HD on marriage and provide couples with practical advice for coping with the followingtypes of problems: poor communication, poor conflict resolution, lack of follow through, procrastinationdisorganization, forgetfulness and lack of understanding AD/HD.

Objectives:

- Audience members will be able to describe the impact of AD/HD on marriage.

- Audience members will be able to describe how a couple with AD/HD can improve communication, resolve conflict effectively, manage medication as a couple, plus use time management & organizational tools as a couple.

6. Presenter: Joel Young, M.D.

Title: ADHD "Grown Up"

http://www.rcbm.net/,

Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine, 441 South Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 248-608-8800

Biographical Sketch: Joel L. Young, M.D., is the Medical Director of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Young completed his psychiatric training at the University of Michigan Hospitals. Dr. Young is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He holds added qualifications in geriatric and forensic psychiatry. In addition, he is a diplomate of the American Board of Adolescent Psychiatry.

Objectives:

1. Audience members will be able to discuss the ways ADHD creates impairment in adolescents and adults.

2. Audience members will be able to describe diagnostic and treatment approaches to adolescent and adult ADHD

3. Audience members will be able to discuss common comorbidities to ADHD.

7. Presenter: Philip Parker M.D.

Title: "Myths & Facts on Adult AD/HD: Disquinguishing the Difference"

Biographical Sketch: Philip Parker M.D., an adult psychiatrist in private practice for over 30 years, has spent much of the past 10 years treating adult AD/HD patients. He has presented to the National ADDA and CHADD conferences about various medication issues for AD/HD in adults. Dr. Parker taught the first formal course on Adult AD/HD ever presented to the adult psychiatry residents at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He also recently gave the first lecture about AD/HD ever delivered to a law and psychiatry class at the Wayne State University Law School. Dr. Parker recently wrote Information and Resource Sheet #11: Medication Management for Adults with AD/HD which appears on the website for the National Resource Center. Dr.Parker is on the national Professional Advisory Board of ADDA and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Description: Distinguishing myths from fact about any subject in any situation is often a difficult task. This presentation will discuss approaching this problem in connection with AD/HD in adults. Assessing the truthfullness & accuracy of statements about the subject will be described. We will discuss several techniques of analysis that can be used to facilitate this task.

Objectives:

- Participants will understand the definition of a myth vs. a fact considering AD/HD in Adults.

- Participants will understand how a myth can be presented a fact & could be surrounded with factswhich further adds to the confusion.

- Participants will learn what factors to examine in order to better recognize a myth disguised as a factincluding those presented by so-called "experts & authorities".

- Participants will be presented some myths about AD/HD in adults and how they are presented as fact.

- Participants will be made aware of possible effects of myths about AD/HD in adults on individuals.

8. Presenter: Janet Kester, MSW

Title: "Possession Oppression: Breaking the Bondage"

http://www.theproductivitycoach.com/ , (248) 210-6012, jankester2001@yahoo.com

Biographical Sketch: Janet brings over a decade of experience to the art of increasing productivity through organization. She is a professional organizer who believes that organized people are less stressed and genuinely happier. Janet applies personal and unique organizational training techniques that fit each client’s individual situation. Janet’s multifaceted approach reaches across socio-economic boundaries. She has taught organizational skills to doctors, lawyers, and
corporate executives, as well as homemakers and college students with and without ADD/ADHD. Janet is degreed in Business Administration with an Information
and Records Management focus, and Master’s-level Social Work with a clinical counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy concentration.

Objective: This session will focus on the obstacles to and means of achieving our organizational goals. You will learn why our "stuff" takes over our environments, as well as the most effective organizing strategies,techniques, and tools for conquering the chaos.

9. Presenter: Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW

Title: "The Secret Lives of Women with AD/HD: What Your Mother, Grandmother & Teachers Never Told You"

www.addconsults.com, 248-988-1260, terry@addconsults.com

Biographical Sketch: Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW is a psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in adult Attention Deficit Disorders. In addition to being a therapist and ADD coach, Terry serves as Vice President of ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorders Association) and is coordinator of the Eastern Oakland County CHADD (Children and Adults with ADD) Chapter in Michigan.

She is the founder and moderator of the first Internet mailing list for ADD professionals. She is also an active member of the Michigan Adolescent and Adult ADD Network for Professionals (MAAAN).

Terry is a nationally-recognized speaker on the topic of AD/HD, having presented locally and nationally, and has a special interest in women with attention deficit disorder and parenting the AD/HD child when one or both parents also has AD/HD.

She received a B.A. in Art Education, and a M.S.W. in Clinical Social Work at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She is licensed to practice in Michigan and New York.

Objectives:

In this safe, informal and animated interactive setting, women with AD/HD will be offered the opportunity to connect with others who have also lived a lifetime of secrecy about the challenges they face on a daily basis. Such issues as relationships, parenting, school/work, disorganization, time-management, shame, self-esteem and more will be addressed.

Women with AD/HD often live secret lives, embarrassed and ashamed of their so-called short comings. Their AD/HD often causes them to avoid social situations, intimate relationships, careers that speak to their potential and strengths, and more. Even with treatment, these feelings can continue to haunt them, causing spiraling depression and/or soaring anxiety. These intense feelings, which often become debilitating to the point of needing treatment in their own right, can create a tremendous amount of self-doubt, lack of confidence and a blow to their self-esteem.

Culturally, women are encouraged and generally feel comfortable connecting with other women, but when even the most common of chores and responsibilities fail them, women with AD/HD will often still deny themselves the relief of reaching out and sharing their deepest feelings of inadequacies.

This workshop will create a safe environment where women with AD/HD, often for the first time, will be given the opportunity to share these feelings they have carried with them for a lifetime. Topics to explore will include:
* Relationships
* Parenting
* School/Workforce/Career
* Communication
* Fear of disclosing ones diagnosis
* Chronic disorganization
* Time management challenges
* Memory issues
* Cooking/entertaining/holidays
* Procrastination
* Hypersensitivities

Attendees will:
- Understand the specific challenges that women with AD/HD face
- Recognize similar patterns in others and accept them in themselves
- Learn specific strategies for coping: parenting, workplace, household, organizing
- Learn to "let go" of the idealized perfect woman, mother, partner
- Identify resources available to improve life as a woman with AD/HD

10. Presenter: Margaret Semrud Clikeman, Ph.D

Title: "Social Competence in ADHD"

Biographical Sketch: Margaret Semrud-Clikeman, Ph.D., received her doctorate from the University of Georgia in 1990. She completed and internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School and received a post-doctoral neuroscience fellowship at MGH from NIH to study neuropsychological and brain morphology in children with ADHD. Her dissertation was awarded the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award from the Orton Dyslexia Society. She has authored four books and numerous articles and continues her research interests in the areas of ADHD and brain morphology using 3-dimensional MRI scans. She is currently working on research in ADHD, 18q- syndrome, and nonverbal learning disabilities. With Dr. Plizska at UTHSCSA, Margaret was awarded a NIH grant to study the effects of stimulant medication on neuropsychological functioning. Dr. Semrud-Clikeman and her students have developed a social competence intervention that has been successfully piloted at U of Texas. Dr. Semrud-Clikeman was recently awarded the 1999 Early Career Contributions award from the National Academy of Neuropsychology. She has published more than 30 articles, 40 chapters and three books. Dr. Semrud-Clikeman is currently a professor at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in Psychology and Psychiatry.

Objectives:

Children with ADHD frequently experience difficulties with social competence. In addition ADHD frequently co-occurs with nonverbal learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and high functioning autism. Information about these disorders, case studies, and a discussion of specifically designed intervention for social competence will be provided.

1. After attending this presentation the participants will be able to discuss the prevalence and expression of disorders that frequently co-occur with ADHD.
2. The participants will be familiar with selected interventions for working with social difficulties associated with ADHD and these comorbid disorders.

11. Presenter: Adrea Kenyon Unitis, MPH, Founder and Executive Director of Child Success Network

Title: "Personalized Learning Interventions That Make a Difference"

www.childsuccessnetwork.com, 248-626-5098, aunitis@childsuccessnetwork.com

Diversified expertise as a health and education leader in Michigan with over twenty years experience providing health planning, health education, and professional development at schools, health settings, universities, community organizations, and and corporations:

Regional Comprehensive Health Coordinator and Health Consultant providing professional development and consultation for hundreds of schools and thousands of school staff and families, coordinated school health programs, healthy youth development, healthy school climate, parent and community collaboration, and integration of school health and school improvement plans.
Extensive experience consulting with teachers, administrators, health professionals, students, parents, and community to address the health and social obstacles to learning, change health and learning behavior, and address diverse learning needs of all children, while meeting mandates.
Leader in helping schools and parents use health assessment, planning and implementation as a tool to improve student learning and school success.
Leader in helping to link the education and health system to enable child success.
University educator with experience teaching health education and family medicine students.
Demonstrated excellent skills in program planning, team building, collaboration, oral/written communication, assessment, and documentation of results.

Educational Qualifications:
Master of Public Health, (MPH) Health Education and Health Behavior, 1977 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Award: Public Health Traineeship Grant

Bachelor of Arts, (B.A.) with Distinction, Psychology, 1975 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Objectives:

In order to address the achievement gaps resulting from attention deficits, neurodevelopmental diversity, and negative health behaviors of students, school reform efforts must utilize new interventions to intentionally plan student success for all children. The learning objectives for workshop participants are the following:

     1.     Increase understanding of how parents and school staff can develop healthy schools which value personalized learning.
     2.     Identify specific interventions implemented at the student level, classroom and building level, and district level targeted to promote student success.
     3.     Assess the progress your school is making to meet the needs of each student and monitor their success.

12. Presenter: Steven J. Ceresnie, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Title: "Mood Disorders & ADHD"

199 N. Main Street, Suite 202, Plymouth, MI 48170,

(734)-453-9290, www.stevenceresniephd.com

Biographical Sketch: Dr. Steven J. Ceresnie is a psychologist in private practice in Plymouth, Michigan for almost 30 years. He has worked at Children's Hospital in Detroit (4 years), and Hawthorn Center (10 years) in Northville. He is a Former President of the Michigan Psychological Association and is currently Chair of the MPA Membership Committee.

For the past 30 years, Dr. Ceresnie is a part-time faculty member at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in Detroit. He consults and teaches courses in the Department of Patient Management and Orthodontics.

Dr. Ceresnie's services include psychological evaluations and psychological therapy with children, adolescents, and adults --- with ADHD, mood disorders, learning disabilities, abnormal development, anxieties and family stress such as divorce and loss.

Dr. Ceresnie treats individuals, couples, and families.

Associations: Michigan Psychological Association (Former President), American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science.
Memberships: MPA, APA, APS, CHADD, MAAAN
Age Group Served: pre-school through adult
Modality: Eclectic: Cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, family systems

Objectives:

- You will be able to describe Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia & Bipolar Disorder. You will see how they occur together with AD/HD.

- You will see appropriate treatments for Mood Disorders with AD/HD in children.

- You will see how parents can help a child with both AD/HD and a Mood Disorder.

13. Presenters: Janet McPeek, Ph.D. & Phil PcPeek, MSW

Title: "Social Skills Training for Children with AD/HD"

Biography:

Phil McPeek, MSW is a fulltime school social worker who also maintains a private practice in Rochester Hills. He specializes in work with children and teens, and he leads a series of social skills groups throughout the year. His experience includes work in the community mental health, public school and private agency settings. He has additional expertise in the areas of adoption and child abuse.

Janet McPeek, Ph.D. is the fulltime director of a children’s services agency. She also maintains a part-time private practice in Rochester Hills. Her areas of expertise include high-risk children and teens and an emphasis on marital and family work. Her experience includes the public school, community mental health and private agency settings. She has written a curriculum guide for working with high-risk families and is currently the author of a monthly column for the Observer Eccentric Newspaper.

Objectives:

The session will offer an overview of social skills from practical, developmental perspective, with emphasis on the parents’ role in facilitating skill building via the natural environment.

- Increase understanding of expectations for age-appropriate social skills.

- Develop strategies for identifying your child’s strengths and areas for development in the arena of social skills.

- Identify target goals for your child.

- Increase ability to utilize the natural environment as a tool to teach and maintain application of social skills.

14. Presenter: Kathy McClain, Ed.S. www.powerzapperinfo.com

Title: "Power Zapper: Strategies to Use at Home & at School to Assist Middle School Students Who Are “Lost in the System.”

Biographical Sketch: Kathy McClain, Ed.S., career educator at the secondary level, has taught in public, private and alternative high schools, adult education, GED classes, and for the last eleven years held the position of Learning Specialist at the middle school level with Livonia Public Schools. She has attended numerous seminars, workshops, lectures and conferences on ADHD and meeting the needs of all learners. As a result of her extensive work with at risk students, she supervised and restructured the district Middle School Summer School program with the focus on building academic skills and confidence in the student as learner. She created Steps of Success, an award-winning, mentoring program, now in its ninth year at Frost Middle School (Livonia) for students having difficulty managing their job as a student with subsequent underachieving grades. In 2003, she launched Power Zapper Student Success Program, featuring the Power Zapper Lessons with Individualized Mentor-Coaching Sessions for students and presentations including: “Parent Power”, “Back to School- Turbo Charged”, “Mentor Power” and “Student Power”.

Objectives: This session will focus on assisting students who are lost in the system with daily confusion, possible underachieving grades and diminished confidence as a learner. Using basic charts and diagrams, learn strategies to (1) assist students in managing and understanding their student responsibilities and the flow of classroom procedures, (2) target specific problems student may have in each class, (3) guide student-centered problem solving, goal setting and reflection, (4) enhance student status and confidence by using a ‘business format’ to set the tone at home, including the “at home kit” and a brief weekly business meeting.