Dr. Sharon Saline, clinical psychologist and author, presented at Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth’s seminar “Supporting Neurodivergent Students” on May 14. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)
WAKEFIELD — Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) hosted a hybrid seminar for educators, “Supporting Neurodiverse Students,” via Zoom and at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School in Danvers on May 14.
The conference was MPY’s largest seminar yet, with 136 in-person attendees and 631 people on Zoom.
The seminar addressed the diverse experiences and needs of all students. Attendees learned how to create school environments that celebrate neurodiversity, remove learning barriers and promote belonging for all students.
Participants praised how the conference introduced strategies to promote inclusive learning.
“Today’s conference was an opportunity for educators to connect with each other, engage in learning, and purposefully plan to better meet the needs for all of our learners,” said Special Education Inclusion Coach Emily Patt, who presented at the seminar.
Eight speakers with a wide range of experience working in special education presented at the conference.
- Celine Saulnier, Ph.D., is the founder of Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Consulting Services, where she specializes in diagnostic assessment, teaching and training for autism spectrum and related disorders. She previously directed a clinical research program at the Emory University School of Medicine and the Marcus Autism Center and worked at the Yale Child Study Center’s Autism Program.
- Sharon Saline, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist, author, educator and clinician consultant. She is a regular contributor to ADDitudemag.com, a featured expert on WWLP-TV’s Mass Appeal program and a part-time lecturer at the Smith School for Social Work.
- Nelson Corona Barreiro, M.S., is a special education teacher at Franklin High School, where he leads the Social, Academics, Inclusion and Language (SAIL) program. Before joining the public school system, Barreiro worked on the Intensive Treatment Team at the New England Center for Children.
- Lori Bruce, M.Ed., has over 25 years of experience in special education, curriculum development and diversity advocacy. She currently serves as the Director of Special Education at Framingham Public Schools and the Vice President of Trustees of Jaffna College Fund, which supports educational initiatives in Sri Lanka. Her previous roles include Director of Student Support Services at Carlisle Public Schools, Elementary Principal at Milestones Day School and Deputy Head at the Southover Partnership in London.
- Julie Matos, M.Ed., BCBA and LABA, began her career in home-based ABA agencies before moving into leadership roles as a Regional Clinician Manager and Associate Vice President. Matos is currently completing a certificate in Social-Emotional Learning through Bridgewater State University and has completed extensive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in trauma-informed practice, compassionate care, and social and emotional learning. She is Level 4 Practical Functional Assessment and Skill-Based Treatment certified through FTF Behavioral Consulting.
- Patt, M.A.T., is an inclusion coach with SEEM Collaborative. She previously held roles as a special education teacher in middle and elementary schools, and has worked with families and students in both home and community settings.
- Asa Sevelius, Ed.D., is Principal of the Roland Hayes School in Brookline and an adjunct professor at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education. He previously served as Principal of the Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston.
- Elise Wulff, M.Ed., has over 20 years of experience working with the neurodiverse population in both the public and private sectors. She is the Senior Manager of Consultation Services at Aspire, a MassGeneral Hospital program that specializes in helping individuals on the autism spectrum achieve success.
About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth. MPY programming reaches nearly 6,000 educators per year in Massachusetts, spread across approximately 300 districts, with more than 190 webinars and over a dozen conferences and seminars.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission. To learn more, visit: massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com.
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“Supporting Neurodivergent Students” was MPY’s largest seminar yet, with 136 in-person attendees and 631 people on Zoom. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)
Elise Wulff, Senior Manager of Consultation Services at Aspire, spoke to educators about how to create a supportive and inclusive school environment. (Photo Courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)
