Ira Kittrell to Speak as Part of JCC's Programming

For Special Individuals

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

This evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Ira Kittrell, CCC/SLP, presents "The ABCs of Social Skills" at Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton, as part of the Special Needs Services Department of the JCCs of Greater Boston's ongoing programming aimed at educating the community. Kittrell, an ASHA Speech-Language Pathologist and Special Needs Consultant specializing in pragmatic language disorders and executive function issues, has been a classroom teacher, director of a summer camp program, school consultant, and an editorial and marketing professional in educational publishing.

He practices privately in Holliston as the Speech Solution and works at the Walker Home and School, a residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally challenged children. He is a member of the training faculty for the Asperger's Association of New England and has designed an innovative approach to pragmatic language programming. Numerous publications, network television and national radio have recognized Kittrell's work with hard-to-reach children. He was awarded the "Heroes Among Us Award" by the Boston Celtics, and the "E-Achievement Award" by nationally syndicated show E-Town.

Mr. Kittrell attended Jewish day school and was a longtime camper and staff member at Jewish overnight camps including B'nai Brith Beber Camp in Wisconsin. He was the director of Camp Tova, the special needs day camp for the 92nd Street YM-YWHA, and has created Maccabiah programs for religious schools including Temple Beth Torah of Holliston and Congregation B'nai Shalom of Westborough. He helped create a morning minyan program, and with his wife, Lisa, a Jewish Educator at B'nai Shalom, the inception of a Chaverim for young families at Beth Torah, where his children attend nursery school. He provided training for Jewish educators at a NERJEA conference and is publishing a Jewish children's book with Pitspopany Press with the working title, "The Day the Kreplach Ate the Challah."

"Tonight's talk," says JCC Special Needs Program Director Judy Pearl, "is an extension of a conference last fall of JCCGB's 'Beyond The Ramp', an initiative begun in 1998 for developmentally disabled individuals and their families, where Kittrell also spoke." The conference's 200+ attendees was a "call for action" from agencies, synagogues and organizations with regard to addressing unmet needs of people with physical disabilities and/or mental health issues.

Subsequent programs ensued in the Jewish community which welcomed those of all abilities to participate in synagogue life, religious schools, camps, and a variety of other inclusive community programming. JCC offers 32 classes for children and adults (approximately 400 people)including adapted aquatics, social groups, tae kwon do; movement and music activity groups, self-advocacy groups and many more; 140 individuals have been integrated into JCC cultural arts, health and fitness, group services, vacation and camp programs.

"Tonight," says Pearl, "Kittrell will discuss signs of disorder, and the possible roots of these issues. He will speak on the variety of problems that children may experience if they are left untreated. He will suggest various therapeutic and educational approaches to helping children who may be experiencing social difficulties."

Both lecture and interactive dialogue will be the format, with role-plays and vignettes included.

Please contact Judy Pearl for information on Beyond The Ramp or other JCCGB special needs programs

at:617-558-6508 or jpearl@jccgb.org

>

This evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Ira Kittrell, CCC/SLP, presents “The ABCs of Social Skills” at Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton, as part of the Special Needs Services Department of the JCCs of Greater Boston’s ongoing programming aimed at assisting this community.

Kittrell, an ASHA Speech-Language Pathologist and Special Needs Consultant specializing in pragmatic language disorders and executive function issues, has been a classroom teacher, director of a summer camp program, school consultant, and an editorial and marketing professional in educational publishing.

He practices privately in Holliston as the Speech Solution and works at the Walker Home and School, a residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally challenged children. He is a member of the training faculty for the Asperger’s Association of New England and has designed an innovative approach to pragmatic language programming.

Numerous publications, network television and national radio have recognized Kittrell’s work with hard-to-reach children. He was awarded the "Heroes Among Us Award" by the Boston Celtics, and the "E-Achievement Award" by nationally syndicated show E-Town.

Mr. Kittrell attended Jewish day school and was a longtime camper and staff member at Jewish overnight camps including B'nai Brith Beber Camp in Wisconsin. He was the director of Camp Tova, the special needs day camp for the 92nd Street YM-YWHA, and has created Maccabiah programs for religious schools including Temple Beth Torah of Holliston and Congregation B'nai Shalom of Westborough. He helped create a morning minyan program, and with his wife, Lisa, a Jewish Educator at B'nai Shalom, the inception of a Chaverim for young families at Beth Torah, where his children attend nursery school. He provided training for Jewish educators at a NERJEA conference and is publishing a Jewish children's book with Pitspopany Press with the working title, "The Day the Kreplach Ate the Challah."

“Tonight’s talk,” says Director of Special Needs Services Dept. Judy Pearl, “is an extension of a conference last fall of JCCGB’s ‘Beyond The Ramp’, an initiative begun in 1998 for developmentally disabled individuals and their families, where Kittrell also spoke.” The conference’s 200+ attendees called for action from agencies, synagogues and organizations with regard to addressing unmet needs of mentally and/or physically challenged people. Subsequent programs ensued in the Jewish community which welcomed those of all abilities to participate in synagogue life, religious schools, camps, and a variety of other inclusive community programming.

JCC programs have involved 18 classes (approximately 185 people); 140 individuals have been integrated into JCC cultural arts, health and fitness, group services, vacation and camp programs. Sales of tribute cards, people pins, and the Very Special Teen Sock Hop have been fundraising themes. At a recent seder attended by participants of JCC social groups and Brother-to-Brother/Sister-to-Sister program of Jewish Big Brother & Big Sister Association, interagency activities were highlighted.

“Tonight,” says Pearl, “Kittrell will discuss signs of disorder, and the possible roots of these issues. He will speak on the variety of problems that children may experience if they are left untreated. He will suggest various therapeutic and educational approaches to helping children who may be experiencing social difficulties.”

Both lecture and interactive dialogue will be the format, with role-plays and vignettes included. Questions for Kittrell will be allowed as well.

Please contact Judy Pearl for information on Beyond The Ramp or other JCCGB special needs programs at:617-558-6508 or jpearl@jccgb.org

The JCC’s Ledgewood Program, for children with special needs, operates from within traditional classroom settings, and provides support services both to they and their parents. The special needs teachers provide individualized experienced in cohort with usual classroom activities. Funded by the Ledgewood Special Needs Endowment Fund for Preschool Children and made possible by the Ledgewood Home for Jewish Children and the JCC’s of Greater Boston, the program is integral to the Early Childhood Departments in Newton, Brookline, Wayland, Stoughton, Canton, and Malden.

For more information contact Judy Pearl at 617-558-6508. Pre-registration is recommended. Nonmember: $10, member: $5.

The Special Needs Services Department of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston is hosting a seminar entitled "The ABCs of Social Skills and Children with Special Needs". The event will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2002 from 7:30 - 9:30pm at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center in Newton. 

Some call them social skills, some pragmatic language, some adaptive behaviors, and some politeness. Whatever the name, they are the skills enabling human beings to get along with others, get what they need or want, as well as, understand what others may need or want. Most of us take for granted that the people with whom we come in contact know the basic rules of social skills. We are angered when those rules aren't followed, as we expect that the culprit knew the rules and chose not to follow them.

Unfortunately, there are those in society that due to an organic disorder or delay such as autism, pervasive developmental disorder, Asperger's syndrome, non-verbal learning disability, and numerous other diagnoses, or, due to a physical or emotional trauma, may not know what most of us see as common knowledge. They don't know about the golden rule or basic conversational skills. They are easily and consistently misunderstood, and constantly misunderstand the intent of others. They are seen as "rude", when they just don't get it, or have difficulty understanding a situation. With children, this misunderstanding leads to difficulties in what should be the areas of life that are the most pleasurable and educational…classrooms, lunchrooms, the playground, parties…any situation involving an interactive component.

For more information on Ira Kittrell and his programs, please see his website at:

WWW.THESPEECHSOLUTION.COM

THURS. MAY 9:

7:30 PM

to 9:30 PM

LEDGEWOOD SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

jpearl@jccgb.org

From: "Judy Pearl" <jpearl@jccgb.org

www.thespeechsolution.com

www.eritherapyseminars.com

thejewadv@aol.com, and if so, please mark in the subject line that it is

for Susie's article on

the JCCs' Special Needs Services Dept. talk on May 9.

Picture of Ira Kittrell:

http://www.thespeechsolution.com/about.htm

http://www.eritherapyseminars.com/

Ira L. Kittrell, MA-CCC/SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in pragmatic language disorders and executive function issues. Mr. Kittrell’s special needs experience includes time as a classroom teacher, director of a summer camp program and as an editorial and marketing professional in educational publishing.

Ira L. Kittrell, ma-ccc/slp, director

SPECIAL NEEDS CONSULTATION:

Ira Kittrell's special needs experience ranges far beyond that of most Speech-Language Pathologists. As a former special education classroom teacher, special needs camp director, and through his involvement in educational publishing, he is able to look at schools and their educational and behavioral concerns through a multi-faceted lens. He is then able to assist them in training their staff, and in developing more efficient and effective programming for their more challenging students. This programming may take the form of inservice training, lesson modification, systems modification, evaluation, on-going consultation, and therapeutic intervention by a multi-disciplinary staff in order to make the lives of the children, and therefore, the educators more productive and enjoyable in the school environment.

The staff associated with Ira and The Speech Solution come from a myriad of professional backgrounds, including but not limited to, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, child behavioral specialists, learning disabilities specialists, and more, all of whom are experienced in working with the most challenging children. Ira and many of his associates have been trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) or like programs in order to assist children in moments of crisis.

Special needs consultation by The Speech Solution may be discipline specific, or multi-disciplinary. As with any of our programs, it is tailored to your wants and needs!

For health and educational organizations and associations, parent groups, teachers, school administrators, early childhood organizations, daycare providers, speech-language pathologists, child-care professionals, occupational therapists, medical doctors and nurses, mental health professionals, and more…

Unique Approaches To Pragmatic Language

Most pragmatic language programs address social skills training through a standard skill instruction, role-play, and discussion format. This program teaches attendees to utilize innovative approaches such as American Sign Language (ASL), public speaking & debate, and cooperative learning as the methods for social language instruction and remediation. Note: Attendees do not need to be proficient in ASL in order to use program techniques.

Creating A Proactive Classroom

When we react to negative behaviors in educational and social/recreational situations we too often engage in power struggles, and spend more time on behavior management than instruction. This program covers planning and creating an environment in which negative behaviors are addressed through the milieu, lesson format, physical environment and instructional method in a proactive rather than reactive manner. The focus is on extinguishing potential problem situations before they initiate.

Wh- Questions:

The Processing Key Asking and answering questions are the key to all learning. Educational, social & recreational discussion and processing are addressed through accounting for the normal stages of question development, (e.g., who, what, where, which, when, how, and why), as well as, through children's' individual abilities to answer and ask questions.

Effective Collaboration for the Ancillary Service Provider (SLP,OT, PT, SW, etc…)

In today's educational system, ancillary staff are asked to provide services in pull-out, push-in, co-teach, and other models. This program helps providers to create holistic programs in order to address students' needs through collaboration with the classroom teacher. Attendees will learn to choose where, when, why, how, and with whom to collaborate in as pain-free and effective a manner as possible.

The Language-Behavior Link

Language delays and disorders, both verbal and non-verbal, are often the culprits in exacerbating and escalating behavioral difficulties in the classroom. Attendees will learn about common language concerns and their interplay with behavioral issues and processing. They will further learn to take children's linguistic issues into account when addressing or processing behaviors, and when engaging in talk therapy situations.

Linguistic Flexibility/Thinking Beyond The Script

Social scripting is an important tool in the remediation of numerous pragmatic language and social skill deficits. However, as pragmatic language is situational, children eventually need to learn to break those scripts if they are to be successful, especially in novel settings and with new people. Attendees will review the basic concepts of and the rationale for scripting, as well as, methods for beginning to break scripts effectively while assisting children in maintaining pragmatic skills and social scripts.

Normal Speech and Language Development

Parents and professionals are always concerned about children's speech and language progress as they grow from birth through school age, yet are often unclear as to the developmental norms for communication during these stages. This program covers normal speech and language development including: articulation, grammar, voice, fluency, and more!

Speech-Language Pathology for the M.D.-When to Refer

M.D.s are generally the first people questioned by parents who are concerned about their children's speech and language development. Attendees will review normal development (see above), as well as, red flags for delays and disorders, evaluative and therapeutic techniques, and timing for appropriate referral to the SLP.

ADDITIONAL CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS CAN BE DESIGNED TO MEET YOUR NEEDS!!!

Note: Ira Kittrell is available to speak at conferences and to conduct training sessions for schools and organizations throughout the United States and Canada.

What they're saying:

"Innovative!"

The Boston Globe

"Creative!"

Advance for SLP & A

"Unique!"

R.Y.-Psychologist

"A gifted Speech-Language Pathologist, and an outstanding advocate for children..."

F.R.-Principal

"Positive and engaging!"

A.A.B.-SPED Administrator

"uses his heart and head to devise innovative ways to increase communication..."M.G.-Occupational Therapist

"combines a subtle yet sophisticated methodology with an enormous amount of creativity and energy…"

m.g., LICSW-guidance counselor

"looks at the whole child, not just at the speech and language problems."

DS-Parent

MISSION STATEMENT:

To provide quality, innovative and humanistic speech-language pathology and special needs consultation services to all that are in need!

Quality:

Providing premium services to our clients,their families, and those that support them.

Innovative:

Looking for new directions in service delivery, new methods for evaluation, and new approaches to treatment. Seeking new ways, any way to help our clients!

Humanistic:

We treat our clients as people, not as disorders! We believe that a human, caring approach assists the members of our client family as significantly as our treatment methodology!