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  • About Melissa
  • Talk Topics
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  • Inclusive Pathways

Talk Topics

My most popular presentation topics are below. Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and request the topic of your choice or request a topic unique to your event. Click each topic for a description.

    Talk Topics



    Many special needs fall under the SLD umbrella. A class may include students with a variety of needs and teachers must provide support for each and every one of these needs. Participants will learn how to utilize universal curriculum design and accommodations in an effective manner. Assistive technology (from low and high tech), visual supports, movement breaks, homemade and store bought tools, sensory activities and areas, and more can assist students in accessing the curriculum. 


    • Participants will implement at least one universal design strategy to assist all students, including those with learning disabilities.
    • Participants will use at least one new accommodation to assist students who are struggling with SLDs. (Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and more).
    • Participants will implement at least one assistive technology option to assist students with SLDs.


    Entering college is a significant milestone for both students and their families. This is especially true when a student with learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, or other potential learning challenges transitions to college. This session is designed to support parents as they navigate the transition from having children at home to having them at college. Whether you're preparing to send your first child off to college or already have experience with the process, this presentation will provide valuable insights and practical advice to help you adjust and thrive during the next phase of parenting. By the end of the session, parents and guardians will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities their children face in college. Participants will leave with practical strategies to support their children's success while maintaining a healthy balance between involvement and letting go.


    1. Participants will understand the emotional transition.

       - Recognizing and managing emotions such as anxiety and sadness

       - Strategies for staying connected while encouraging independence


    2. Participants will learn how to support academic success.

       - Encouraging academic responsibility and independence

       - Communicating effectively with professors and academic advisors and when this is appropriate


    3. Participants will learn to navigate social and emotional challenges.

       - Discussing the challenges of making new friends and fitting in

       - Addressing mental health and wellness concerns


    4. Participants will learn to prepare for family visits and holidays.

       - Managing expectations during visits home and holidays

       - Balancing family time with their newfound independence


    5. Participants will learn effective communication strategies to utilize with their adult children.

       - Establishing open lines of communication

       - Handling conflicts and offering support from a distance


    6. Participants will learn about planning for the future.

       - Discussing career planning and internships

       - Encouraging personal growth and goal-setting



    Are you a parent or professional who takes care of children who have Autism? Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is an Autism profile that is characterized by heightened anxiety, which causes demand avoidance. During the Pathological Demand Avoidance in Autistic Children presentation, you will learn strategies to assist with preventing meltdowns and aid in de-escalation of big emotions. 


    • Participants will learn to recognize when PDA may be a reason for behavioral issues. 
    • Participants will learn de-escalation techniques. 
    • Participants will leave the seminar with tools and strategies to assist them in providing support and teamwork to those with demand avoidance resulting from anxiety.


    Executive functioning includes working memory, cognitive flexibility (flexibility in thinking), and inhibitory control. These are challenging skills to learn yet teens and young adults need these skills to successfully move into adulthood. This workshop will explain what executive functioning is and how to facilitate the learning of these skills for teens and young adults. 


    • Participants will learn what executive functioning is and how it affects daily life.
    • Participants will learn ways to facilitate executive functioning skill growth in teens and young adults.
    • Participants will leave with ideas for activities and supports to assist with the process of facilitating executive functioning skill growth.


    Are you a parent or professional who helps children who have oppositional behaviors? Is mainstream behavior management not working well? Trauma, anxiety, and chemical imbalances can all factor into this complex issue. Mainstream behavior management strategies may not be effective for those with oppositional behavior patterns.


    • Participants will learn strategies to assist with preventing meltdowns and aid in de-escalation of big emotions. 
    • Participants will learn ways to prevent miscommunications and how to foster a diverse and inclusive environment.
    • Participants will learn how to encourage participation in self-advocacy and problem-solving.


    Social and emotional learning are necessary before academic gains can be made reliably. Students who struggle with SEL often have lower test scores and less understanding of topics covered in school. They are also at risk for not graduating from high school. How can we help?


    • Participants will learn about social skills and emotion regulation.
    • Participants will learn how to effectively model social and emotional skills and strategies.
    • Participants will leave with strategies to assist students in learning mood regulation and social skills.


    Autism rates have historically increased each year. Professionals will work with children with autism at some point in their career. Parents may not expect to have a child with autism, yet have to hit the ground running to support their child. How can we support children and young adults with a diagnosis of autism as they grow and learn? What are the best ways to handle tough situations? How do we set children with autism up for success, so they are less likely to need a guardian in adulthood? 


    • Participants will learn about coping strategies and how to find support during difficult situations.
    • Participants will learn about the wide umbrella of autism.
    • Participants will leave with action steps to take and strategies to assist with decision-making.


    What should first-year teachers know about children with special needs and special needs education? Learn about your responsibilities when your students have IEPS, how to work with parents as stakeholders, and how to ask for help if you are in over your head. If you are new to teaching or new to teaching students with special needs, this presentation is for you!


    • Participants will learn the lingo related to IEPs and ESE. (OHP, ASD, EBD, FAPE, LRE, etc.)
    • Participants will learn about their responsibilities when a student has an IEP, BIP, and/or 504 plan.
    • Participants will leave with action steps to stay organized and start off the year with positivity and solid working relationships with students, parents, and school staff.


    As a teacher and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your early childhood classroom. This presentation is greared towards prekindergarten to third grade classrooms. ln this presentation, I will decode the reading continuum and provide activity ideas for your classroom. Please let me know if you have a specific task or age/stage group on which you wish me to focus. Put my experience to work for you!


    As a teacher and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your ESE or multi-age classroom for a variety of ages and stages. ln this presentation, I will decode the reading continuum and provide activity ideas for your classroom. Please let me know if you have a specific task or age/stage group on which you wish me to focus. Put my experience to work for you!


    As a parent of children with special needs, teacher, and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your homeschool classroom. ln this presentation, I will discuss special needs, curriculum options, strategies to help with meltdowns, and more! Put my experience to work for you!


    As a parent of children with special needs, teacher, and consultant, I will give you strategies to use in your homeschool classroom. ln this presentation, I will discuss special needs, curriculum options, strategies to help with meltdowns, and more! Put my experience to work for you!


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    I understand that each event is unique. Tell me more about what you're looking for, and I will get back to you soon with a quote.

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