Salome Heyward, J.D.
The ADA Amendments: Do We Really Have to Change the Way We Do Business?

What are the implications of the Amendments? Do institutions really need to change their methods of administrations in significant ways? The opening plenary will discuss the ways in which the Amendments will impact the policies, procedures, and practices of institutions. Specific topics discussed will include: key factors to consider in determining whether an individual has a disability; documentation practices; addressing disruptive behavior and direct threats; and managing parent and faculty interactions

Salome Heyward, a civil rights attorney with over 30 years experience in the field of disability discrimination law and disability management, is the president of Salome Heyward & Associates. She is the author of Higher Education and Disability (LRP Publication, 2004); The FMLA Handbook (2002); Graduate Schools and the ADA (2001); and Access to Education for the Disabled, as well as numerous articles and publications concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Rehabilitation Act.

Dr. Heyward is frequently sought out by the media to provide legal background for their productions concerning disability issues. She is a well-known and respected speaker and trainer in the area of disability discrimination law and disability management. She has been a featured presenter for national associations and organizations such as the American Association for Affirmative Action, the Association of Higher Education and Disability, the Council of State Governments, the National Association of State Personnel and the International Learning Disabilities Association. Dr. Heyward’s firm has provided training products and services to over 450 clients in the past three years.

Daniel Gottlieb
From Cripple to Invalid to Special Needs: Who are We Really?

Although labels evolve as does consciousness, there is still a false dichotomy between those with and without disabilities. This presentation will address the suffering that occurs in the wake of this dichotomy and the healing that happens when we reclaim the humanity beyond the labels.

Dan Gottlieb is a practicing psychologist and family therapist who has authored four books including Letters to Sam, a internationally acclaimed bestseller about his relationship with his autistic grandson. In addition, he has been hosting Voices in the Family on WHYY FM, Philadelphia's NPR affiliate, since 1985.

Michael Baime, M.D.
Mindfulness and ADHD: Creating Meditation-Based Tools for Attentional Training

This address will review the fundamentals of mindfulness and meditation and will discuss how traditional meditation techniques have been adapted and can benefit individuals with ADHD and other physical, psychological, and cognitive disabilities. A portion of the time will consist of experiential exercises and mindfulness practices. The plenary will explore how meditation can be utilized to enhance attentional focus, emotional balance, learning, and personal growth.

Michael J. Baime, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is the Director of the Penn Program for Stress Management and the Director of Mind-Body Programs for the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The Penn Mindfulness-Based Stress Management Program has enrolled more than 5,000 individuals in a structured eight-week meditation-based training course since its inception in 1992. Dr. Baime has created widely acclaimed, customized mindfulness-based programs for students, teachers, policemen, psychotherapists, caregivers, and numerous businesses, professions and organizations. At Penn, he teaches courses based on mindfulness practice and its applications, including courses for credit in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, the Department of Psychology, and the Graduate School of Education. Dr. Baime was awarded the Appel award for student work in psychiatry in 1981 and was the recipient of The Provost’s Award for Distinguished Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006.