Committee Attendee:
Christina Muccioli – Co-Chair
Joan Dwyer – Co-Chair
Meeting Convened:
Registration was from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM, followed by the meeting at 10:00 AM.
Current Business:
• Christina Muccioli and Joan Dwyer explained that the Children’s committee is a committee of the Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council and described the function and composition of that group. They encouraged those present to visit the Council’s website to learn of the dates and locations of the Council’s meetings, and for information about other events of interest to individuals with special needs, their families, and advocates. Kennedy Center Calendar of Trips – MN – 2013 – 2014 (2)
• Christina and Joan announced the upcoming Family Support Fair to be held on December 11, 2013 at the Penn Hotel, 401 7th Avenue, Manhattan.
• Christina encouraged feedback from those present regarding the topics they would like the Children’s Committee to target in future meetings.
Presentation:
The presentation was entitled, “THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF YOUR CHILDS’ LIFE: Identifying Delays and Appropriate Coping Strategies”. The topic was addressed by a panel of four speakers, each of whom spoke to a specific area of development:
• Susan Kondoff, MS, who is a School Psychologist at the Astoria Blue Feather Head Start, covered “Understanding and Strategizing Developmental Milestones Birth to 7 Years”, a discussion of social-emotional development and cognitive development and motivational strategies to promote both areas of development.
• Ivette Ortiz, MS, CCC-SLP and Director of Related Services at the Kennedy Child Study Center, covered “Developmental Speech and Language Skills: Birth to 7 Years”, a discussion of hearing vs. listening skills, aspects of speech and of language, and expressive and receptive abilities in the developing child.
• Jessica Young, M.S. OTR/L, is an Occupational Therapist at the Kennedy Child Study Center and covered the area of “Fine Motor Skill Development.” She discussed the progression of activities of daily living skills, fine motor skills, scissor skills, and the manipulation of writing utensils, and included at home activities to promote each these skill areas.
• Tristan Dulangon, NYS licensed Physical Therapist and supervisor of the Occupational and Physical Therapy services at the Kennedy Child Study Center Manhattan Preschool, covered, “Gross Motor Development and Successful Teaching Strategies.” He addressed movement and locomotion, balance when sitting and moving, special conditions that impact on the acquisition of these skills, and using play to develop these skills.
• An open Q&A followed the presentations.
• The meeting/presentation was attended by 30 parents/providers.
Meeting Adjourned:
• The presentation ended about 12:45 PM.
• The next Children’s Committee date/topic – TBD