Supporting Re-Entry to School for Autistic Students: A Trauma–Informed Approach

An xMinds Event

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 @ 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Cost:  Free

Trauma-informed education is an important topic for all students, given the challenges our students faced during virtual learning and events surrounding a racial reckoning last year. For many autistic students and Black and Brown students those stresses produced trauma. 

As these students pivot back to in-person learning this fall, it is essential that families and educators understand how to recognize when students are suffering trauma and modify how they respond to students whose behavior and mental state are influenced by that trauma. 

We look forward to welcoming mental health specialists who will discuss how to recognize when students are suffering the effects of trauma, and how to best support those students. 

Moderator:  Advisor to the xMinds Board, Kim Pinckney-Lewis, Ph.D. 

Speakers:

Maxwell Schneider, MHC–LP -- Autistic self-advocate with a Masters in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University, whose work with neurodivergent youth at Kip Therapy in New York, is infused with trauma-informed practices. 

Alondra Anderson, Ed.S, NCSP -- MCPS School Psychologist with the Services for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders program. Her professional interests include the assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in school-age children, supporting the diagnoses of mental health disorders in Black and Brown students, and destigmatizing these diagnoses within these populations.

Eric Rossen, Ph.D. -- a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), licensed psychologist in Maryland, and director of professional development and standards for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). He has experience working in public schools and has published numerous manuscripts, three books, and presented nationally on issues related to school psychological practices, trauma, mental health, and school safety. He also has served as a college instructor and adjunct faculty at the University of Missouri and Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

For additional information watch this 27-minute video in the MCPS Waymakers series, in which Dr. Eric Rossen is interviewed by Dr. Christina Conolly, MCPS Director of Psychological Services.

This event will be recorded. 

Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish will be available.

Meet the Moderator and Panelists:

Kim Pinckney–Lewis, Ph.D.

Max Schneider, MHC–LP

Alondra Anderson, Ed.S., NCSP

Eric Rossen, Ph.D.