Conference Sponsored by the School of Education Focuses on Meeting Needs for Special Education Within the Community

The School of Education recently hosted a conference for educators, behavioral specialists, students, and parents of children with special educational needs to promote a greater understanding and sharing of resources among those committed to helping children who need extra support.

Entitled “Understanding Behaviors of Children with Disabilities: Effective Strategies and Support,” the conference was held on March 20 at the D’Angelo Center on the Queens, NY, campus, and developed by Dr. Ishita Khemka and the Department of Education Specialties within the School. Featured speakers at the conference were Debora Thivierge, BCaBA, CBAA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, The ELIJA School, and Founder The ELIJA Foundation, ELIJA Farm, and ELIJA’s Transition Program and Services, and Joshua Jessel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Queens College, and Lead Consultant, FTF Behavioral Consulting.

“This is our first annual conference that is focusing on special education and connections to the community,” said James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education, as he opened the program. “This is a great day for all of us to come together and learn a tremendous amount about the needs of special education students, the resources that are out there, and how we work with these students. This is exactly the kind of work St. John’s does daily. Our University is dedicated to the urban community, and working with the people of Queens in particular.”

He added, “We have knowledge and expertise, and so do you. We need to work together to solve the problems that confront us every day to provide opportunities for our kids and to build stronger schools. That’s what this conference is really dedicated to: understanding the needs of students.”

Ms. Thivierge explained that she is also a parent of a child with special educational needs and is intimately aware of the challenges parents and other professionals face in this arena. “It has certainly been a difficult challenge for me personally,” she observed. “What I like to tell people is that as I journey through my own personal struggles and excitement for my child with autism, I learn, and I share. I think that’s inherent in someone who is a teacher. We learn from our own experiences and want to pass that on to others.” At her foundation, Ms. Thivierge shared her journey with other parents. “We’ve been able to support families,” she stressed.

Dr. Jessel noted he has devoted himself for the last 20 years to behavior analysis and the assessment and treatment of aggressive problem behaviors. “I am what is termed a ‘practitioner scientist,’ which means everything I do is in the client’s best interest, but I still attempt to learn, adapt, and influence the research community with my work,” he said. “I am constantly changing and updating my practices.”

He added, “We treat the clients and families with dignity and respect and keep quality of life at the forefront of our decision-making process. We, as clinicians, must ensure safety and trust by prioritizing a physically and emotionally safe environment where clients’ needs are met. While we provide consistent and respectful responses to any problem behavior, building trust means not teaching at the child, it means teaching with the child.”

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