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Lecture Series

Parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists: if there’s a child in your life with learning differences, chances are you are seeking some advice. Discover the Lab School's popular Lecture Series! Our monthly lectures are rich with information, insights and tips that will help you nurture the opportunities—and navigate the challenges—learning differences can present. 

At our Wednesday night lectures, you'll have the opportunity to listen to - and learn from - leading LD and ADHD specialists as they address early childhood, adolescent, and adult challenges and opportunities. Our lecturers are outstanding, recognized professionals in the learning differences field. Just as important, each is accessible and ready to answer your questions. 

All lectures are open to the public and offered free of charge – and now virtual! Registration is required – see registration links below.

Lectures will be 60-minutes long (7:00-8:00 pm).

Lecture Series Videos

Strengths of the Dyslexic Mind title card
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"Strengths of the Dyslexic Mind" 

Brock Eide, MD, MA and Fernette Eide, MD
Co- Founders of Dyslexic Advantage and Neurolearning.com
Co-Authors of The Dyslexic Advantage (revised and updated, 2023) and The Mislabeled Child
Edmonds, Washington

Lecture Series
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“Preparing for College when your Child has ADHD or learning differences”

Mary Jo Coiro, PhD, ABPP                      
Director of Psychological Services at The Lab School of Washington      
Director of The Reservoir Group
Washington, DC

Trudy Fleisher, MSpED
College Advisor
The Lab School of Washington
Washington, DC

Lecture Series
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"Supporting Attention and Executive Functioning from Early Childhood to Young Adulthood"

Katia Fredriksen, PhD         
Pediatric Neuropsychologist   
The Stixrud Group | Silver Spring, MD

Yael Rothman, PhD 
Pediatric Neuropsychologist
The Stixrud Group | Silver Spring, MD

October 4 Lecture
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“Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Children, Teens, and Young Adults: What Parents and Educators Can Do”

William Stixrud, PhD 
Neuropsychologist, Founder of The Stixrud Group, Professor at Children’s National Medical Center and Assistant Professor at George Washington University
Silver Spring, MD

Angela Tucker Lecture Series
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"Belonging & The Adoptee Experience: In conversation with Angela Tucker"

Angela Tucker
Adoption expert, educator and transracial adoptee

Lecture Series
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“From Studio to Academic Classroom: Art as a Tool for Student Success”

Rebecca Alberts
Director of Visual Arts, The Lab School Upper School

Sara Hawkins
Director of Visual Arts, The Lab School Lower and Middle Schools

February Lecture Series
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"Leading with Differences: Best Practices for Fostering Student Leadership in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging"

Anthony Perry, PhD
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
The Lab School
 

January Lecture Series
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"‘It’s (not just) Academic’: Preparing for that Impending Post-Secondary Phase"

Salya Namazi, PhD
Clinical Neuropsychologist

Michael Reiter, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

December 7 Lecture Series
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“Cultural Bias in the Special Education Evaluation Process”

Joette James, PhD, ARPP-CN
Clinical Neuropsychologist

November Lecture Opening Slide
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"When to Worry: Pediatric Emotional Problems in a Time of Stress"

Daniel Pine, MD
Chief, Emotion and Development Branch
NIMH Intramural Research Program

October 12 Lecture
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"A Healthy Mind and Body: The Modern Interplay of Psychotropic Medications, Medical Foods, and Physical Wellness"

Lance D. Clawson, MD, FAACAP
Psychiatrist, Private Practice

Lecture Series February 2022

“Raising Resilience: Helping Our Children and Ourselves Bounce Back”

Mary K. Alvord, Ph.D.
Psychologist and Director of Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC

Colleen Cummings, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Research at Alvord, Baker, & Associates, LLC

Nina Shiffrin, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist and Associate Director of Research at Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC

Lecture Series Title Card
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"Supporting Adolescent Academic Challenges in Reading, Writing & Note-taking"

Melissa Wood, MS, CCC-SLP, SLDI
Executive Director of The Reservoir Group and the Director of Speech, Language & Literacy at The Lab School of Washington

Gretchen Kunz, MS, CCC-SLP 
Associate Director of Speech, Language & Literacy at The Lab School of Washington

January 2022 Lecture
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"Executive Functioning and Dysregulation: Understanding and Supporting Neurodiverse Students"

David Black, PhD
Pediatric Neuropsychologist and Director of the Center for Assessment And Treatment (CAAT)

Lecture Series Title Card
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"The Intersection of Learning Differences and Racial Identity"

Linda Fleming McGhee, JD, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Resnik
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"The Science of Reading: How Instruction Re-Wires the Brain"


Dr. Rebecca Resnik
Licensed Psychologist and Founder, Rebecca Resnik and Associates LLC

October 6 2021 Lecture Series
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"Talking to Kids with Learning Differences to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Peaceful Home"

Dr. William Stixrud
Clinical Neuropsychologist and Founder of The Stixrud Group

Lecture Series Title Card
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"Using Classroom Reading and Writing Instruction as a Gateway to Address Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity: Practical Strategies and Examples for the Classroom"

Melissa A. Wood, MS, CCC-SLP 
Director Speech Language and Literacy
The Lab School of Washington 

Anthony Perry, PhD
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Lab School of Washington 

March 10 2021 Lecture Series
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“Playing with Math: Brain-Based Strategies to Improve Foundational Math Skills”
Steven G. Feifer, D. Ed., NCSP
Licensed Psychologist
Monocacy Neurodevelopmental Center 
Frederick, MD

Lecture Series Subject thumbnail Feb 2021
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“How Playfulness Can Help Us Use Change to Our Advantage”

Amy Oswalt
Elementary Division Head at The Lab School of Washington

Lecture Series
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“When Stimulants Are Not Enough: Alternative Strategies to Manage ADHD beyond Traditional Pharmacology”

Gonzalo Laje, MD, MHSc
Director, Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates

Rediscovering Resilience slide
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"Rediscovering Our Resilience: A Mental Health Perspective on Parenting During the Pandemic"

Doug Fagen, PhD Director, Reservoir Psychology Group The Lab School of Washington

Organized Chaos: Executive Functioning Strategies for Learning in a Variety of Environments
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November 18, 2020

"Organized Chaos: Executive Functioning Strategies for Learning in a Variety of Environments"

Courtney Heldman, MS, OTR/L
Director of Occupational Therapy at The Lab School

presenting with

Martha Kiger, MA, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist at The Lab School

Anthony Perry October Lecture
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October 21, 2020

"The Fire This Time: Building an Equitable and Inclusive Community"

Dr. Anthony Perry
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Lab School of Washington

Lecture Series Sept 23 2020 Title Card
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September 23, 2020

"Managing Stress, Anxiety and Parenting under COVID-19"

Lisa Damour, PhD
Clinical Psychologist, best-selling author, columnist and news contributor

Kim Wargo, Head of School, The Lab School of Washington

Lecture Series for Parents and Professionals Video Title Card
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April 22, 2020

Are Coronavirus changes making you stressed? 10 Simple and Powerful Coping Strategies for Parents

Elizabeth DuPont Spencer, LCSW-C

Lecture Series for Parents and Professionals Video Title Card
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February 5, 2020

Anxiety and Other Emotional Problems in Youth: Understanding and Treatment

Daniel S. Pine, MD
Chief, Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience
National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program

Lecture Series for Parents and Professionals Video Title Card
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January 15, 2020

"Beyond Learning Differences and Executive Functioning Challenges: How to Solve Any Academic Problem with Study Skills and Time Management"

Paul Rivas, MA
Founder/Director, SMITH RIVAS Study Skills & Academic Coaching

Lecture Series for Parents and Professionals Video Title Card
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November 6, 2019

“Growing up with Learning Challenges: Emotional and Behavioral Consequences”

Judith M. Glasser, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Lecture Series for Parents and Professionals Video Title Card
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September 25, 2019

Jonathan Mooney, Neuro-Diverse Writer and Advocate

Author: Normal Sucks - How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines” and “The Short Bus"

2023-2024 Lecture Series

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
7:00 PM

 

Stixrud

William Stixrud, PhD 
Neuropsychologist, Founder of The Stixrud Group, Professor at Children’s National Medical Center and Assistant Professor at George Washington University
Silver Spring, MD

The greatest worry most American parents currently have is about the mental health of their kids. These worries are well-founded, as the U.S. Surgeon General recently called the mental health status of adolescents the defining public health crisis of our lifetime. And it’s not just teens. Long before the pandemic, professionals were also ringing alarms about the significantly increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal thinking, and completed suicides in children and young adults. Compounding the problem is the fact that it has become increasingly difficult to find a psychiatrist or a therapist working in a clinic or in private practice who is able to take a new patient. This means that much of the responsibility for resolving this crisis rests in the hands of parents and educators.  

In this talk, Dr. Stixrud will briefly discuss a few of the causes of the current mental health crisis and ways in which anxiety and depression affect the developing brain. The primary focus of the presentation, though, will be on the numerous ways in which parents and educators can help kids feel and do better. Because all mental health problems are strongly related to a low sense of control, an emphasis will be placed on strategies for fostering a healthy sense of control in kids at home and in school. Dr. Stixrud will also talk about ways to maintain a close relationship with kids, to communicate healthy expectations, and to become a non-anxious presence in a child’s life who communicates calm and courage rather than fear, anxiety, and judgment.   


Speaker Bio

William Stixrud, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist and founder of The Stixrud Group, as well as a faculty member at Children’s National Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He is also the co-author, with Ned Johnson, of the national best-selling book, The Self-Driven Child, which is published in 18 countries and 17 languages and has sold more than a half-million copies in China alone. He and Mr. Johnson have also co-authored a critically-acclaimed second book, What Do You Say? Talking with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home.

Dr. Stixrud’s work has been featured in media outlets such as NPR, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, Scientific American, Business Week, Barron's, New York Magazine, and Vogue. He is a long-time practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, and he plays in the rock band Close Enough. 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
7:00 PM

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Katia Fredriksen

Katia Fredriksen, PhD         
Pediatric Neuropsychologist   
The Stixrud Group                  
Silver Spring, MD

 

Yael Rothman

Yael Rothman, PhD 
Pediatric Neuropsychologist   
The Stixrud Group                  
Silver Spring, MD
 

Children, adolescents, and young adults with attention and executive functioning challenges require support at home and in the classroom to demonstrate their many other excellent skills. While attention and executive functioning weaknesses may be seen across several neurodevelopmental conditions, this session will focus on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We will review executive functioning and discuss ADHD, including common misconceptions about the diagnosis. The session will then focus on ways to support individuals with ADHD from early childhood up to their transition to adulthood.  


Speaker Bios

Dr. Fredriksen is a pediatric neuropsychologist. Trained at Princeton University and the University of Massachusetts Boston, she evaluates kindergarteners through college students who struggle with attention and executive functioning, learning, and/or socioemotional functioning, providing families with a road map to support their children. She lives with her family in Arlington, VA, works at the Stixrud Group in Silver Spring, MD, and shares an Instagram account with Dr. Rothman @neuropsychmomdocs. 

Dr. Rothman is a pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in comprehensive evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults with a wide range of conditions that impact learning, behavior, and/or socioemotional functioning. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Rothman has presented at national and international conferences, published over a dozen articles in peer-reviewed journals, and given lectures to parents and schools. She lives with her family in Washington, DC, works at the Stixrud Group in Silver Spring, Maryland, and shares an Instagram account with Dr. Fredriksen @neuropsychmomdocs.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
7:00 PM

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Mary Jo

Mary Jo Coiro, PhD, ABPP                      
Director of Psychological Services at The Lab School of Washington      
Director of The Reservoir Group
Washington, DC
 

Trudy

Trudy Fleisher, MSpED
College Advisor
The Lab School of Washington
Washington, DC

Students with learning and executive functioning differences face unique challenges as they transition to college. In this presentation, we will help parents begin to engage their child in the process of selecting a college, and help parents anticipate some of the practical, educational and social/emotional aspects of this important transition. 

This presentation is geared toward parents of students in middle school and above, who would like to start planning for their child’s transition to college. It is not meant to replace, or duplicate, guidance offered in The Lab School college counseling process or similar professional support provided at other schools.


Speaker Bios

Mary Jo Coiro, PhD, ABPP is the director of psychological services at The Lab School and The Reservoir Group. As a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist, Dr. Coiro has extensive experience providing psychoeducational evaluations to students with learning differences, and working with parents to obtain needed academic accommodations for their children. Prior to her current role, she was a tenured professor and director of clinical training in the psychology department at Loyola University Maryland, where her responsibilities included serving as a major advisor to undergraduate students. 

Trudy Fleisher, MSpED is the college advisor for upper school students at The Lab School. Since 2004, Trudy has been working with students to ensure a successful postsecondary transition. As students enter the upper school, she appreciates the opportunity to connect with students and recognize their strengths, interests, and passions. Prior to becoming the College Advisor, Trudy taught English at Lab. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Special Education.

Michelle Icard book cover

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 6:30 PM

The Shaun Miskell Theater at The Lab School of Washington 
4759 Reservoir Road NW  
Washington, DC 20007

The first 50 people to arrive will receive a free copy of the book 8 Setbacks That Can Make a Child a Success.

Every child messes up, sometimes in ways that seem sure to wreck their futures: a bad report card, poor sportsmanship, underaged drinking. These are tough moments for parent and child alike, often complicated by the fear that the misstep is also an indictment of our parenting. But what each of these “fails” has in common for our kids is the precious silver lining of a chance for character building and developing more grit—if we help them process their mistake well.
An invaluable playbook for anxious parents everywhere, Eight Setbacks That Can Make a Child a Success by parenting expert Michelle Icard, offers specific and unexpected advice about what to say, what not to say, and what to do to help children in eight categories of tense situations.

About the Author: 
Michelle Icard has written for the Today show parenting team, NBC News Learn, CNN Science and Wellness, and the Washington Post. The author of Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen and Middle School Makeover, she has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Redbook, Time, and People. Her leadership curriculum for middle schoolers, Athena’s Path and Hero’s Pursuit, have been implemented at schools and summer camps across the United States. Michelle has two young adult children who mostly live elsewhere these days, which leaves lots of time for practicing yoga, walking her dogs, binging shows, and puzzling (crossword and jigsaw) with her husband in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024
7:00 PM

Brock Eide, MD, MA and Fernette Eide, MD

Brock Eide, MD, MA and Fernette Eide, MD
Co- Founders of Dyslexic Advantage and Neurolearning.com
Co-Authors of The Dyslexic Advantage (revised and updated, 2023) and The Mislabeled Child
Edmonds, Washington 

Register now

Dr Brock Eide, Co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain (revised and updated, 2023) will update the case that dyslexia should not be defined as a deficiency or defect, but rather as a cognitive specialization that builds on MIND strengths that prioritize episodic learning and memory. Their work is based on the analysis of the latest research and interviews with outstanding individuals with dyslexia. Dr. Fernette Eide will participate in the Q and A portion of the presentation.


Speaker Bios

Dr. Brock Eide is Co-Founder and CFO of Dyslexic Advantage and CEO of Neurolearning.com, a social purpose corporation dedicated to accurate, affordable, and informative identification of dyslexia for children and adults. He is the Co-author of The Dyslexic Advantage and The Mislabeled Child and is an international authority on dyslexia and learning differences. Brock is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Washington and University of Washington Medical School and has been a consultant to the President’s Council of Bioethics and visiting lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. 

Dr. Fernette Eide is Co-Founder and CEO of Dyslexic Advantage, Co author of The Dyslexic Advantage and The Mislabeled Child and is an international authority on dyslexia and learning differences. She is a Magna Cum Laude with highest departmental honors graduate of Harvard -Radcliffe College and the University of California-San Francisco, and has been a consultant to the President’s Council on Bioethics and visiting lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. She directs all teacher and parent training, positive dyslexia awareness, and student talent programs in addition to being Editor-in-Chief for the Dyslexic Advantage newsletter and Premium magazine.
 

Wednesday, April 17, 2024
7:00 PM

Kevin Young

Kevin Young, PhD
Co-Owner - Maryland OCD and Anxiety Therapy

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Dr. Young will review the clinical criteria for a variety of anxiety and related disorders, identify ways in which symptoms might manifest at different ages, and highlight effective prevention and intervention strategies that parents and teachers might use to support their children and adolescents. Questions and discussion will be welcomed and encouraged throughout.


Speaker Bio

Dr. Kevin Young is a licensed psychologist and co-owner of a group psychotherapy practice (Maryland OCD and Anxiety Therapy). While he specializes in treating OCD and anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and adults, his clinical interests extend to an array of behavioral and emotional concerns, such as body-focused repetitive behaviors (e.g., skin picking and hair pulling), hoarding disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, ADHD, and personality disorders, as well as adjustment to and coping with co-occurring health-related concerns (e.g., cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain).
    
Dr. Young also holds an Assistant Professor position at George Mason University, teaching and supervising clinical psychology doctorate students and doctorate-level externs. Dr. Young frequently delivers domestic and international seminars and workshops on a variety of clinical and positive psychology topics, publishes in peer-reviewed academic journals, and possesses experience consulting for a variety of organizations, including Google and National Geographic.