Location
About This Event
Hay subtítulos automáticos en español disponibles durante el seminario web.
Registration fees for DSAmd events are suggested donations.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Down Syndrome- November 12 at 7 PM
Presentation description:
We will review the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and explain why individuals with Down syndrome are at significantly higher risk for OSA. We will then outline and describe the screening process for OSA, which typically includes performing a sleep study. Finally, we will discuss various OSA treatment options, including non-CPAP related approaches such as the hypoglossal nerve stimulator (Inspire device).
Bio:
Dr. Robert Rudock completed his undergraduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University before receiving his MD and MBA at the University of Miami. He subsequently performed a pediatrics residency, child neurology residency, sleep fellowship, and epilepsy fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, where he later directed their 10-bed pediatric sleep laboratory and founded their first multidisciplinary pediatric sleep clinic. Dr. Rudock is the current director of sleep medicine at Kennedy Krieger Institute as well as an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has a special clinical interest in the evaluation and management of sleep disorders in children with complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
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When Advocacy Becomes Parenthood- November 16 at 6:00 PM
When Advocacy Becomes Parenthood is a practical conversation about navigating special education from a parent’s perspective. Anthony Tilghman will share strategies families can use to communicate concerns clearly, document meetings and follow-up, prepare for school conversations, and build stronger communication between home and school while keeping the child’s needs at the center.
Anthony Tilghman is a Maryland parent advocate, author, nonprofit founder, and former municipal commissioner whose work centers on education equity, disability inclusion, youth development, and family engagement. As the father of a young daughter with autism, he combines lived experience with public service and community leadership. He founded MakeSmartCool, Inc. and is the author of When Advocacy Becomes Parenthood: A Black Father's Manual for Special Education and School Accountability. In 2026, he presented at the Council for Exceptional Children - Maryland State Conference and was recognized for Excellence in Presenting. His workshops give audiences practical strategies that families and professionals can use immediately.
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Preparing for an IEP Meeting - November 19 at 6:30 PM
Anne Arundel Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee (AA-SECAC) is hosting DSAmd speaker Kaitlin Fernandez. This is open to all DSAmd families.
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IEP 101 - December 3 at 6:30 PM
Join us for an insightful webinar about the fundamentals of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and how to ensure your child is getting what they need and making progress through the IEP. Led by Attorney Alexandra Rosenblatt from the Law Office of Alexandra Rosenblatt, this session will provide an overview of IEPs, their purpose, components, and legal significance.
Topics Covered:
Evaluations and Data
Components of an IEP: Data, Supports, Goals, and Services
Legal Framework: Rights of Parents and Responsibilities of Schools
Whether you're new to the process or seeking clarification on legal aspects, Attorney Rosenblatt will provide valuable insights to empower you in advocating for exceptional educational opportunities for your child.
Bio:
Ms. Rosenblatt represents parents and caregivers at 504 and IEP meetings, district-level hearings, and hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings. She began her legal career as an employment attorney where she represented employees in high-profile litigation and class action lawsuits in both Connecticut and Maryland. However, when her daughter was born with Down syndrome in 2012, Ms. Rosenblatt threw herself into the world of disability rights and education law and has been passionately advocating for her daughter and hundreds of parents like her ever since. She knows first-hand what it takes to get a student what they need and how exhausting and frustrating the process can be. Ms. Rosenblatt also has years of experience giving know-your-rights presentations across the state to parent groups, dyslexia advocacy organizations, PTO’s and many more. She also founded an online group for Baltimore City parents of children with special education needs. She earned her law degree from the University of Connecticut, School of Law where she was a Haywood Burns Fellow and Public Interest Law Fellow. She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. ¡SE HABLA ESPAÑOL! La Sra. Rosenblatt tiene años de experiencia representando a clientes que hablan español.
About This Event
Hay subtítulos automáticos en español disponibles durante el seminario web.
Registration fees for DSAmd events are suggested donations.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Down Syndrome- November 12 at 7 PM
Presentation description:
We will review the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and explain why individuals with Down syndrome are at significantly higher risk for OSA. We will then outline and describe the screening process for OSA, which typically includes performing a sleep study. Finally, we will discuss various OSA treatment options, including non-CPAP related approaches such as the hypoglossal nerve stimulator (Inspire device).
Bio:
Dr. Robert Rudock completed his undergraduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University before receiving his MD and MBA at the University of Miami. He subsequently performed a pediatrics residency, child neurology residency, sleep fellowship, and epilepsy fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, where he later directed their 10-bed pediatric sleep laboratory and founded their first multidisciplinary pediatric sleep clinic. Dr. Rudock is the current director of sleep medicine at Kennedy Krieger Institute as well as an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has a special clinical interest in the evaluation and management of sleep disorders in children with complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
When Advocacy Becomes Parenthood- November 16 at 6:00 PM
When Advocacy Becomes Parenthood is a practical conversation about navigating special education from a parent’s perspective. Anthony Tilghman will share strategies families can use to communicate concerns clearly, document meetings and follow-up, prepare for school conversations, and build stronger communication between home and school while keeping the child’s needs at the center.
Anthony Tilghman is a Maryland parent advocate, author, nonprofit founder, and former municipal commissioner whose work centers on education equity, disability inclusion, youth development, and family engagement. As the father of a young daughter with autism, he combines lived experience with public service and community leadership. He founded MakeSmartCool, Inc. and is the author of When Advocacy Becomes Parenthood: A Black Father's Manual for Special Education and School Accountability. In 2026, he presented at the Council for Exceptional Children - Maryland State Conference and was recognized for Excellence in Presenting. His workshops give audiences practical strategies that families and professionals can use immediately.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Preparing for an IEP Meeting - November 19 at 6:30 PM
Anne Arundel Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee (AA-SECAC) is hosting DSAmd speaker Kaitlin Fernandez. This is open to all DSAmd families.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
IEP 101 - December 3 at 6:30 PM
Join us for an insightful webinar about the fundamentals of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and how to ensure your child is getting what they need and making progress through the IEP. Led by Attorney Alexandra Rosenblatt from the Law Office of Alexandra Rosenblatt, this session will provide an overview of IEPs, their purpose, components, and legal significance.
Topics Covered:
Evaluations and Data
Components of an IEP: Data, Supports, Goals, and Services
Legal Framework: Rights of Parents and Responsibilities of Schools
Whether you're new to the process or seeking clarification on legal aspects, Attorney Rosenblatt will provide valuable insights to empower you in advocating for exceptional educational opportunities for your child.
Bio:
Ms. Rosenblatt represents parents and caregivers at 504 and IEP meetings, district-level hearings, and hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings. She began her legal career as an employment attorney where she represented employees in high-profile litigation and class action lawsuits in both Connecticut and Maryland. However, when her daughter was born with Down syndrome in 2012, Ms. Rosenblatt threw herself into the world of disability rights and education law and has been passionately advocating for her daughter and hundreds of parents like her ever since. She knows first-hand what it takes to get a student what they need and how exhausting and frustrating the process can be. Ms. Rosenblatt also has years of experience giving know-your-rights presentations across the state to parent groups, dyslexia advocacy organizations, PTO’s and many more. She also founded an online group for Baltimore City parents of children with special education needs. She earned her law degree from the University of Connecticut, School of Law where she was a Haywood Burns Fellow and Public Interest Law Fellow. She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. ¡SE HABLA ESPAÑOL! La Sra. Rosenblatt tiene años de experiencia representando a clientes que hablan español.