2020 DIR® Conference
Conference Schedule
The 24th Annual International
DIRFloortime® Conference
Floortime All The Time and Everywhere
Schedule of Presentations*
All times are listed in USA Eastern Standard Time (New York City Time Zone). All sessions are open to participants worldwide!
Detailed descriptions of each presentation will be available in the conference program provided after registration.
We expect a few more presentations to be added too!
Sunday, November 01, 2020
7:00 PM
Values and Vision: Leading DIR into the Future
Jeffrey Guenzel, MA, LPC, ICDL Chief Executive Officer
Katya Sidor, MA, ICDL Deputy Director
Monday, November 02, 2020
1:00 PM
Good Autism Education is Just Good Education
Gil Tippy, PsyD, DIR-Expert
7:00 PM
Lessons of COVID: Things We Can Do Without, Absolute Must-Haves, and How to Tell Them Apart
Galina Itskovich, LCSW-R, DIR-Expert
9:00 PM
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Implemented within the DIRFloortime® Framework
Joleen Fernald, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Tuesday, November 03, 2020
11:00 AM
The Value of Naturalistic Learning in the DIR Approach for Children with ASD from 3 to 8 Years Old
Alexey Glukhikh, Clinical Psychologist, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
The Impact of Motor Planning Challenges on Social Emotional Development
Lyn Bennett, OTR/L, DIR-Expert
Wednesday, November 04, 2020
11:00 AM
Prospects for the Use of the DIRFloortime Method in the Child Palliative Care System
Alyona Akulova, Psychologist, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
Promoting Growth without a Change Agenda
Virginia Spielmann, MSOT, ABD, DIR-Expert, Kasheena Holder,BA, DIR-Expert, and Gretchen Kamke, MS, OTR/L, DIR-Expert
Thursday, November 05, 2020
9:00 AM
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Implemented within the DIRFloortime Framework
Joleen Fernald, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, DIR-Expert
1:00 PM
Top of the heap? Learn why developmental approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder are becoming the preferred ones and how to tell people about it.
Joshua Feder, MD, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
Top of the heap? Learn why developmental approaches to Autism Spectrum Disorder are becoming the preferred ones and how to tell people about it.
Joshua Feder, MD, DIR-Expert
Friday, November 06, 2020
10:00 AM
A Revolution in Education: Harnessing the Group to Support the Individual
Jackie Bartell, MSEd, DIR-Expert and Gretchen Kamke, MS, OTR/L, DIR-Expert
1:00 PM
How do you do Floortime All the Time and Everywhere with Young Children? Floortime Strategies in Practice: A presentation for parents, caregivers and providers with videos illustrating specific Floortime strategies
Bridget Palmer MA, CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert
Saturday, November 07, 2020
9:00 AM
Prelinguistic Competence : A Process Critical for Language and Facilitated Through DIR
Mary Beth Stark, M.S.CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert
11:00 AM
Supporting Parents on Their Journey
Colette Ryan, MSEd, IMH-E, DIR-Expert
1:00 PM
Food for Thought: Preparing the Brain to Eat New Foods through “Messy” Play
ToniAnn Loftus, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD, DIR-Expert and Liza Bernabeo, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD, DIR-Expert
3:00 PM
The Impact of Sensory Integration and Processing on Development of Attachment
Virginia Spielmann, MSOT, ABD, DIR-Expert
Sunday, November 8, 2020
8:00PM
The Importance of My Affect
Gloria Andrade, PhD, DIR-Expert
Monday, November 09, 2020
10:00 AM
My biggest revelations from being a Floortime parent
Daria Brown, MA, DIR-Advanced
1:00 PM
The Aim Is Song: Poetry, Rhythm, and the Art of Communication
Donnie Welch, BFA and Raquel Quinones, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
8:00 PM
The “R” in DIR: The Heart of Supporting Connection and Growth
Amanda Kriegel, PsyD and Morgan Weissman, MS, OTR/L
10:00 PM
Development with Dice: From Core Deficit to Critical Capacities
Virginia Spielmann, MSOT, ABD, DIR-Expert, Adam Johns, LMFT, and Adam Dvis, MA Ed
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
8:00 AM
Living with autism spectrum disorder:An autoethnography of Emile Gouws
Emile Gouws, Autistic Self-Advocate
1:00 PM
From a Parent's Side of the Table: Therapeutic Collaboration
L Michael Fields, MS, LPC, DIR-Expert and Joann Fleckenstein, MS, OTR/L, DIR-Proficient
8:00 PM
From a Parent's Side of the Table: Therapeutic Collaboration
L Michael Fields, MS, LPC, DIR-Expert and Joann Fleckenstein, MS, OTR/L, DIR-Proficient
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
1:00 PM
Prelinguistic Competence : A Process Critical for Language and Facilitated Through DIR
Mary Beth Stark, M.S.CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
How do you do Floortime All the Time and Everywhere with Young Children? Floortime Strategies in Practice: A presentation for parents, caregivers and providers with videos illustrating specific Floortime strategies
Bridget Palmer MA, CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert
Thursday, November 12, 2020
10:00 AM
Transdisciplinary Work with a DIR Framework: Opportunities and Challenges
Kathleen Platzman, PhD, DIR-Expert, Milagros Cordero,Ed.D., OTR/L, DIR-Expert, and Mary Beth Stark, M.S., CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert
7:00 PM
Transdisciplinary Work with a DIR framework: Opportunities and Challenges
Kathleen Platzman, PhD, DIR-Expert, Milagros Cordero,Ed.D., OTR/L, DIR-Expert, and Mary Beth Stark, M.S., CCC-SLP, DIR-Expert
9:00 PM
Neurophysiology behind the "I" (Individual Differences)
Andrea Muffly, OTR/L, DIR-Basic
Friday, November 13, 2020 - Sunday November 15, 2020
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) GALA
ICDL is once again a sponsor of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network Gala. We respectfully ask everyone that has registered for the ICDL conference to attend the ASAN Gala events. ICDL supports ASAN and embraces their motto of "Nothing about us without us."
Please click here to register for the ASAN Gala today!
Monday, November 16, 2020
10:00 AM
Being sensitive to the developmental challenges and the integrative nature of relationship
Kemal Colay, M.sc. SLP, PT, DIR-Expert
1:00 PM
The Impact of Motor Planning Challenges on Social Emotional Development
Lyn Bennett, OTR/L, DIR-Expert
7:00 PM
Reconceptualizing Training as Professional Formation in the Fields of Autism and Infant Mental Health
Gerard Costa, PsyD, DIR-Expert
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
10:00 AM
Problem-solving, Praxis, and Pretend Play - The 3 P's to a Constructive Social Thinker
Maude LeRoux, OTR/L, SIPT, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
Problem-solving, Praxis, and Pretend Play - The 3 P's to a Constructive Social Thinker
Maude LeRoux, OTR/L, SIPT, DIR-Expert
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
8:00 AM
Caring for the Vulnerable Towards Achieving a Full Potential: A case study of an integrated and holistic approach of an extremely low birth weight boy with feeding problems
Kingkaew Pajareya, MD, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
A Revolution in Education: Harnessing the Group to Support the Individual
Jackie Bartell, MSEd, DIR-Expert and Gretchen Kamke, MS, OTR/L, DIR-Expert
Thursday, November 19, 2020
11:00 AM
Our Story: Building a Floortime Center from Scratch
Anzhela Zaiets, Clinical Psychologist, DIR-Expert
1:00 PM
Meaning Making
Colette Ryan, MSEd, IMH-E, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
Good Autism Education is just Good Education
Gil Tippy, PsyD, DIR-Expert
Friday, November 20, 2020
10:00 AM
Using a DIR framework for program design: a lesson from the world of art in twice exceptional adults
Kathleen Platzman, PhD, DIR-Expert and Christine Clark, PhD
1:00PM
The Importance of My Affect
Gloria Andrade, PhD, DIR-Expert
Saturday, November 21, 2020
9:00 AM
What's in a Box and the Advantage of Loose Parts: Various inexpensive play-materials for climbing the developmental FEDC-ladder
Sibylle Janert, Psychologist, DIR-Expert
11:00 AM
Being Sensitive to the Developmental Challenges and the Integrative Nature of Relationship
Kemal Colay, M.sc. SLP, PT, DIR-Expert
Monday, November 23, 2020
11:00 AM
Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder:An Autoethnography of Emile Gouws
Emile Gouws, Autistic Self-Advocate
1:00PM
What's in a Box and the Advantage of Loose Parts: Various inexpensive play-materials for climbing the developmental FEDC-ladder
Sibylle Janert, Psychologist, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
The Aim Is Song: Poetry, Rhythm, and the Art of Communication
Donnie Welch, BFA and Raquel Quinones, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
1:00 PM
Food for Thought: Preparing the Brain to Eat New Foods through “Messy” Play
ToniAnn Loftus, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD, DIR-Expert and Liza Bernabeo, MS, CCC-SLP/TSSLD, DIR-Expert
8:00 PM
Caring for the Vulnerable Towards Achieving a Full Potential: A case study of an integrated and holistic approach of an extremely low birth weight boy with feeding problems
Kingkaew Pajareya, MD, DIR-Expert
Monday, November 30, 2020
1:00 PM
The “R” in DIR: The Heart of Supporting Connection and Growth
Amanda Kriegel, PsyD, DIR-Expert and Morgan Weissman, MS, OTR/L, DIR-Expert
6:00 PM
My biggest revelations from being a Floortime parent
Daria Brown, MA
8:00 PM - CLOSING SESSION
Call to Action: The DIR Community's Role and Responsibility to Create a Better World
Jeffrey Guenzel,MA, LPC, ICDL Executive Director,
Katya Sidor, MA, ICDL Deputy Director,
and the ICDL Board of Directors
Prices and Registration
These prices are for all sessions for the entire month!
$79 USD for Professionals and Paraprofessionals
$59 for Students
$49 for Parents and Self-Advocates
*ICDL reserves the right to make changes to the program and presentation dates and times. We reserve the right to cancel or add individual presentations if the need arises. We do not expect any changes, but with so many presentations spanning so many days, it is unlikely that there won't be any issues that arise.