Speakers & Presentations

Conference on South Asian Community and Disabilities:
Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Accessing Resources
Friday, June 15, 2007

**Presentations made available in power point format**

Welcome – Introductions

Celia Abalos, Esq. Vice President
UMDNJ Office of Academic and Clinical Initiatives

Dr. Deborah Spitalnik, Ph.D., Executive Director
The Boggs Center/UMDNJ-RWJMS

Jennifer Velez, Esq., Acting Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Human Services

Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula
Legislative District 17, New Jersey Legislature

Keynote Presentations

Jagdish Vasudev, Director
New Americans of New Jersey Download Presentation (ppt)

Pramila Balasundaram, Founder/Director
Samadhan, New Delhi, India Download Presentation (ppt)

Plenary Session

Family Perspectives on Disability in New Jersey: A Panel Discussion

Moderated by:

Aruna Rao                                             Asima Shah
South Asian Mental Health                     Middlesex Regional Educational
Awareness of Jersey, NAMI NJ               Services Commission

Speakers:

Individuals and family members affected by disabilities

Afternoon Workshop 1

Resources for Disability Professionals and Providers: Information for Enhancing Your Understanding of the South Asian Community

Moderated by:

Shazia Anam, MPH Sunil Parikh
The South Asian Health Project NJ Commission for the Blind

Topic Speakers

Communities and Networks of Support......... Aruna Rao,
Director of Educational Programs, NAMI NJ

Immigration Issues..................................... Reema Desai, Esq., Outreach Coordinator
South Asian Leaders of Tomorrow

Disabilities from a Muslim Perspective.......... Sabiha Sadiq, Ph.D.

Disabilities from a Hindu Perspective............ V. Raja Bandaru, Ph.D.,
Arsha Bodha Center

Family Systems.......................................... Anita McLean, Psy.D., Training Coordinator
Princeton University Health Services
Download Presentation (ppt)

Complementary and Alternative Medicine...... Naveen Mehrotra, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Download Presentation (ppt)

Afternoon Workshop 2

Resources for South Asian Community Leaders, Families and Individuals: Information for Enhancing Your Understanding of Disability Services in New Jersey

Moderated by

Bill Gaventa, M.Div
Director of Congregational and Community Supports, The Boggs Center/UMDNJ

Topic Speakers

Community Resources over the Lifespan....... Joseph Young, Esq., Deputy Director,
NJ Protection & Advocacy, Inc Download Presentation (ppt)

Early Intervention Services........................... Cynthia Newman
Mid-Jersey Cares for Special Children

Project START........................................... Myriam Alizo, Parent Group Specialist
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network

Transitioning from School to Adult Life.......... Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee, Director of Transition
Family Resource Network

DDD: Criteria, Process & Services............... Amruta More, Habilitation Plan Coordinator
NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities

Special Needs Trusts.................................. Rohit Bhalla
Merrill Lynch

Aging and Disability.................................... Mukund Thaker, M.D.
Almeida Senior Services