Neurodiversity Connect Series – Session One
Tuesday, September 22nd, 6-8PM
Brick & Mortar
8 W Campbell Street, Floor 2, Arlington Heights, IL, 60005
Registration Fee: $10
Crossing Cultural Boundaries: Navigating the U.S. Education System
For Japanese and Japanese-American families raising a child with autism or another intellectual or developmental disability, the U.S. school system can feel unfamiliar and hard to navigate — especially across major transitions like elementary to junior high or junior high to high school.
This session brings together educators and family voices to demystify IEP meetings, transition planning, and parent-teacher conferences, while also exploring the added layer of bilingual and multilingual education. Families will leave with practical questions to ask their school team and a clearer sense of what support is available at each stage, including the transition into high school and young adulthood.
We’ll also hear from a clinical director about how to integrate your clinical approach with your child with school professionals.
Panellists:
- Moderator: Marion M. Friebus-Flaman, Executive Director, Japan America Society of Chicago — Former teacher, principal, and district administrator with direct experience leading a Japanese-English dual language school and background in bilingual/multilingual education and language acquisition.
- Panelist: Seika Kobari, Director of Multilingual Programs, Schaumburg School District 54 — a Japanese-bilingual district leader who can speak to school infrastructure: what schools can offer and what families should ask.
- Panelist: Family Advocate — Teri Dudasik, PASSAGE director, Aspiritech Advisory Board member, longtime neurodiversity family advocate
- Panelist: Michelle Guenette, Site Director, The Autism Clinic at Hope | Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) — With over 15 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Michelle Guenette is passionate about supporting autistic children and their families through a collaborative, family-centered approach. She works closely with caregivers and school professionals to provide individualized support, celebrate each child’s strengths, and help families feel informed and empowered throughout their child’s journey.
- Panelist: Joanne Clyde, Director, Multilingual/Language Development Department, Illinois State Board of Education — Oversees all multilingual programs in Illinois public schools, collaborates with the Special Education department to oversee Special Education for Multilingual Learners.
