Penny Kawasaki, M.A. Ed., (C) OACCPP

Penny Kawasaki has a private practice in the Ottawa area called Learning Support Services. L.S.S. provides psychological assessment services to children, adolescents and adults with various disorders including Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Asperger syndrome. Consultation services related to these areas are also available.

Education:

M.A. Ed- University of Toronto in Applied Psychology Education
B.A.- University of Guelph (Psychology)
Additional courses and continuing education credits:
- Adlerian Brief Therapy
- Childhood Psychopathology
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
- Tragic Events Response team training
- Suicide Prevention training
- Learning Strategies curriculum (Dr. Edwin Ellis)
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - 2 levels of training (Christine Padesky)
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Training- Dr. David Burns
- Learning Disabilities Training Institute (University of Connecticut)
- World Summit on Learning Disabilities- Lake Louise, Alberta
- Queen's University- College Teacher Development Program
- Eastern Region- Connections for Innovation
- ADHD training (Dr. Ned Hallowell, Russ Barkley, Chuck Cunningham, Dr. Gabor Mate)
- Ongoing assessment workshops (assessment tools- e.g. Wechsler scales, ADHD scales, etc)

Publications:

Training videos for teacher training (Learning Disabled/Gifted and Underachieving Gifted)
"A study of the transition of exceptional pupils from school to society", HRDC, 1995, Goodson Consultants, Inc.
"Transition issues and success strategies for young adults with disabilities", Council for Exceptional Children, Feb. 1998
"Reducing Admission Barriers for College Students with Learning Disabilities", unpublished sabbatical research project, Fall, 2002
"Post-secondary and workplace issues for individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder", in Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, National Newsletter, Winter, 2008
Article in Psychologica- "Transition Issues and Success Strategies for Young Adults with Disabilities"

Presentations:

National Conferences:

Tenth World Congress on Gifted and Talented: research and video on LD/Gifted and gifted learners
Learning Disabilities Association of Canada and People to People International (U.S.)- presentations in China as part of a Canadian delegation- "Services at the college level for students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"
Canadian Conference for Counsellors and Special Needs Offices (CAUCUSS)- co-presented "ADHD and co-morbidity issues- assessment and strategies/accommodations at the post-secondary level"

Provincial Conferences:

Ontario Council for Exceptional Children- various workshops over the years on: Gifted/Learning Disabled Learners, and Post-secondary services for students with disabilities as well as co-presenting with medical specialists "Optimizing success strategies for students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder", "Transition issues LD/ADHD college and high school students", "Amalgamation: Assessment of Special Education Practices and future Needs in a large urban school Board"
Ontario Psychological Association- SECPE- co-presenter- "Transition needs and diagnosis of young adults with ADHD/LD"
C.C.D.I. conference (provincial college conferences)- "A medical/educational approach on accommodating student with ADHD and transition strategies for college success"
Ontario College Counsellors- provincial conference- "Linking accommodations and services to various types of Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, based on psychological assessments"
OACCPP conference- co-presenter- "Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder across the lifespan- assessment and treatment"
Eastern region Ontario Colleges (OCC) workshop: "Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- best practices and documentation issues"
Community Workshop in Nanaimo B.C. "Learning Disabilities and English as a Second Language"
University of British Columbia- English Language Institute- "Psychological and educational challenges of ESL students with ADHD and Learning Disabilities"

Local and Regional Workshops/Presentations (Ottawa/Kingston):

Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario(Ottawa/Carleton chapter)- various workshops on Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and various panel presentations
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CH.A.D.D.) of the National Capital Region- various workshops on ADHD and panel presentations with university and college students- "Coping strategies and success strategies for young adults with ADHD", "Transition issues and services for students with disabilities", "Memory strategies for adults with ADHD"
Association for Bright Children- Take-Off program- "Transition issues for students with diverse handicaps"
Meeting the Needs of Individuals conference- "Post-secondary services for students with disabilities"
Training program presenter- certification course for bus drivers- dealing with students with various behavioural disorders
Co-presenter at SAIL program- Transition Program with Algonquin College and Carleton University- transition issues and LD/ADHD for high school students attending post-secondary education programs"

International Conferences/Workshops:

Council for Educational Diagnosticians (CEDS)- San Antonio, Texas "Assessment Intake Tool used in the diagnosis of ADHD and Learning Disabilities"

Contact Information

Office Location: 400-265 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Telephone: 613-851-9169

Email: kawasap@rogers.com