Vita
PERSONAL
Name:Alan KurtzTelephone:(207) 938-4183 Home
118 Raymond Road(207) 581-1262 Center for Community Inclusion
Palmyra, ME 04401And Disability Studies, University of New Maine
SS#182-40-8028
EDUCATION
2004-PressentPh.D in Education Student (Autism Specialization)University of New Hampshire
Course Work Completed
2003Graduate Course in Advanced Educational StatisticsUniversity of Maine
1996Graduate Course in Social Work ResearchUniversity of Maine
1990Graduate Course in Facilitated CommunicationSyracuse University
1985M.Ed. Intensive Special EducationUniversity of Vermont
1977B.A. SociologyElizabethtown College
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FAIRFIELD, MAINE
Instructor
Taught introductory course in autism to students in proposed certification program in autism. Also participated on committee that helped design the program’s curriculum.
1993 - PresentCENTER FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND DISABILITY STUDIES, MAINE’S UCEDD, UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, ORONO, MAINE
Project Coordinator and Research Associate
Developed and field tested: Supporting employment with autism spectrum disorders: A curriculum for job coaches and employment specialist.s Lead author of Maine Employment Curriculum for Employment Support Personnel. Coordinated state-wide training project of employment personnel. Developed two curricula on individuals with developmental disabilities and the criminal justice system – one delivered to all new law enforcement personnel in Maine and the other to self-advocates. Developed curriculum for two courses - Supporting Diversity in our Communities: Leadership in Staff Development and Supporting Diversity in our Schools and Communities. The first course was taught to staff development leaders. The latter course was taught twice to direct support professionals. Coordinated the efforts of a co-instructional team made up of Center staff, individuals with disabilities and family members of individuals with disabilities who taught these courses. Also guest lectured frequently in Center for Community Inclusion sponsored classes and College of Education classes at the University of Maine.
Provide training and technical assistance to teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and state and private agency staff in inclusive education person centered planning, supporting students with autism, positive supports for persons with challenging behavior and facilitated communication. Participate in presenting state-wide person centered planning and positive supports workshops and coordinated regional positive supports training. Develop curricula and materials related to employment supports for persons with disabilities, person centered planning, self advocacy, positive supports and facilitated communication. Assisted in grant-writing activities.
1990 - October 1993WASHINGTON COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, BARRE, VT
Project Director
Trained and supervised professional staff and foster care providers in their work with individuals with developmental disabilities in community based settings. Training included positive supports for persons with challenging behavior, functional analysis of behavior, person centered planning, augmentative and alternative communication, and facilitated communication. Conducted numerous multi-agency workshops and school in-services in Vermont and throughout New England.
1986 - 1992RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY LIVING, MORETOWN, VT
Professional Foster Care Provider - Housemate/Guardian
Provided home for young man with autism who sometimes demonstrated extremely challenging aggressive behavior and who had serious reputation disorder. In 1991 became young man’s guardian and continued to live with him as a non-paid friend and housemate until 1997. Helped him move from very isolated “community” setting to full and active participation in community. Provided supervision and training for day program personnel. Worked with high school personnel and agency staff in implementing communication programs. Aided him in developing a very active social life and in becoming an integrated and very visible member of our community. Provided temporary home for two other adults for two years each.
1986 - 1991Part-time Support Person
Worked with foster care providers, day program staff, and job coaches, helping them to develop positive strategies for dealing with individual behaviors and on developing alternative ways for people to communicate needs.
1988HARWOOD UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Resource Room Teacher
Taught in high school resource room for half a year replacing teacher
who resigned.
1985 - 1987ESSEX/ORLEANS NORTH SUPERVISORY UNION
Teacher of Multihandicapped Classroom at Derby Elementary School in
Derby Line, VT.
Developed with parents and other professionals IEPs for 9 students
labeled severely or profoundly disabled. Evaluated student progress
quarterly while monitoring all individual programs at least once a week.
Coordinated and wrote final summaries for student triennial evaluations.
Maintained regular contact with parents, other professionals, keeping
them advised of all matters related to students’ educational progress.
Supervised and trained classroom teaching assistants, and community
volunteers. Created peer tutoring and peer buddy programs.
Mainstreamed 5 students into regular classrooms in home schools
initiating process that led ultimately to elimination of classroom.
1984 - 1985HOWARD MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Live-in Night person at Group Home
Lived in Burlington VT group home while attending graduate school.
Assisted in morning routine of 6 persons with physical and/or mental
disabilities. Provided some assistance and instruction on weekends.
1983 - 1984Residential Counselor
Provided instruction to six men with disabilities living in a group home.
AWARDS
1991 Director’s Award for Most Outstanding Program from the Vermont Division of Mental
Retardation.
1993 American Association of Mental Retardation Region 10 - Humanitarian Award.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Former Board Member of the Autism National Committee; Editor of the organization’s newsletter – The Communicator
Board Member of the Northeast Regional Autism Conference
TASH
New England TASH
Association for Professionals in Supported Employment
The American Educational Research Association
PUBLICATIONS
Kurtz, A (In press). Supporting employment with autism spectrum disorders: A curriculum for job coaches and employment specialists. Boston, MA: New England Rehabilitation Community Education Program.
Kurtz, A. (2003). Living good lives: A community endeavor. The Communicator, 12 (3), 5.
Kurtz, A. (2003). Studies find discrete trials don’t add up. The Communicator, 12 (1), 5.
Kurtz, A., Son, K., Gilmer, D., & Meehan, J. (2002). The Maine employment curriculum for employment support personnel. Orono, Maine: Maine Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services and The University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion.
Kurtz, A. (2002). Editorial: Ideologues in lab coats. The Communicator, 11 (1), 2-3, 22-24.
Kurtz, A. (2001). Rethinking Functional Behavior Assessment. FACTS, 3(1), 7.
Kurtz, A. (2000). Its all about opportunity. FACTS, 2(2) 8-9.
Kurtz, A. (2000). The value of first hand accounts in autism. FACTS, 2 (1) 12-14.
Kurtz, A. Kendrick, M. & Son, K. (1998). Ensuring Inclusive Communities: Education and training manual in positive supports for persons with challenging behavior. Orono, Maine: Center for Community Inclusion, University of Maine.
Kurtz, A. (1998). Book review of “A dynamic systems approach to he development of cognition and action by Esther Thelen and Linda B. Smith.” Communicator, 9 (2), 19-21.
Kurtz, A. (1996). Motor differences in persons with autism and other disabilities: Reality or rationalization? Facilitated Communication in Maine, 5(4), 1-7.
Kurtz, A. (1996). Influence and control in facilitated communication. Facilitated Communication in Maine, 5(1), 1-7.
Kurtz, A. (1996). Testing: Are some tests better than others? Facilitated Communication in Maine, 5(2/3), 1-4.
Kurtz, A. (1995). (Editor) What Frontline Didn’t Tell You –Edition 2. Center for Community Inclusion, University of Maine.
Kurtz, A. (1995). Literacy and developmental disabilities. Facilitated Communication in Maine. 4(1).
Kurtz, A. (1995). A fresh look at validation. Facilitated Communication in Maine. 4(3).
Gilmer, D. & Kurtz, A. (1995). Person Centered Planning: A Facilitator’s Guide. Orono, ME: Center for Community Inclusion, University of Maine.
Kurtz, A. (1994). (Editor) What Frontline Didn’t Tell You. Center for Community Inclusion, University of Maine.
Kurtz, A. (1994), Validation and best practices guidelines available. Facilitated Communication in Maine. 3(1).
Kurtz, A. (1994). Rethinking autism. Facilitated Communication in Maine. 3(2).
Kurtz, A. & Ashe, W. (1993). In search of a technology. New England Newsletter on Facilitated Communication. 2(3).
Kurtz, A. (1992). Individual support groups. New England Newsletter on Facilitated Communication. 1(4)
Kurtz, A. (1992) Validity Part 2. New England Newsletter on Facilitated Communication. 1(2).
Kurtz, A. (1992) On testing for validity. New England Newsletter on Facilitated Communication. 1(1).
PRESENTATIONS
Kurtz, A. (2007, December). Supporting employment for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (Pilot). Augusta, Maine.
Kurtz (2006, July). Medical aspects of autism. Presentation at Medical Aspects of Disability Class at University of Maine Augusta.
Kurtz, A & Stimmel, K. (2006, August). Movement issues in autism. Presentation at Autism Summer Institute, University of New Hampshire.
Kurtz, A., Son, K. & Berry, L. (2003, October). What are we going to do now? Helping individuals with individuals connect. Presentation at Maine Direct Support Professional’s Conference.
Kurtz, A., Berry, L.& Son, K. (2003, January - March). Supporting diversity in our communities. Nine-week course delivered to MBNA Corporation employees in Belfast, Maine.
Kurtz, A. & Kendrick, M. (2003, March). Supporting individuals with autism in crisis. Presentation at Maine Department of Developmental Services Crisis Clinician Conference.
Jariz, L., Gilmer, D., Kurtz, A., Son, K. & Meehan, J. (2003, November) Opportunity, equality, & justice: Maine’s systems change efforts in employment supports. Presented at TASH conference, Boston, MA.
Kurtz, A. (2002, December). Educating students with autism. Presentation to Central Aroostook Council on Education in Presque Isle, Maine.
Kurtz, A. (2002, October). Individuals with autism in the criminal justice system. Presentation at Northeast Regional Conference on Autism – Things that Matter, Nashua, NH.
Kurtz, A. (2002, September). What educators should know about autism. Presentation to Central Aroostook Council on Education in Limestone, Maine.
Timberlake, M., Kurtz, A., & Newton, A. (2002, September). Insights into challenging behavior. 2 day presentation to members of Maine Student Assistance Teams sponsored by the Maine Department of Education.
Kurtz, (2002, July). Maine Employment Curriculum Leadership Institute
Kurtz, A. Son, K., Berry, L. (2001, November). The criminal justice system and you: A guide for self-advocates. Presentation at Annual International TASH Conference in Anaheim, Ca.
Kurtz, A. Son, K., Berry, L. (2001, October, 2002, June & October, 2003 June & December). Persons with Developmental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System. Three-hour presentation to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro, Maine.
Kurtz, A. (2001, September). Understanding Autism. Presentation for Community Health and Counseling staff in Vassalboro, Maine.
Kurtz, A. & Timberlake, M. (2001, December - March). Positive Supports. Three presentations for the State of Maine Student Assistants Teams. Orono, Maine.
Kurtz, A., Ray, P., and Parentaeau. W. (2000, April & May). Walk into and understand more about a student’s reality in the world of autism. Two three-hour presentations for the Maine Support Network.
Kurtz, A. (2001). Functional behavior assessment. ITV Presentation – Augusta Maine.
Kurtz, A. & Artesani, J. (2000, May). Positive Supports. Full day workshop for Medical Care Development in Bangor, Maine.
Kurtz,A. (2000, May). Facilitated Communication: Introduction and Training Standards. ITV Class in Augusta, Maine.
Kurtz,A. (2000, May). Facilitated Communication: Introductory training and new training standards. Full day workshop in Waterville, Maine.
Kurtz, A. & Timberlake, M. (2000, March). Positive Supports. Presentation for the State of Maine Student Assistants Teams. Orono, Maine.
Kurtz, A. & Timberlake, M. (2000, January). Positive Supports. Presentation for the State of Maine Student Assistants Teams. Bangor, Maine.
Kurtz, A. & Timberlake, M. (1999, December). Positive Supports. Presentation for the State of Maine Student Assistants Teams. Portland, Maine.
Kurtz, A. (1999, October). Facilitated communication: Implications for direct support providers. Presentation at State of Maine Direct Serverice Providers Conference.
Kurtz, A. (1999, July). Autism and movement differences. Keynote Presentation at UNH Institute on Disability Summer Institute on Supporting Students with Autism/PDD in General Education Classes.
Zeph, L. & Kurtz, A. (1998, December). How an emerging theory of development can inform positive supports. Presented at TASH Conference, Seattle, WA
Zeph, L. & Kurtz, A. (1998, February). Positive supports: A theoretical and practical perspective on building positive relationships. Presentation at Pac Rim Conference, Honolulu, HI.
Kurtz, A. & Saucier, J. (December, 1997). Self advocacy for self advocates: A leadership guide. Presentation at TASH Conference, Boston, MA.
Kurtz, A. (May, 1997). Understanding motor planning. Presentation at the New England Conference on Facilitated Communication. South Portland, ME.
Kurtz, A. & Cardinal, D. (May, 1997). What the research really says. New England Conference on Facilitated Communication. South Portland, ME.
Kurtz, A. & Lord, J. (1996, November). My life with Jay: A case study in positive supports. Presentation at TASH Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Kurtz, A. (1996, October). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Two day workshop, Portland, Maine.
Gilmer, D. & Kurtz, A. (1996, October). Introduction to Person Centered Planning. Presentation atMaine Provider’s Conference, Bangor, Maine.
Kurtz, A. (1996, May). How valid are the validity tests? Presentation at Annual Conference on Facilitated Communication, Syracuse, NY>
Kurtz, A. & Depoy, E. (1995, November). A review and critical analysis of research on the validity of facilitated communication. Presentation at TASH Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Kurtz, A. & Ashe, W. (1992 - 1994). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Two day workshop in Albuquerque, NM.
Kurtz, A. (1995, May). Creating a statewide system of support. Presentation at Annual Conference on Facilitated Communication, Syracuse, NY.
Kurtz, A. (1994, February). Positive supports in inclusive settings. Seminar at University of Maine, Presque Isle.
Kurtz, A. (1994). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Workshop in Lansing, Michigan.
Kurtz, A. (1994, November). Research on the validity of Facilitated Communication. Presentation at Northeast Regional Conference on Autism.
Kurtz, A. (1994, November). On having a sibling with Autism. Panel participant at Northeast Regional Conference on Autism.
Kurtz, A. & Ashe, W. (1993, January). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Two--day workshops in Orono and Portland, ME.
Ashe, W., Gordan, B., Kurtz, A. (1993, May). Facilitated Communication. Co - taught course at Westfield State College.
Kurtz, A. & Ashe, W. (1992 - 1994). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Six workshops in Holyoake, MA.
Kurtz, A. (1993, October). Facilitated Communication and Positive Supports. Presentation at Everyday lives Conference, Pittsburgh , PA .
Kurtz, A. (1993, October). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Workshop in Milwaukee, WI.
Kurtz, A. (1993, September). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Workshop in Virginia Beach, VA.
Kurtz, A. (1993, September). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Workshop in Arlington, VA.
Kurtz, A. & Ashe, W. (1993, August). Advance Workshop on Facilitated Communication. Two--day workshop in Orono, ME.
Kurtz. A. (1992, September). Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Workshop in Harrisburg, PA.
Kurtz. A. (1992, May) Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Two workshops in Philadelphia, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
Kurtz. A. (1992, July) Introduction to Facilitated Communication. Workshop in Harrisburg, PA.
Kurtz. A. (1992, April). What is Facilitated Communication? Lecture at Providence Hospital, Providence, RI.
Kurtz, A. (1992, November). Facilitated Communication with adults. Presentation at Northeast Regional Conference on Autism in Hartford, Connecticut.
Kurtz, A. & Ashe, W. (1991). What is Facilitated Communication? Presentation at Northeast Regional Conference on Autism in Portland, ME.
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