Workshop Descriptions
Since 2001 David has delivered workshops on fetal alcohol and the law internationally and domestically. His audience regularly includes judges, lawyers, police officers, probation officers, nurses, social workers, caregivers, parents and teachers. If you would like to book David for a workshop please contact him at dmboulding@gmail.com.
David Currently offers workshops for the following audiences:
David Currently offers workshops for the following audiences:
Judges, Lawyers, Police Officers, and Probation Officers
First, legal system professionals need to learn some brain science. Second, with basic brain science and some practice changes learned from the necessary collaboration from other helping disciplines participants will learn that fetal alcohol is on a spectrum: an invisible, permanent brain based physical disability. Clearly, what we are doing now is not working for offenders or creating more public safety. A third critical piece offered is accepting the limits of a jail/no jail system. Thus we must find ways to bring the community to the courtroom. Many judges have been inspired by the changes that flow from Gladue reports and the various community/problem solving courts, so the program ends with good news.
Participants will be able to:
Participants will be able to:
- Recognize fetal alcohol in the Courtroom and consider making different orders by utilizing the external brain concept.
- Recognize the benefits of inviting members of other professional communities into your decision making.
- Recognize the benefits of using the neurobehavioural approach pioneered by D. Malbin (Trying Differently not Harder) and extending the success of the problem solving courts (drug courts, domestic violence).
Teachers
Schools, like courtrooms need to learn some brain science and bring the lessons from other disciplines into the classroom. To create success for your students with fetal alcohol, the first step is to internalize the content of D. Malbin's neurobehavioural model and tell yourself hourly to try differently rather than harder. Schools , like courtrooms, are asked to do the impossible. Thus professional collaboration and using community resources is the way of the future. Many districts have learned this lesson and have hired experts to advise teachers. There are proven strategies that work : external brain, specific language, and exercise.
Participants will be able to:
Participants will be able to:
- Apply proven strategies to help students with fetal alcohol achieve success in your classroom.
- Create an external brain for your students with fetal alcohol
- Use the limbic system in the brain/relationship based teaching model as your primary tool
- List the experts in fetal alcohol
Social Workers
Social workers have a tough job. Working with individuals with fetal alcohol is most challenging because they have an invisible brain based physical disability. Luckily social workers already know some brain science and have a basic grasp of relationship client centred models. This workshop offers social workers a lawyer's perspective of what works with the fetal alcohol population and relies on the work of D. Malbin (neurobehaviour model and Trying Differently rather than Harder) and Sterling Clarren's External Brain concept. The main benefit for social workers is learning to create some success for clients while reducing their workplace stress.
Participants will be able to:
Participants will be able to:
- Reduce workplace stress by recognizing fetal alcohol and assessing what works best for your client.
- Apply proven strategies to help individuals with fetal alcohol experience success.
- List the experts in the field of fetal alcohol.
Parents and Caregivers
Most parents and caregivers need to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel: success for their children and some peace for themselves. This workshop offers parents and caregivers the necessary brain science to create success using the brain's limbic system. What to do when your child is arrested is covered in detail and there is a section on sex assaults. Also offered is information on navigating school and social service systems. Finally a list of helpful experts is offered. Perhaps most valuable to parents is the last section where parent's questions are asked and answered.
Participants will be able to:
Participants will be able to:
- Regain hope for yourself that there is light at the end of the tunnel for both you and your child.
- Apply proven tools to help your child with fetal alcohol experience success in their life such as Diane Malbin's neuro-behavioural model and Sterling Clarren's External Brain concept.
- Update your expectations for your child with fetal alcohol so they reflect an individual living with a permanent brain based physical disability.