Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

38 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY group planted flowers and succulents in raised garden beds in memory of Robin Parker, SLP.D., CCC-SLP, on the patio of the Griffin Road NSU building, where the SLP department and CARD office are located. Parker served as the Broward CARD satellite director and an SLP professor until her death in 2014. The Gals Group hopes to honor her memory and the joy she brought to this world through the beauty of the flowers planted. NSU CARD also hosts three major events for the university and the community every year, bringing in internationally and nationally recognized speakers. Look for these events every November (Parent and Family Workshop), April (Issues in Autism Conference), and June (Broward Autism Summer Institute). Special projects are another important part of the CARD mission. Recently, two of the UM-NSU CARD clinicians established an ongoing collabor- ation with Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc. (CAT). The organization reached out to the CARD to obtain guidance and training for the handlers and therapy dogs that work directly with individuals with develop- mental disabilities. CARD and CAT created an autism-friendly therapy kit that included a variety of visual supports and social narratives about the dogs, their owners, and what to expect during therapy. Additionally, staff members Sara Ferguson and Mallory Kojkowski provided in-depth handler trainings regarding ASD and appropriate strategies to increase success within the canine therapy sessions. They plan to provide ongoing support and consultation to the CAT and its participants. The NSU CARD program can be reached by phone at (954) 262-7111, by email at card@nova.edu , or through its website at nova.edu/card . In addition, interested individuals are invited to visit the program offices at 6100 Griffin Road, Davie, Florida 33314-4416 to see the autism resource room or speak with a staff member. n Sara Ferguson, B.S., left, and Mallory Schneider Kojkowski, M.S.Ed., clinical support administrators, prepare to train dog handlers who will be working with individuals diagnosed with autism.