Wired Differently: Raleigh summit aims to help parents, teachers of kids with autism, ADHD

The Wired Differently Summit, according to the description, will provide expert education for parents and providers of differently wired children. Attendees will learn about decreasing anxiety, challenging behavior, educational rights, parent/teacher communication, social-communication, parent self-care, local resources and much more.

Posted 12:15 a.m. Aug 27, 2018 — Updated 12:15 a.m. Aug 27, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — Holly Blanc Moses has been working as a psychologist and board certified behavior analyst for more than 20 years. From her Raleigh-based private practice, Crossvine Clinical Group, her focus is helping families with kids with ADHD, autism and anxiety on issues such as disruptive behavior, social skills deficits, academic challenges and - for the parents - parenting stress.

"My house is a total mess and I can’t grow plants to save my life," she tells me, "but I get ADHD, autism, and anxiety and I'm thrilled to share my knowledge and experience."

Moses, who is raising two boys with her husband, will host a special event in October that's designed for parents, teachers and providers of kids with autism and ADHD.

The first round of tickets for the Oct. 20 event sold out so fast, Moses had to find a bigger location for it. It will take place at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Space is limited.

Tickets, which are $47, are on sale now and available through the event's Facebook event page and website.

I checked in with Moses to learn more about her work and the summit. Here's a Q&A:

Go Ask Mom: You have more than 20 years of experience in ADHD, autism, and anxiety. What drew you to this field?

Holly Blanc Moses: It sounds nerdy, but I've wanted to be a psychologist since elementary school. I was always interested in why people do what they do and how each person learns. Fast forward many years and now I have two very personal reasons why I love to serve these populations. My husband and I were fortunate to adopt two amazing boys. Being a behavior expert prior to adopting put us in a great place to better support them as they are both differently wired.

GAM: How has your work changed over the years? We're certainly hearing about more kids being diagnosed with these disorders.

HBM: It's an exciting time! There are so many more ways to support children and their parents now then there were 20 years ago. More children are being identified, so they are able to finally receive the services they need such as academic accommodations and behavior therapy.

GAM: You work a lot with kids, but also with parents and run a Facebook group for parents of kids with autism and/or ADHD. What kinds of programs do you provide for parents?

HBM: In my private practice, Crossvine Clinical Group, I specialize in serving differently wired children and their parents. I feel very passionate about providing the best, most effective treatment for each family. Services may address anxiety, challenging behavior, social skills, academic concerns, parent-child interactions, self-care, and independence.

Because there are only a few behavior experts in the area who specialize in children with autism and ADHD, I have a very long waitlist. In order to provide this much-needed information to more families, I've recently launched two online courses where I walk parents through effective step-by-step strategies:

GAM: You'll be holding a workshop on Oct. 20 in Raleigh. Who is it for? What will they learn?

HBM: Yes! I'm thrilled about the Wired Differently Summit!

Nine experts are coming together in one place to provide the best information to better support differently wired children. The summit is for parents, teachers and providers of children with autism and/or ADHD.

Attendees will learn about how to decrease anxiety and challenging behavior. They will also learn about social-communication skills, communication between home and school and parent self-care. An attorney will be speaking on educational rights and there will also be a panel of advocates and local resource experts to answer attendees questions. It's going to be fantastic!

Parents, teachers, and providers can register on the Wired Different Summit website.

GAM: For parents who are struggling out there as they work through their children's issues, what's your message to them?

HBM: Stop and breathe, my friend! This isn't an easy journey. Practice compassion for yourself and your child. I would like to invite you to my Wired Differently closed Facebook Group which is full of love, support, and the most valuable strategies. Join here.

Go Ask Mom features local parents every Monday.

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