Perspective is Everything!
Understanding the Connection Between
Theory of Mind Development and Social Skills

presented by

Cathleen M. Burgess, M. Ed., CCC-SLP
Director of TLC’s Katherine Thomas Lower/Middle School

For many children with special needs, delays in social skills can impact their ability to develop friendships with peers. Developing these social skills is also important for school and extra-curricular activities and to promote success later in life. This workshop will explore Theory of Mind (Perspective Taking) and its impact on Social Skills development in children.  A hierarchy  of skills necessary for building friendships will be discussed.  A post-talk Q&A will follow.

About the Speaker

Cathleen Burgess has over 30 years of experience in both educating and providing services to individuals with disabilities, having spent most of her career working within school districts as a clinician, educator, mediator and consultant. She has provided numerous workshops and trainings as a means of sharing her professional knowledge to parents as well as educators engaged in service delivery. Prior to KTS, Ms. Burgess  was Autism Clinical Supervisor and Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University  in Washington D.C, where she also served as a Task Force member of the GWU Autism Research Center Initiative.  Ms. Burgess earned a Master of Education in Speech Pathology from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.  She is licensed as a speech-language pathologist in Washington D.C., and Maine.  She has served as a professional speech-language delegate to Australia, New Zealand, Honduras; and consulted with rural health programs and schools in El Salvador.