Events Calendar: LDA of Michigan & Chapters
  

Save The Date: November 16-17, 2009 for LDA of Michigan's Annual Conference, at the Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Monday, November 16th Keynote Speaker
Dr. Lynell Burmark earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University, where faculty and students elected her to receive the Walter Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching. After eleven years of classroom teaching (kindergarten through graduate school) and nine years in administration, Lynell joined the Thornburg Center for Professional Development. She now consults to high-tech companies and school districts, and presents at dozens of conferences every year.

 
Lynell’s book, Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn, a widely adopted textbook for teacher education and instructional technology programs, won the book of the year award for publisher ASCD in 2002 and is now expanded, updated (2006) and available as an eBook. Lynell is featured in a 30-minute segment on Canter & Associates video for the Masters in Instructional Technology with Walden University. She also produced a 10-minute video on visual literacy, which is distributed free to educators through 100% Educational Videos.

 
Energetic, encouraging, often humorous yet serious about her content, Dr. Burmark considers the highest praise to be “You practice what you preach!”

Tuesday, November 17th Keynote Speaker
Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D., is a nationally renowned advocate, author, speaker and leader in the field of learning disabilities and adaptive technology.

In 1992, he published Faking It: A Look into the Mind of a Creative Learner, and in 2001, What About Me? Strategies for Teaching Misunderstood Learners (Portsmouth NH: Heinemann, Boynton and Cook). These books draw on Christopher’s developmental experiences and his challenges attending the University of Georgia (UGA) to help teachers and parents optimize learning disabled students’ performance.

Christopher has published a one of a kind on-line guide, Learning Disabilities and Technology, an Emerging Way to Touch the Future. He has published articles, chapters and several journals, and has been selected to chair many collaborative projects that relate to disability issues.

Christopher is a member of the Heinemann Speakers Bureau for nationwide speaking engagements. He has spoken to numerous groups about topics including self-advocacy, living with learning disabilities, and assistive technology for learning disabilities. He has been featured on CNN, National Public Radio and in newspaper articles picked up by the Associated Press. In 2003 Christopher was awarded the W.F. Faulkes Award by The National Rehabilitation Association for his contributions to the increase of knowledge in the fields of rehabilitation.

Christopher was Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Georgia and has served as President to both this organization and the Atlanta chapter of the Learning Disabilities Adults of Georgia.

Christopher also devotes time to his work as an advocate, helping other creative learners reach their potential. In his workshops, he emphasizes the importance of knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as understanding the need and special capabilities of creative learners.

Currently, he serves as Director of the Alternative Media Access Center, a joint project with the University of Georgia Department of Psychology.