Shari Rusch Furnstahl has spoken at state, regional and national conferences for parents, caregivers and healthcare providers since 1985. Her inspirational and educational presentations leave participants encouraged and ready to address the needs of children with a renewed sense of purpose. Parents, especially those raising children with special needs, often comment that Shari’s story reminded them that holding out hope for their child’s future is not futile and that parents can mentor, encourage and bridge the gap between home and school successfully paving the way for a bright future for children. Conference directors and planning committees can be assured with humor and a captivating style their staff and conference participants will be encouraged, laugh often and be challenged to continue to be advocates and agents of positive child. Individuals can choose a keynote presentation and/or half and whole day workshops featuring topics such as:
 

Loving Kids through the Transitions
When families face challenges kids will be affected. Parents and family members can make all the differences in how kids perceive themselves and their future during times of stress and change. Loving Kids through the Transitions offers practical ideas and solutions to help kids transition through change. With her own life story as an “at-risk” child as a backdrop along with her experience as a parent of four children, Shari offers wit, wisdom and a whole lot of humor on the subject of how to gracefully handle (and support children through) life’s sometimes bumpy road and come out of challenges stronger.
 

From “At Risk” To “At Promise“: Reaching The Hard To Teach
As parents and educators teaching and raising a child, especially those with special needs, can seem overwhelming, but we should not feel defeated. There are proven strategies and tools that can be used to teach, encourage, inspire, and motivate children (and youth) to succeed academically and socially.

Participants will leave this presentation with a variety of suggestions for building self-esteem and discovering the strengths in every student as well as useful strategies for classroom management and integration of students with special needs. A handout featuring the suggestions offered in this workshop is provided


Understanding ADHD
This informative workshop will offer a clear explanation of ADHD and how to identify students experiencing this disorder. Options for treatment will be explored and strategies for school and home will be offered. Teachers and parents will receive information and tools that will assist them in better serving students with specific challenges related to attention and hyperactivity challenges.


Making The Transition To College

If you want to help a student make the transition to college successfully this is the workshop for you! Making the Transition to College is a fast paced workshop filled with facts, tips, and valuable resources to educate parents, teachers, advisors, and administrators about the transition from high school to college. Some of the topics addressed in this workshop include: how to get into college; the best way to take an assessment test; how to study effectively at the college level; academic support services available to all students at the college level; how to choose a school best suited to your individual needs, and so much more. This workshop also offers valuable insights about how to assist learning disabled students as they prepare for higher education and what support services are available at the college level for individuals with special needs.

Participants will leave this workshop armed with resources and information that will have an immediate impact on their ability to help students prepare for and make the transition to college successfully.

Presenter Shari Rusch Furnstahl has navigated through the University of Washington system earning a BA in psychology, a Masters Degree in education, and a teaching certificate with an emphasis in special education; all while coping with learning disabilities. Shari and her sister were the first people in their family to go to college and she is the first to attend graduate school. Shari is passionate about seeing students reach their academic and professional goals. Her enthusiasm for this subject as well as her personal and professional perspectives makes this workshop relevant and enlightening.


Help and Hope for Special Needs Kids

What do you do if you suspect your child is experiencing a special issue related to learning, behavior or attention? How do you become a positive advocate on behalf of your child should they require special services? Where do you start in the process of obtaining help for your child? These questions and many more will be answered through this powerful workshop.

With her background as a special education student, her experience as a special education teacher and parent of a child born with special issues, Shari has a wealth of information and important resources for parents and anyone caring for children experiencing special issues. The history of special education, special education law, becoming a positive advocate, creating a portfolio and profile, and providing emotional and academic support are just a few of the important topics that will be addressed in this inspirational workshop.


Understanding Learning Styles
How do we learn best? Research has concluded that we often learn better if we are able to capitalize on our strengths. Personality characteristics and learning strengths combine to form a learning style. A learning style is an individual's combined preference for receiving and processing information. An individual's particular learning style also plays a significant role in determining the environment that best suits the way they process information.

Knowledge of learning styles provides teachers, trainers, managers, and administrators with the ability to assist individuals in developing the best practices for success by focusing on strengths and developing positive strategies for areas in need of improvement. This information also enables the teacher/trainer to assist clients in determining the type of work and work environment that will be best suited to individual strengths.

The Understanding Learning Styles presentation is a wonderful journey into the subject of how we learn. Participants will be enlightened and encouraged during a discussion of multiple intelligences and learning styles. Individuals will leave this session armed with tools that will assist them in identifying and developing best practices for their students based on learning strengths.


A Personal Revolution
Are you feeling overburdened and under-appreciated? Do you feel unsatisfied with your job, home-life and/or personal relationships? Do you feel out of control of your life and your future? Then it is time for a “Personal Revolution”. There is a way to change your approach to life in such a way that it will influence how you feel, what you are able to accomplish, and enhance the feeling of control that you have over your present and future.

A Personal Revolution workshop is an opportunity to view life experiences, including the negative, as windows of opportunity. Each experience can teach you both what you want and what you don’t want. Instead of anger and frustration, individuals learn how to use forgiveness as a tool of empowerment. Instead of harboring resentment and placing blame, individuals can learn to prevent and resolve conflict quickly, become positive role models at home and at work, and take steps toward achieving short and long term goals.

This two-part presentation offers individuals powerful examples and useful tools that can be used to change their personal and professional lives, enabling them to take control and find the joy in the journey.


The Power Of Positive Mentors
Teachers, parents and community members face many obstacles in their effort to assist young people in becoming productive adults. Economic stress, high divorce rates, drug and alcohol abuse, gang activity and violence, increasing rates of teenage pregnancy and suicide, and changes in the fabric of our society all make it more difficult to "reach" kids today.

Based on her personal experiences as an "at risk" child that became a teacher, author and nationally recognized speaker, Shari Rusch Furnstahl offers insights and practical information about how adults can have a positive impact on the lives of young people. This presentation is filled with illustrations and insights about today's youth culture, and how adults can successfully assist students regardless of their challenges. Each audience member will leave this presentation with specific strategies to help them inspire, motivate, mentor, and teach young people.