Attendees will learn about the various therapies that have proven successful in helping special needs children achieve their goals.

The symposium, "Rhythms of the Heart: Focus on Therapies," will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Abbott and Linda Brown Western Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapy on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

The day will focus on alternative therapies for children and families dealing with mental, physical, emotional or learning disabilities.

Panel topics include psychotherapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. Break out sessions will explore such subjects as the Special Olympics, sports and adaptive aquatics as well as advocacy training and psychotherapy for parents and siblings of special needs kids. Tours of CSUN's Center of Achievement for the Physically Disabled, including the Brown Center, also will be given.

The day's speakers include Ross Porter, director of Stillpoint Resources, which provides counseling and educational resources to special needs children and their families in the Greater Los Angeles area, and Donnalyn Jaque-Anton, associate superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District's Division of Special Education.

Northridge kinesiology and physical therapy faculty will be taking part in sessions throughout the day.

"Stillpoint and the Center for Achievement are jewels of the community in the support they offer to the disabled and special needs kids," said Carole Oglesby, chair of CSUN's Kinesiology Department. "Working together, we have found that we can multiply our contribution to the community. This is a great collaboration."