Conference: Addressing Autism / Asperger's Syndrome

Communication: The Key To Success - The 6th International Conference

Keynote Speaker: Professor Temple Grandin

Professor Temple Grandin is inarguably the most accomplished and well known adult with autism in the world.  She hasn’t let autism prevent her from living life to the fullest and has helped to redefine the perception of what is possible for autistics.  Temple has been featured in major television programmes and national publications and is a prominent author and speaker on the subject of autism, telling her story in the book Emergence: Labelled Autistic.  In 2010 the biopic film of Temple’s early life was nominated for, and won, several Emmy awards.  She presently works as an Associate Professor at Colorado State University.

If you are a relative or professional living or working with a young person who is diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome you will know that the barriers within education, employment, and social situations are significant. The impact that the complexities of Autism and Asperger's Syndrome has upon life situations is very real.

Communication is a key factor in addressing the needs of such young people and by addressing this issue, windows of opportunity are opened. This enables young people to progress, in terms of furthering their education and employment options, by improving self-esteem and confidence or simply by offering an opportunity to feel included in society, to feel valued and understood.

This conference is a collaborative venture between Belle Vue House Assessment Centre and Edge Hill University.

Target Audience

• Teachers, Support Assistants
• LEA staff
• Allied Health Professionals
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Educational Psychologists
• Parents / carers or others who are meeting the needs of those with Autism / Asperger's Syndrome
• Academics
• Medical Practitioners

Programme Outline (to be confirmed)

Podcast from the 5th Annual Conference held on 20th May 2011

• www.edgehill.ac.uk/video/international-autism-conference

Presentations from the 5th Annual Conference held on 20th May 2011

• Adam Foster: 'Frequency Response / Why I Scream'
• Alex Porter: 'The Importance of Being Alex'
• Dr Fiona McCaffrey: 'Evaluating the Impact of a 5-Week Training Course for Parents in Northern Ireland'
• Lesley Fleming: 'Creative Approaches to Learning and Teaching for Young People with Autistic Spectrum Condition and the Additional Value of Expressive Arts as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Curriculum'
• Liz O'Nions Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA): 'Exploring the Behavioural Profile and Overlap with ASD'
• Mary Woodward, Sam Cooper-Evans: 'Great Mates and Great Dates'
• Tony Attwood: 'The Origins of Special Interests & Constructive Strategies'

Cost

• £180 for professionals / organisations;
• £75 for people with ASD and parents of young people with ASD;
• If you book before 30th March 2012, an early bird discount of £20 is available;
• All prices are inclusive of VAT.

How to Register

• Online Booking >> is now available.

To express an interest in attending this conference please email keytosuccess@edgehill.ac.uk or contact Peter Weatherill, Conference Administrator, Faculty of Health & Social Care, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QP. Tel 44 (0)1695 650738.

Terms and Conditions

Applications are accepted on the understanding that the applicants agree to the following booking terms and conditions. All conference fees remain payable once a registration is received by Edge Hill University. Edge Hill University's terms of payment are 30 days from date of invoice. Cancellations are not possible. A substitution may be made in the event of withdrawal. Belle Vue House and Edge Hill University reserve the right to make changes to the published programme if necessary

Call for Papers

You are invited to submit abstracts for oral and/or poster presentations focussing on any innovations, developments or research in the area of working with young people with high functioning autism with particular emphasis on communication.

Abstracts are to be submitted via email to keytosuccess@edgehill.ac.uk by Friday 30^th March 2012. The abstract should not be more than 300 words in length (papers describing work in progress are eligible).  

For educational innovations and developments use the following headings: context & setting; why the innovation/development was introduced; what was done; evaluation of results.

For research use the following headings as appropriate: background; aims & objectives; methods; results; discussion; conclusion.

A panel of assessors will judge submitted summaries on soundness of approach, clarity of description, and accessibility, importance and relevance of content for a national and international audience. If a paper is accepted, presenting authors must register for the meeting as a delegate. Oral presentations will be allocated 25 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions.

All queries regarding the call for papers should be directed to:

• Dr Jeremy Brown, Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, Faculty of Health & Social Care, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QP
• Tel: +44 (0)1695 650919
• Email: brownjm@edgehill.ac.uk