August 4-5, 2010
Wednesday - Thursday
Three Rivers Convention Center
7016 West Grandridge Blvd.
Kennewick, WA
Speakers & Sessions
Schedule
Childcare Information
Scholarships
Continuing Education Credits
Hotel Information
Registration Form
Register Online
Vendor Application Form
Speakers & Sessions
Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D.
Dr. Peter Gerhardt is President and Chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding intervention research in support of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Dr. Gerhardt has over 25 years experience utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in support of adolescents and adults with an ASD in educational, employment, and community-based settings. He is the author or co-author of articles and book chapters on the needs of adults with autism spectrum disorder, the school-to-work-transition process, assessment of social competence, and analysis and intervention of problematic behavior. He has presented nationally and internationally on these topics. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Graduate School of Education.
The past decade has seen reports citing the dramatic increase in the prevalence of autism and related disorders (ASD) to the current 1 case per 110 individuals most recently identified by the Centers for Disease Control (2009). While the reasons behind this increase remain unclear, what is clear is that there are greater numbers of individuals being diagnosed with ASD than ever before and subsequently, steadily growing numbers of adolescent and young adults on the autism spectrum.
Subsequently, this increase in prevalence has created an increased demand for appropriate and effective services for adolescents and young adults with ASD. Unfortunately, the need for such services continues to far exceed the available resources leaving a generation of individuals with autism and their families in a programmatic, financial, and personal limbo.
Transition Planning for Competent Adulthood: Towards Lives of Quality
This presentation will provide an overview of effective transition programming—at any age—with the ultimate goal being a life of dignity, competence, and quality. To this end, an overview and practical suggestions for transition planning (inclusive of employment goals) will be presented along with issues related to community-based instruction, employment, social competence, sexuality and sexual safety, and quality of life concerns.
Workshop Objectives:
After having attended this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify the components of a comprehensive transition plan
- Differentiate between social survival and social competence of the applications of both
- Discuss the importance of direct, intensive instruction in adaptive behavior if community living is expected to be the outcome of an effective education
- Define the multiple constituent groups whose needs are to be meet in the employment development process
- Identify the three primary components of sexuality education
Bryan H. King, M.D.
Bryan H. King, MD, is director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Seattle Children's Hospital and Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
He joined the university from Dartmouth Medical School, where he served as medical director for New Hampshire's Division of Developmental Services. King's clinical and research interests focus on psychiatric aspects of developmental disorders, and on severe behavioral disturbances, particularly in autism. He chairs a multi-site clinical trial by the National Institutes of Health (Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment) examining an antidepressant medication in treatment of children with autism who have significant problems with repetitive behaviors - the largest study of its kind ever conducted.
Recently, he became Principal Investigator of the NIH sponsored UW Autism Center of Excellence, and he is also PI for the Autism Treatment Network funded by Autism Speaks. King has received lifetime achievement awards from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association for his work in developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Autism And Psychiatric Disorders: Common Or Rare And Why Should We Care?
Workshop Objectives:
- To highlight the prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric illness in autism.
- To review clinical presentation of psychiatric illness in the context of autism and other developmental disorders.
- To (summarize) treatment of common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms and disorders in persons with autism.
Eustacia Cutler
Eustacia Cutler, the mother of Temple Grandin, will describe raising Temple in the conservative, “Leave-it-to-Beaver” world of the fifties when children with autism were diagnosed as infant schizophrenics and frequently banished to institutions. She will describe some of her experiences as she fought to hang onto hope in the face of a complicated family battle. She will explore the main stumbling blocks of autism as she has learned them from doctors and how, to a minor degree, traces of its characteristics are in all of us.
Eustacia has written school lessons for major television networks. Her studies led to two television documentaries: The Disquieted and the prize-winning The Innocents (both focusing on children with special needs). Her current book, A Thorn in My Pocket, describes raising Temple. It is a book about hopes and dreams.
Eustacia received an English Literature B.A. from Harvard. She has been a band singer at the Pierre Hotel, New York City, and performed and composed for cabaret. She is also the mother of three other children, and the grandmother of five boys.
Coming to Terms with Autism: Yes, Your Child is Autistic, But Who is Your Child and Who are You?
Workshop Objectives:
To understand the five major characteristics of autism:
- Why and how they throw off not only the one with autism, but the entire family
- Conceptual Thinking
- Context
- Eye Contact
- Self-Absorption
- Empathizing/Systemizing
Schedule
August 4, 2010
- 7:30-8:30 Registration
- 8:30-8:45 Welcome
- 8:45-10:00 Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.
Transition Planning for Competent Adulthood: Towards Lives of Quality - 10:00-10:15 Break/Visit the Vendors
- 10:15-11:45 Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.
- 11:45-1:00 Lunch On Your Own
- 1:00-2:15 Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.
- 2:15-2:30 Break/Visit the Vendors
- 2:30-4:00 Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D.
- 4:00 Adjourn
August 5, 2010
- 7:30-8:30 Registration
- 8:30-8:45 Welcome
- 8:45-10:00 Bryan King, M.D.
Co-Morbid Disorders - 10:00-10:15 Break/Visit the Vendors
- 10:15-11:45 Eustacia Cutler
Coming to Terms with Autism: Yes, Your Child is Autistic, But Who Is Your Child and Who Are You? - 11:45-1:00 Lunch On Your Own
- 1:00-2:15 Eustacia Cutler
- 2:15-2:30 Break/Visit the Vendors
- 2:30-4:00 Eustacia Cutler
- 4:00 Closing Remarks/Adjourn
Childcare
Childcare for conference attendees with children on the spectrum is provided by The Arc of Tri-Cities. Space is limited. For additional information and to make a reservation, call Kadlec Neurological Resource Center at 509.943.8455.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available through program funding from the Carson Kolzig Foundation. Please call 509-943-8455.
Continuing Education
Continuing Education: Clock hours will be available for certified school staff. Certificates of attendance will be provided. There will be 11 hours of lecture. CEUs from IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) will be available for an additional $20. Please check with your certification body, licensure agency, and/or employer to determine if IACET CEUs can be used to satisfy specific requirements. For more information: http://aacinstitute.org/CEUs/Participants.html
Hotel Block
The Hilton Garden Inn at 701 North Young Street in Kennewick, has limited discounted rooms available for our conference. Please call 509.735.4600 to make reservations.
Location & Directions
Three Rivers Convention Center:
7016 W. Grandridge Blvd in Kennewick.
Directions to Center:
From West: East on I-82 to Badger Road, Exit 109. Turn right onto Clearwater Avenue and follow to Columbia Center Blvd. Turn left on Columbia Center Blvd, follow until you reach center.
From North and East: South on Highway 395 to Highway 240 (cross the Blue Bridge). Follow Highway 240 to the Columbia Center Blvd exit, turn left on Columbia Center Blvd and follow to Grandridge Blvd. Turn left on Grandridge Blvd, follow until you reach the center.
From South: West on I-82 to Badger Road, Exit 109. Turn right on Clearwater Avenue and follow to Columbia Center Blvd. Turn right on Grandridge Blvd, follow to center.
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