The 2008 US Autism and Asperger Association Conference will be held from September 4-7, 2008 in Austin, Texas. The USAAA has just published a press release announcing celebrity autism mom Holly Robinson Peete as the keynote speaker.

Actress, singer, and author Holly Robinson Peete will deliver the Keynote address at the USAAA 2008 Autism & Asperger International Conference which will also include more than 30 of the world’s leading Autism Spectrum Disorder experts who will discuss new treatment regimes and effective therapies never before presented to the public.

The US Autism & Asperger Association (USAAA) is set to hold its third annual conference, the 2008 International Conference, from September 4-7, 2008 in Austin, Texas. The event will be kicked off by well-known actress, singer, and author Holly Robinson Peete who, along with husband Rodney – a former NFL quarterback, has become a vocal national advocate for autism-affected families. The Peetes have successfully managed marriage challenges and the difficulties faced in raising their son Rodney Jr. who is affected by autism… and they are still going strong as a family after 12 years! Ms. Peete will offer her compelling testimony on the twin miracles of compassion and communication.

The first annual Autism Summit will be held on October 10-12, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio.  From the Autism Summit 2008 homepage:

The first Autism Summit… Will be truly extraordinary – it’s a must! Autismtoday.com (the world’s largest one-stop autism website) and Rainbow Babies & Children`s Hospital (rated as one of the world’s best pediatric hospitals) are pulling out all the stops to present the autism event of 2008!

• Hear world class leaders – parent advocates, doctors, educators – address the latest issues on Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
• Interact with our extraordinary speakers and workshop leaders… get your questions answered!
• Make new friends! - network and share experiences with others like you
• Find unique new national and local Autism and Asperger’s resources!
• Enjoy yourself!

The 2008 Pittsburgh Autism Expo is scheduled to be held on October 24 and 25, 2008 at the Pittsburgh Airport Crowne Plaza Hotel. David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm, is schedule to present the keynote address.

David Kirby has been a professional journalist for 17 years, and has written for The New York Times for more than a decade. David Kirby’s first book “Evidence of Harm, Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic debuted at number 27 on The New York Times bestseller list. The book has sparked a national debate and Kirby has appeared on such varied media venues as Meet the Press, The Today Show, Imus in the Morning, Montel Williams and Air America.

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The following is from the USAAA Newsletter:

Doris J. Rapp, MD and Paul Shattock, PhD, OBE to Keynote at 2008 Conference

Dr. Doris J. Rapp, a board-certified environmental medical specialist and pediatric allergist and author of the best selling book “Is This Your Child?” and “Is This Your Child’s World?”, will make her Autism/Asperger national conference debut at the USAAA 2008 International Conference in Austin, Texas.
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The Phoenix Chapter of the Autism Society of America has announced that online registration is open for its 2008 conference.  The conference, scheduled for May 3 and 4th, will feature Louder than Words author Jenny McCarthy as a keynote speaker.  McCarthy will speak on May 4th at 8:45 am and will “discuss her personal experiences in helping her son Evan who was diagnosed with autism. She found that an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements became the key to saving Evan from autism. Jenny will shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and show how with love and determination a parent can shape their child’s life and happiness.”

Other notable speakers at the conference are Kathleen Quill, Ed. D, author of DO-WATCH-LISTEN-SAY, Zosia Zaks author of Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults and Doreen Granpeesheh, Ph. D, BCBA of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD).  In addition to discussions on vaccines, the GFCF diet and sensory integration, there will also be a three hour workshop for adults on the autism spectrum.

For more information on registration for the event, contact the Phoenix Chapter of the Autism Society of America at (480) 940-1093.

Source:  ASA-GPC

The Defeat Autism Now (DAN) 2008 Conference is scheduled for April 3 - 7 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  The DAN conference is geared towards parents, caregivers, and autism professionals in a wide range of specialties.  The organization has just announced the clinician seminars scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2008.

Introductory Lecture for Everyone: Vicious Cycles in Autism - An Integration of the Science
Elizabeth Mumper, MD

Dr. Mumper will review common problems in four areas - intestinal inflammation, metabolic abnormalities, immune dysregulation, and detoxification impairment. The basic science will be explained and documented with peer-reviewed, published science in preparation for application to case histories.

Essential Clinician Seminar:

Clinical Manifestations of Nutrient Deficiencies
Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LDN

Ms. Laake will review signs and symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, the recognition of which is an integral part of patient evaluations. She will cover a broad spectrum of nutrients including their functions, deficiency manifestations, interrelationships, deficiency diagnosis, and therapies.

History, Physical, and Laboratory Essentials
Nancy O’Hara, MD

Dr. O’Hara will present representative explanations and illustrations of history, physical exam, and lab features common in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Case Studies and Lab Interpretation
Nancy O’Hara, MD

Dr. O’Hara will review common case presentations of children with autism spectrum disorders and discuss how to determine interventions and set priorities based on the presentation and laboratory findings of each child.

Interactive Case Studies
Elizabeth Mumper, MD

Dr. Mumper will demonstrate how abnormalities in one aspect of the child’s health can interact to exacerbate symptoms in other systems, necessitating a comprehensive approach cognizant of the synergy associated with biologic systems. Clinicians in the audience will be encouraged to participate in analyzing the cases.

Sequential Clinician Seminar:

Those Who Ignore Individuality Fail the Patient
Sidney Baker, MD

Dr. Baker will illustrate the value of a comprehensive, mutually respectful dialogue between clinician and parent and patient, aimed at identifying what might be present that the child must get rid of, and what the patient is missing that could be of benefit.

Innovative Therapies and Strategies for Non-Responders
Jeff Bradstreet, MD

Dr. Bradstreet will present medical evidence in support of innovative strategies designed to help each patient reach their fullest potential for health, cognitive function, and social interactions. He will present strategies to consider when attention to the basics is not getting the child well.

Simplifying Supplementation: Compounding and Combining
Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LDN

How to utilize individually compounded formulas in combination with OTC supplements. Creating hypoallergenic and GF/CF custom compounds is an important tool in treatment.

Advanced Case Studies and Lab Interpretation
Sidney Baker, MD

Dr. Baker will analyze some complicated case histories to demonstrate the nuances of the clinical presentations of children with autism spectrum disorders. He will demonstrate how to use more advanced interventions consistent with the Defeat Autism Now!® philosophy and knowledge base.

Advanced Lab Interpretation with Summary
Jeff Bradstreet, MD

Dr. Bradstreet will summarize the lessons from the advanced-practitioner training by utilizing and interpreting complex lab reports from actual patients. He will explain how to determine when a lab value is important in the context of the patient’s presentation, and how to avoid chasing abnormal labs that might not be clinically significant.

Source:  Defeat Autism Now Mailing List
 

Autism Conference Presents Latest Treatments, Strategies for Changing Behavior at Home, School

Atlanta, GA ( PRWEB ) February 6, 2008 — Autism may affect as many as 1 in 150 children. This complex disorder is marked by impairments in communication and social interaction, as well as repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is one of the most scientifically backed methods available for the treatment of autism. Leading ABA researchers will be gathering this week to present the latest developments in the application of this life-changing science.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), along with its Autism and Parent Professional Partnership Special Interest Groups, will be hosting its Second Annual Autism Conference from Friday, Feb. 8 to Sunday, Feb. 10 in Atlanta.

This year’s conference, “Issues and Recent Advancements in the Behavioral Treatment of Autism: Practical Strategies for Changing Behavior at Home and School,” will focus on home- and community-based interventions as well as curriculum and instruction in the classroom.

The three-day conference will bring together 10 distinguished experts on ABA presenting resources and information that teachers, therapists and parents can use to improve the lives of children with autism. Some of the presentation topics include:

“Teaching the Social Dance” — strategies to teach young people with autism the verbal and non-verbal components to conversation

“One Size Does Not Fit All” — ways to tailor treatments to individual needs to promise the best treatment outcome

“From DT to DI: Using Direct Instruction to Teach Students with ASD” — how Direct Instruction (DI) can address the unique needs of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) while supporting the acquisition of academic skills

This year’s Autism Conference will be held at Atlanta’s Hyatt Regency Hotel. New additions include exhibitor booths, a bookstore and author book signing by the 10 presenters.

For more information visit the Association for Behavior Analysis International website or call (269) 492-4310. On-site registration is available at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8 at the Hyatt Regency, Exhibit Level in Grand Hall West. Credentialed members of the news media may attend free of charge with prior authorization.

About ABA International
The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) is a nonprofit professional membership organization with the mission of developing, enhancing and supporting the growth and vitality of behavior analysis through research, education and practice. Founded in 1974, the association has approximately 5,000 members worldwide. Its affiliated chapters have a total membership of 12,000 worldwide.

Complete Presentation List:

Teaching the Social Dance: Helping Children with Autism Engage in Social Interaction and Conversation
Patricia Krantz, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus, Princeton Child Development Institute

“Evidence-Based Practice”: Improvement or Illusion?
Gina Green, Ph.D., BCBA
Professor, San Diego State University

One Size Does Not Fit All: Individualizing Treatment Programs for Children with Autism
Laura Schreibman, Ph.D.
Professor, University of California, San Diego

Effective School-Based Program for Children with Autism
Ilene Schwartz, Ph.D., BCBA
Professor, University of Washington

Because Our Kids Are Worth It: A Parent’s Perspective on Behavioral Interventions at Home and School
Mary Elizabeth Walsh, Ph.D.
Professor, Caldwell College

Using ABA to Improve the Lives of Adults with Autism in Work, Community and Residential Settings
Gregory MacDuff, Ph.D.
Director of Adult and Community-Living Programs, Princeton Child Development Institute

What’s My Motivation?: Encouraging Children with Autism to Develop Active Learner Participation
James W. Partington, Ph.D., BCBA
Director, Behavior Analysts, Inc.

Picking the Right ABA Program for Your Loved One: Matching Learner Needs with Instructional Strategies
Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA
Professor/Director of Research and Training, Rutgers University

One-on-One Programming: Using Direct Instruction to Teach Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Cathy L. Watkins, Ph.D., BCBA
Professor, California State University, Stanislaus

A Clear Picture: Using Images to Get What You Want
Andrew S. Bondy, Ph.D.
Co-Founder, Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc.

Source:  PRWeb

The annual Easter Seals Autism Symposium will be held on February 13 and 14 in Monterey, California.  The symposium is geared towards educators, parents, therapists, social works, case administrators, and psychologists.  The Monterey Conference Center will host the 2008 symposium.  Dr. Richard Solomon, a Michigan physician, will be the keynote speaker on day one speaking on the topic P.L.A.Y. Project Level 1 Workshop Introduction to Floortime and P.L.A.Y.  Floortime and the Developmental, Individualized, and Relationship Oriented (DIR) model are based on the works of noted author and physician Dr. Stanley Greenspan.  DIR is one of several key types of autism therapy.

 Source:  Monterey Easter Seals Autism Symposium