Adolescence and Adulthood Presentations at the Autism One 2007 Conference

[Guest guest]

May 23-27, Chicago, Illinoishttp://www.autismone.org

Autism One 2007 Overview

Roadmap to Recovery

May 2007 marks the fifth annual Autism One Conference. Over the years we have grown and changed to meet your needs and the expanding needs of our community.

Listening to and learning from fellow parents exposes not only the urgent need for change, but provides the impetus as well. The past can no longer serve as a proper prologue of the future.This year will be a watershed time in the continuing devolution of autism. On all fronts, parental inventiveness has replaced the murky dark outlines of autism with precision and

purpose, and in doing so helped reveal many of the causes, environmental contexts and treatments for autism.We are tremendously pleased, therefore, to bring you Autism One 2007: Roadmap to Recovery. Join us and the increasing number of other families whose children continue to improve on their singular and simultaneously similar paths to recovery.

Key Initiatives 2007Autism One 2007 introduces two new initiatives. The first is the Arts Festival, the second is Law Day.

Uplifting and inspiring, art brings out the best in us. The Autism One 2007 Arts Festival serves as a bridge not only to seeing the inner beauty of our children but in reaching out to a wider audience to advance understanding of autism.

The Arts Festival features and celebrates the artistic work of families affected by autism providing the opportunity to rejoice in the creativity of the human spirit. The Festival will showcase works across a variety of artistic mediums from painting to the performing arts.

The Arts Festival will also include classes in music, ballet and painting.TWO PRE-CONFERENCE DAYS: Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24. Culinary Health - Wednesday, May 23: Nutritious food is, in many ways, the best medicine. Gluten- casein-free (GFCF) and specific carbohydrate diets (SCD) often dramatically help our children. Chronic constipation or diarrhea often clear up within days, self-injurious behaviors, aggression, and spinning are reduced, frequently eliminated, social skills from language to eye contact to conceptual capabilities blossom. Learn how easy it can be to turn your kitchen into a treasure trove of nutritious and delicious meals. Family Health - Thursday, May 24: Of course we must do everything possible to help our children. Too often moms and dads will ignore, even sacrifice, their well-being in the pursuit. We love our children with all our hearts – but this day is about you. Parents and caregivers must be as healthy as possible to enjoy life and to pass that enjoyment to their children. Family Health Day explores and addresses questions of emotional and spiritual health, as well as everything you always wanted to know about your health but didn’t know who to ask. The day is devoted to healing your body, mind, and spirit from the inside out. The world can change in a day – make this your day. First Responders - Thursday, May 24: This special day of training is suitable for law enforcement, fire rescue, public safety, emergency medical response teams, hospital ERs, 911 dispatchers, social services workers, and criminal justice agency personnel. The general public is also welcome. (Law enforcement credits are available.)Persons with developmental disabilities are approximately seven times more likely to come in contact with law enforcement professionals than others. The rising population of children with autism is coming of age. Adolescents and young adults will be less confined to supervised settings and increasingly more active in public places. Police and first response professionals will meet children and adults in field situations. 'Odd' behaviors by individuals with autism will promote concern and anxiety in an unknowing public and first responders.The Autism, Law Enforcement & Public Safety Training Day provides the skills and knowledge necessary to recognize and appropriately deal with and defuse these encounters.Law Day – Thursday, May 24: Will train members of the legal profession and interested parties to better understand and fight for our needs. The legal profession is much like the medical profession in that neither understands the overwhelming amount of peer-reviewed scientific information that points to autism as an environmentally triggered assault on a subset of genetically susceptible individuals.

Attorneys must be better trained to demand that local school districts adhere to the letter and the spirit of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While never embracing IDEA school districts have recently begun an alarming push-back policy challenging and most often denying each parental request.

The inaugural Law Day will provide training in IDEA and IEPs, vaccine injury claims, current state and federal legislation, trusts and estate planning, insurance and patient rights, as well as in other important areas. Main Conference: Friday, May 25 - Sunday, May 27 Presentations in the main conference are divided into five tracks1. Biomedical Treatments2. Behavior / Education / Communication Therapies3. Complementary and Alternative Medicine4. Adolescence and Adulthood5. Government / Legal / Personal IssuesA Lived ExperienceInformation at conferences generally flows one way. Others talk. You listen. Communication works best, however, when everyone is involved. Our community’s strength is shared stories and anecdotal evidence leading to accepted practices and breakthrough research.Workshops and Roundtable Discussions invite you to lend your voice to the learning conversations. Workshops and roundtables are small forums to more thoroughly address a variety of concerns in a give-and-take atmosphere of learning and discovery. The Mentor Program brings fellow parents to guide you. The Mentors will help you better understand the treatments and therapies as they apply to your child. Accelerating change and the way the world of autism changes is vital in advancing our children’s best care today and tomorrow. Be a catalyst for positive change at Autism One 2007.

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