Re: Autism Conference in Seattle/ ideas for getting through the day

[Guest guest]

Good on you for going to the conference, Andromeda

Hopefully the venue will have a range of smaller seating areas in the foyer or small spaces or corridors away from the main throng. When it gets too much, pop along to one of these areas to decompress. Even going to the ladies room for breathing space will help.

Collect up the conference papers from the outset, so you can read through them throughout the day, and not only will you be able to judge what seminars are best for you, you can also ensure that you get all the necessary contacts and info in advance, in case you aren't able to stay in the room for some of the discussions.

On a practical note, I always take a backpack to put all the handouts in, so I don't end up carrying back lots of extra papers in the same handbags I took with me - no arm strain! Take some contact cards with you, with your details on, for quick exchange of addresses, if you want someone you've just met to get in touch but you aren't able to linger at the time.

If you can't stay in a particular discussion due to SPD, you could catch someone who is coming out afterwards, either an audience member, or better still the facilitator, and ask them to give you a précis of what the discussions and outcomes were. Again, contact details can ensure you get emails later, perhaps with the actual presentation power points, for example. And if you do meet up with Kirsten or Gwendolyn, you could divide up plenary sessions, or take time out, between you, and debrief later.

It's also good to express your SPD to the organisers, as they need to know if the venue has shortcomings and they should have feedback if the venue, timings, number of people in the room, etc, fails to accommodate such considerations.

It's hard to be part of the melee when you want so much to have your voice hard. That's probably why a lot on spectrum conferences are online?

I am arranging a Tourette Scotland conference next year, and finding a venue that is sensory processing friendly is paramount. Somewhere with lots of small rooms, so that the plenary sessions are just the right size, also need a room that is large, for the main debate, but not brightly lit with artificial lights, and which has a good escape route. Timings are crucial, lots of breaks and short, sharp lectures.

That's another thought. Sit near an exit so you can nip in and out if you need to go out for a calm space. As I mentioned, suss it all out - if your delegate pack has a map of the venue, look at the layout for clues of decompression spots.

And check the agenda for timings, against the layout - the big room, is it likely to have windows, be artificially lit, has it got a few doors leading off? Then you'll probably know that you can stick it out for an hour, maybe, in time to phrase up your killer question to the facilitator.

If you can't get your your questions across for any reason, go see the organisers at the tea break, and ask them to give your written thoughts to the facilitator so they can then read it out for you. Or email them in advance. Email them afterwards too.

I hope you enjoy you day, andromeda, and that you get much from it, both as a delegate but also, I am sure, as an attendee. You will add great value, as will Kirsten and Gwendolyn, with your wisdom and invaluable insight.

Judy b, Scotland xx

Sent from Judy Barrow's iPad

Kirsten, Gwendolyn, anyone else who is planning to be thereI would like to meet you, compare notes, that sort of thing....I will be daytripping from North Seattle on the bus, so no evening or afterhours events for me. Any ideas when/where/how to get together, or should we assume we all have laptops and make arrangements once we see the layout?I am realizing as I prepare that what with navigating the Metro, bringing my own food, and the conference itself on top of that - too many people, too much noise,too much information - this is going to be a real challenge. Anyone have ideas on how to make it less stressful and more productive?Andromeda