2011 Conference on Autism
The Utah Valley University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Health are pleased to present the 2011 Mental Health Symposium: Focus on Autism Conference. The conference is planned for Monday, April 11th 2011 in the Sorensen Student Center.
The conference is designed to provide basic information on a broad variety of topics associated with Autism. Presenters will include clinical professionals, medical and genetic researchers, service providers, parents of autistic children, educators and support organization representatives. Anyone with an interest in autism or a need for information on the topic will find valuable insight offered in this one-day conference.
Beginning at 9am, the conference will open with a 2-hour Forum Discussion. The Forum will feature presenters who will highlight key elements of their full concurrent session presentations scheduled for later in the day. It is designed to provide solid information in a very short timeframe for those who may be unable to dedicate the entire day to conference attendance.
A luncheon will follow the Forum at noon, and feature our keynote speaker JaLynn Prince. Mrs. Prince is the Founder and President of Madison House Foundation, named after her 20 year old son, Madison, who has severe autism. The Madison House Foundation benefits individuals with autism as they transition to adulthood. Madison House has sponsored many conferences and round table discussions, educating hundreds of parents and professionals on various aspects of autism. In 1999, Ms. Prince was named the National Young Mother of the Year. Her platform consisted of issues facing families of children with disabilities, which she presented to numerous national and international audiences. She is on the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Advisory Board, the Utah Valley University School of Humanities and Social Sciences Advisory Board, and the American Mothers Inc. National Board.
At 1pm the conference continues with a selection of concurrent sessions. Sessions will feature topics such as:
- Legal Rights Workshop: what are the legal rights of autistic individuals and what sources of legal assistance are available to them
- You Have a Diagnosis – Now What: designed to answer some of the initial questions parents have following a child’s diagnosis – what will my child’s future look like, how will they progress within the school system, how can I help them develop to their full potential – and more.
- Genetic Research – what are the latest findings and trends in autism-related genetic research? How does it impact the future of autism-related services and education?
- Teaching Basic Life Skills – how can I help my child understand the importance of ordinary life skills like personal hygiene, interpersonal contact, how to make friends and what is socially acceptable behavior? Autism professionals will offer insight and practical information to help answer these hard questions.
A full program will be available on our conference website soon – www.uvu.edu/chss/autism.
Sessions will run on the hour and the conference will conclude at 5pm.
The conference will also feature numerous informational exhibit booths hosted by Autism services providers. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to meet with these providers and secure much needed information on services available to meet the challenges facing individuals with autism and their families.
We invite anyone interested in autism and autism-related topics to join us. Registration fees are $19 for advance registration (until April 4th), and $29 at the door. This fee includes lunch, parking, shuttle transportation from the parking areas and all materials. Private shuttle transportation will be provided for conference attendees from the parking area to the Sorensen Student Center. The shuttle will pick-up and drop off every 15 minutes from Parking areas Y and V. A parking map and additional information can be found on our conference website under the tab titled Parking.
If you have questions or need additional information please feel free to call 801-863-6816.
We hope to see you on April 11th!