I have just added a new event to my 2010 Autism Conferences directory but I wanted to make a new post so that everyone knows about this great conference being held in Ontario, Canada.

CARD Canada Autism Conference
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Galt Country Club
750 Coronation Blvd
Cambridge, Ontario N1R 8E3

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. is bringing together top autism and medical experts for a one day conference that will deliver the most effective autism interventions, the most current autism research, and information on the most successful autism curricula to date. The conference begins with a keynote presentation by world-renowned autism expert/researcher Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. The conference is designed for: parents, practitioners, caregivers and students. Cost: Parents and Students $75, Practitioners $150. For complete details and to register, visit http://www.centerforautism.com/canada-autism-conference

It is back to school time and for many families with children on the autism spectrum, this is a particularly difficult transition time. The Autism Conferences of America is helping families with the upcoming Arizona “Back to School” Autism/Asperger’s Conference. The conference will be held on September 17-18, 2010 at the Phoenix Convention Center and it will feature tracks on school, family, medical, social/speech, and teen/adult issues.

Rick Clemens, M.A. will be presenting the Friday morning keynote on going Back to School Without Any Neurotypical Peers…Definitely Not The Best Practice. During his keynote he will discuss the Inclusive Education Quality Program Indicator Checklist and Assessment Tool for Children with Autism. Saturday morning’s keynote, Social Thinking: How Does This Treatment Mix With Others Available by Michelle Garcia Winner, CCC-SLP.

The conference features a bevy of discussions in three parallel tracks for each conference day. I won’t list them all in this post but here are a few of interest:

• Learning Social Skills & Making Friends
• The Basics of Applied Behavior Analysis
• The Emotions of Autism
• Secret Study Tips For Learning to Learn
• Collaboration Between Students, Teacher and SLP
• Mitochondrial Problems in Autism
• “Empowering Students With Autism” in Bullying Situations
• Dad’s and Mom’s Lunchtime Panels

A full two-day pass to the conference runs $180 for family members but if you act fast and register and pay for the conference by this Friday, August 27, 2010 you are eligible for the early bird registration fee of $160. For more information about the Arizona “Back to School” Autism/Asperger’s Conference call (480) 831-2047.

Dr. James Garbarino, author of See Jane Hit and Lost Boys, will be speaking at a Bullying Prevention Conference at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. The conference is hosted by NAU’s Martin-Springer Institute and will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 on the campus of Northern Arizona University.

Registration for this one-day conference is only $30 and includes a continental breakfast, a full lunch, all conference materials, and a professional development certificate for six clock hours.

To register for this event, contact Melissa Cohen at (928) 532-2464.

The U.S. Autism & Asperger Association’s (USAAA) 2010 annual conference will be held in St. Louis, Missouri from October 1-3. The theme for this year’s conference is “Autism Education and Treatment: A Road to Wellness” and will feature some of the world’s leading autism experts. The keynote address at the USAAA 5th Annual World Conference will feature four of these experts: Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Martha Herbert, Dr. Stephen Shore, and Areva D. Martin, Esq.

This year USAAA is doing something a bit different with their autism conference format – the event will feature nine panel workshops in non-concurrent sessions. So now instead of trying to figure out which presentation you want to attend at 9:15, there is only one to choose from. You won’t be missing out on something pertinent in another session and you won’t forget where you’re planning on attending next. This is something new for autism conferences and it will be interesting to see how successful it ends up being. As a past autism conference attendee, I can assure you that deciding between two phenomenal presentations at the same time is extremely difficult.

Following is the schedule of panel discussions

Friday, October 1, 2010
9:00 am – 10:00 am
How Much of Autism Can Be Explained By Chronic Active Biological Processes? Martha Herbert, MD, PhD

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
“Current Status of Research and Strategies for the Future” Panel Workshop
Panelists: John Constantino, MD, David Geier, Mark Geier, MD, PhD, Martha Herbert, MD, PhD, Stephen Kanne, PhD

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
“Medical/Biomedical Cutting Edge Interventions and Treatments” Panel Workshop
Panelists: Amy Davis, MD, Phillip C. Demio, MD, Mark Geier, MD, PhD, Martha Herbert, MD, PhD

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome – Marlo Payne Thurman, MS

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Elijah’s Cup: Raising My Autistic Son, Our Involvement Together in the Advocacy Community, and My Own Ultimate Diagnosis with Asperger’s Syndrome – Valerie Paradiz, PhD

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
“High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome” Panel Workshop – Panelists: Valerie Paradiz, PhD, Marlo Payne Thurman, MS

Saturday, October 2, 2010
9:00 am – 10:00 am
My experiences with Learning, Language, Sensory problems and Visual Thinking – Temple Grandin, PhD

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
“Self Advocacy – Experiences, Perspectives, and Challenges” Panel Workshop – Panelists: Temple Grandin, PhD, Aaron Likens, Michael McManmon, PhD, Valerie Paradiz, PhD, Stephen Shore, EdD

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
“Examining Promising Approaches for Educating Children with Autism to Lead Fulfilling and Productive Lives – Stephen Shore, EdD

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
“Behavioral/Developmental Approaches” Panel Workshop – Panelists: Tom Bohager, John Guercio, PhD, James W. Partington, PhD, BCBA, Jessica Royer, Stephen Shore, EdD, Todd Streff

4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
“Support Services” Panel Workshop – Panelists: Tec Chapman, Michael McManmon, PhD, Vonda Murphy, Ann Schad, Shannon Shelley

Sunday, October 3, 2010
8:30 am – 9:30 am
“Sibling Panel Discussion”™ – Siblings of individuals on the autism spectrum will share their experiences and answer questions.

9:45 am – 10:45 am
Seven Principles of Advocacy: Standing Up for Your Child with Autism – Areva D. Martin, Esq

11:15 am – 12:45 pm
“Adjunct Therapies” Panel Workshop – Panelists: Dan Copes, Elaine Hall, Cheryl Klohr, Jenie Nowak, Ruth Ann Rehfeldt

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm
“Bringing it all together, Parent and Practitioner” Panel Workshop – Panelists: Phillip C. Demio, MD, Jason Eden, Kristin Selby Gonzalez, John Guerico, PhD, Elaine Hall, Areva Martin, Esq.

To register for the USAAA 5th Annual World Conference call (866) 208-0207.

If you are planning to attend the Fall 2010 Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) Conference, then now is the time to registration. Registration has opened and the early bird rates are valid through September 19, 2010.

The Fall 2010 DAN! Conference is one of the most popular autism conferences in the country. The DAN! program is part of the Autism Research Institute (ARI) and is known for a comprehensive and individualized biomedical approach to autism treatment and therapy. The Fall 2010 DAN! Conference will be held in Long Beach, California from October 7-10 and offers workshops for parents, caregivers, and autism professionals.

Here are a few highlights of the workshops offered:

Parent and Caregiver Sessions

• Special Diets and the Picky Eater
• Introduction to Biomedical Therapies
• The Immunology of Autism
• The Road to Recovery: Walking with Patience, Peace, and Perseverance

Science/Research Sessions

• Mitochondrial Function
• Update on Gastrointestinal Topics in Autism
• Primate Studies of Vaccine Safety

CME Approved Clinician Seminars

• Biomedical Interventions for Autism: The Paradigm Shift
• The Importance of Nutrition and Diet in ASD
• Metabolic Abnormalities in Autism: Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

CME Approved Nutrition Seminars

• Understanding Feeding Issues and Concerns in Children with Autism
• A Weston A. Price Approach to Diet
• Understanding the SCD and GAPS Approaches

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the official Fall 2010 Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) Conference website.

Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT will be holding its Autism Spectrum Disorders Summer Institute from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm on August 9 -12. The fee for this multi-day seminar is only $150.00 and individuals who attend the entire conference are eligible to earn 3 CEUs.

This four-day program is designed to provide parents, educators and professionals with an introduction to autism spectrum disorders and education/intervention strategies. It will help caregivers and teachers understand the educational needs of children with autism and will improve dialogue between teachers and parents.

Institute Speakers
Michael D. Powers, Psy.D.
Rhea Paul, Ph.D.
Kristen Powers, M.S., OTR/L
John D. Molteni, Ph.D., BCBA-D

For more information, email Cheryl Braxton at cbraxton {AT} sjc {DOT} edu.

Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) is one of three organizations collaborating with the University of San Diego to sponsor its fifth annual Summer Autism Conference. This international training event focuses on non-traditional and state-of-the-art viewpoints on living with autism that have both challenged the conventional wisdom about the disorder, and inspired a rethinking of autism – from infancy to adulthood. The three-day conference at USD’s Autism Institute will run June 28-30, 2010, and is co-sponsored as well by the San Diego Unified School District and California Supportive Living Network.

“Beyond Behaviors: Reframing Our Perceptions” offers a unique opportunity to gain new understandings of movement, health/mental health, communication and the role of relationships in developing personalized support and instructional strategies across the lifespan on an individual. It is a must for parents, educators/special educators, professional caregivers, social workers, physicians/nurses, therapists/clinicians, school district administrators, persons with disabilities and self-advocates.

“Our main goal is to provide information and inspiration,” says Jeffrey Strully, executive director of Jay Nolan Community Services. “This conference is designed for the very people who support individuals with autism every day or who are living with autism. World-class presenters with cutting edge information are coming to San Diego not only to share new perspectives, but to inspire much-needed hope in families and professionals who are helping people with autism to truly succeed.”

The Summer Autism Conference’s comprehensive curriculum, diverse range of speakers and no-holds-barred interactive discussions embrace everything that could conceivably impact the life of an individual diagnosed with autism. Presenters include Martha Leary, an expert on communication, relationships and movement, and Drs. Ruth and Steven Myers, who specialize in behavioral sciences. A myriad of important non-academic voices also will be heard, including self-advocates such as Sue Rubin and other individuals with autism who are authors of award-winning blogs.

For more information or to register for USD’s Summer Autism Conference call: 619-260-4585. You also may register by fax: 619-849-8224 (download form at: http://usd-online.org/mailfaxform.aspx). The cost for the three-day conference is $245. For two graduate-level extension credits, the total conference cost is $375. For more information about JNCS or additional information about the conference, please contact Camille Skipper Watkins at (818) 361-6400, ext 140, or cwatkins@jaynolan.org

The Autism Society of America Conference isn’t the only autism conference taking place this summer. Autistics and proponents of neurodiversity from around the country will be gathering in Bradford, Pennsylvania to attend Autreat 2010. The theme for this year’s event is Living Life the Autly Way and it runs from June 28 through July 2.

As with any autism conference, a variety of speakers will discuss a menagerie of topics. One of my favorite workshops is scheduled for the closing day of the conference – the “Ask an NT” Panel. Traditional autism conferences typically have a panel of individuals with autism. Since Autreat is a different kind of autism conference, they have an Ask an NT panel, in this case, NT = neurotypical.

Other topics that are on the agenda include:

• The Ethical, Scientific, and Societal Implications of Grading Autistic People with Amanda Baggs, Drew Morton Goldsmith and Morton Ann Gernsbacher
• Countering Bullying and Cyberbullying: Strategies, Approaches, and Recommendations from the Autistic Community and Allies and Supporters with Scott Michael Robertson
• Pseudoscientific Medicine: What It Is and How it Harms Autistics with Alexander Cheezem
• How They Hate Us: Common Forms of Prejudice Against Autistics with Ari Ne’eman

For more information, visit the Autreat 2010 website.

The following is a list of workshops that focus on the behavioral aspects of autism that will be offered at the 2010 Autism Society of America Conference, which will take place July 7-10, 2010 in Dallas, Texas.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

• Behavior Modification through the Use of a Service Dog with Karen Shultz, B.S., Nursing and Sally Montrucchio, CPDT
• Building Bridges: Integrating Sensory Processing and Visual Thinking Strategies to Improve Behavior with Carole A. Kaulitz, M.Ed., CCC-SLP and Neatha Lefevre, M.Ed., OTR/L
• Outsmarting Explosive Behavior: A Visual System of Support/Intervention for Individuals with ADS with Judy M. Endow, MSW
• The Concession Process: Understanding Challenging Behavior in Autism Spectrum Disorders with V. Mark Durand, Ph.D.

Friday, July 9, 2010

• Behavior Management and Trauma in Youth with ASD: Intervening without Causing Harm with Sherry A. Moyer, MSW
• Decreasing Behavior Challenges: Less Time Spent Coping is More Time Spent Learning with Patrick Rydell, Dr.
• Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis with Nina Finkler, M.Ed., LDT/C, BCBA, Anne S. Holmes, M.S., CCC, BCBA, James Ball, Ed.D., BCBA and Cathy Pratt, Ph.D., BCBA

Saturday, July 10, 2010

• Reinforcement: Beyond M&M’s & Token Economies with Karen Umstead, M.Ed., BCBA
• Behavior Training for Parents of Children Who Display High-Intense Behaviors with John Kabot, M.Ed., BCBA and Melissa DeVincentis, M.S., LMFT, BCBA
• A Comprehensive Staff Training Package for Behavioral Interventions for Children with Autism with Kellyn Johnson, B.S., Shahla Ala’I-Rosales, Ph.D., BCBA-D and Nicole Zeug, M.S., BCBA

The following is a list of sensory integration workshops that will be offered at the 2010 Autism Society of America Conference, which will take place July 7-10, 2010 in Dallas, Texas.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

• Building Bridges: Integrating Sensory Processing and Visual Thinking Strategies to Improve Behavior with Carole A. Kaulitz, M.Ed., CCC-SLP and Neatha Lefevre, M.Ed, OTR/L
• Sensory Issues and Emotions: Assisting Individuals with Self-Awareness and Strategy Development with Lauren Heller Kerstein, LCSW
• When Sensational Kids Become Sensational Adults: A Personal Journey with SPD with Meredith Joseph Blaine, Graduate student and Adult with Asperger’s