March  31, 2008

Autism Society of the Quad Cities joins Augustana for conference on autism spectrum disorders

Rock Island, Ill. - Augustana College will host the "First Midwest Regional Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Inclusion" Saturday, April 19. The conference, sponsored by the Autism Society of the Quad Cities and coordinated with support from Augustana's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, will feature nationally recognized speakers who will address topics ranging from early childhood intervention to support at the high school and college level, and from genetic research to classroom and community inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum. For a complete schedule, session descriptions, speaker bios and registration information, see www.autismqc.org.

"The incidence of this disability continues to increase and families, teachers, and other professionals need current, accurate, research-based information," says Dr. Stacey Skoning, conference coordinator. "Our focus is on what it means to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder and how individuals on the spectrum can be included in our families, schools, and society."

The conference schedule includes a keynote presentation by Dr. Temple Grandin, who will present "My Experiences with Autism and Developing My Career" at 10:45 a.m. in Centennial Hall. An accomplished professional who holds a Ph.D. in Animal Science, Dr. Grandin will discuss how her own experience with autism has impacted her ability to pursue her education and become established in her career.

Additional presenters include, among others, Mr. Dennis Debbaudt, the author of Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals: Recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Dr. Paula Kluth, a consultant who works with teachers and families to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners; and Dr. Thomas Wassink, a University of Iowa geneticist working to identify genes that underlie susceptibility to a variety of psychiatric disorders. (See www.autismqc.org  for a complete schedule and biographical information on all conference presenters.)

Kirby Winn
Director of Public Relations
Office: (309) 794-7473 Mobile: (309) 912-1532 Fax: (309) 794-3461
publicrelations@augustana.edu