U of Redlands Autism Conference

8:15-8:45am
"Autism 101: Understanding Diagnostic Criteria & Dispelling Autism Myths"
by Emily Iland, M.A.

This session is for you if you are new to autism, want to better understand the diagnostic criteria for Autism/Aspergers, or want to find out about autism myths (ex: Can someone have autism and good eye contact?) After attending this informal discussion, you will understand how your child/student's autism diagnosis was made, and recognize autism myths.

Registration is closed for this session. Please notify Lisa Iland at redlandsautismconference@yahoo.com if you would like to cancel your Autism 101 reservation. If you couldn't make it for Autism 101 but still want to see it, the session will be on the conference DVD. DVDs will be available for order at the conference in the Exhibitor's Hall.

Opening Keynote
Family Well-Being: The case for a new family autism resource
center at UC Riverside [SEARCH]
Jan Blacher, PhD
Click here for more information on the SEARCH program.
Click here for an article on the SEARCH program.

Panel 1: Strategies for Intervention
"Navigating Service Systems"
Emily Iland M.A.
What are 'appropriate services' and how do you get them for a child or adult with autism? Participants will learn how to navigate the special education and regional center systems.

"The Power of Language"
Gina Rocque M.A., CCC-SLP
The language we use with children can significantly affect their behavior,
social understanding and interactions, expressive and receptive language
skills and more! Learn the difference between imperative and declarative
language, discover the power of experiential language techniques, and make a positive impact on the children with whom you interact and the environment with which you and the children share.

"Empowering Parents to Promote Communication and Social Skills"
Cindy Wineinger M.S., CCC-SLP
With the dramatic increase in the prevalence of diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders, public and private resources are stretched to their financial limits. Additionally, the severe shortage of trained professionals with knowledge and expertise in speech, language and communication nationally and specifically here in San Bernardino County is impetus to rethink the traditional service delivery model of direct service exclusively.

This presentation will focus on the description of a family-focused program that gives parents of children with autism spectrum disorder practical tools to help their children communicate. MORE THAN WORDS, developed by the Hanen Centre in Toronto, Canada is a relationship-based program that helps parents to learn to use the routines of their daily lives to promote interaction and communication.

The program based in Social Pragmatic Theory is lead by a Hanen certified speech-language pathologist and is supported by clinical research. The philosophy and rationale of More Than Words will be explained as well as an overview of the course content. Video demonstration excerpts of parents using the program’s strategies will be shown. Information for parents on how to access the program or to encourage public agencies to adopt the MTW program will be discussed.

Afternoon Keynote
"Inclusion: Making it work"
Gina Rocque, M.A., CCC-SLP
Explore inclusive educational practices. Find out what inclusion means and how to make it work in schools. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of educators, students and families. Discover strategies for success and how inclusion can benefit all children.









						1200 East Colton Ave. Redlands, CA 92373 Email: Lisa Iland RedlandsAutismConference@yahoo.com







Morning Session 8:15-8:45am "Autism 101: Understanding Diagnostic Criteria & Dispelling Autism Myths" by Emily Iland, M.A. This session is for you if you are new to autism, want to better understand the diagnostic criteria for Autism/Aspergers, or want to find out about autism myths (ex: Can someone have autism and good eye contact?) After attending this informal discussion, you will understand how your child/student's autism diagnosis was made, and recognize autism myths. Registration is closed for this session. Please notify Lisa Iland at redlandsautismconference@yahoo.com if you would like to cancel your Autism 101 reservation. If you couldn't make it for Autism 101 but still want to see it, the session will be on the conference DVD. DVDs will be available for order at the conference in the Exhibitor's Hall. Opening Keynote Family Well-Being: The case for a new family autism resource center at UC Riverside [SEARCH] Jan Blacher, PhD Click here for more information on the SEARCH program. Click here for an article on the SEARCH program. Panel 1: Strategies for Intervention "Navigating Service Systems" Emily Iland M.A. What are 'appropriate services' and how do you get them for a child or adult with autism? Participants will learn how to navigate the special education and regional center systems. "The Power of Language" Gina Rocque M.A., CCC-SLP The language we use with children can significantly affect their behavior, social understanding and interactions, expressive and receptive language skills and more! Learn the difference between imperative and declarative language, discover the power of experiential language techniques, and make a positive impact on the children with whom you interact and the environment with which you and the children share. "Empowering Parents to Promote Communication and Social Skills" Cindy Wineinger M.S., CCC-SLP With the dramatic increase in the prevalence of diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders, public and private resources are stretched to their financial limits. Additionally, the severe shortage of trained professionals with knowledge and expertise in speech, language and communication nationally and specifically here in San Bernardino County is impetus to rethink the traditional service delivery model of direct service exclusively. This presentation will focus on the description of a family-focused program that gives parents of children with autism spectrum disorder practical tools to help their children communicate. MORE THAN WORDS, developed by the Hanen Centre in Toronto, Canada is a relationship-based program that helps parents to learn to use the routines of their daily lives to promote interaction and communication. The program based in Social Pragmatic Theory is lead by a Hanen certified speech-language pathologist and is supported by clinical research. The philosophy and rationale of More Than Words will be explained as well as an overview of the course content. Video demonstration excerpts of parents using the program’s strategies will be shown. Information for parents on how to access the program or to encourage public agencies to adopt the MTW program will be discussed. Afternoon Keynote "Inclusion: Making it work" Gina Rocque, M.A., CCC-SLP Explore inclusive educational practices. Find out what inclusion means and how to make it work in schools. Learn about the roles and responsibilities of educators, students and families. Discover strategies for success and how inclusion can benefit all children. Panel 2: Autism in Society & Family Perspectives "Finding Fit In the Workplace for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum" Beth Haley, PhD The presentation will include recent statistics and studies about AS and the workplace. Individuals with disabilities are afforded some protection and assistance in the workplace by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). How AS is classified in the ADA will be examined. The types of jobs that seem to offer a good fit for many adults with AS, as well as identifying the typical workplace obstacles that they face will be presented. And for parents and professionals assisting individuals with AS, a summary of the teachable skills that are essential for success in their adult years will be discussed. “Maintaining Family Balance” Emily Iland, M.A. Parents of a child with autism often struggle with complex, multiple demands every day. This session explores the perspectives of parents and all family members. Specific ideas and strategies are offered including specific ways parents and professional can support the siblings of the person with autism. "Aspergers and Adolescent Social Skills" Lisa Iland This presentation will explain the unwritten teen social code that typical teens follow. Socializing with typical peers is sometimes challenging for teens with AS and HFA, this presentation will explain why, and give parents and professionals some insight on what peers today expect in a friend. "Perspective of an Adult with ASD" Tom Iland Tom Iland is an Accounting Major who will graduate from Calfornia State University, Northridge in 2008. He is also an intern in the accounting department at Disney in Glendale. Tom shares his perspectives as an adult on the autism spectrum, including what has helped him the most. "Autism, Power, and Personhood" Bill Rocque, PhD Who gets to decide that the collection of behavioral characteristics we call autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) ought to be considered pathological? Certainly this is the prevailing view within medical and therapeutic fields. To question it is almost to invite criticism on oneself, to suggest that somehow you are not “dealing with reality.” But there has been a surge of writing, in print and on the web, by people on the spectrum (and with other disabilities more generally) who argue that having autism/being autistic is fundamental to who they are as persons, that autism is better understood as diversity than disorder, and that they have the right to remain autistic, thus rejecting the notion of a cure for the condition. My talk will focus on pointing up the tensions that exists between these two conceptions, and drawing out the implications of each for the personhood of people with ASDs and for society more generally.