Conference to focus on supporting and teaching autistic individuals for professionals and parents

A child, under the age of 3, has difficulty communicating, learning language and interacting with others. The child prefers to be alone and insists on following routines to precise detail. These are a few signs closely linked to autism, a neurological disorder. Coping with a disorder that affects how the brain functions and develops can be difficult. The child’s parents, believing “he'll grow out of it" or "every child is different" may delay seeking help.

Parents, teachers, counselors and others who deal with autistic children or want to know more about the disorder will benefit from “What’s Happening with Autism,” the third annual Autism Summit of Northwest Ohio. Internationally recognized speaker and former teacher Cathy Pratt will share the latest information on caring for children and adults with autism.

The conference is scheduled from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 12 at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. The College of Education and Human Development and Continuing and Extended Education and the Wood County Educational Service Center are sponsoring the event.

Pratt’s opening address will focus on supporting and teaching autistic individuals and highlight specific characteristics that challenge these individuals. The conference will also feature planning the next steps for autistic adolescents and adults beyond elementary school.

Pratt has gained first-hand experience as a teacher of students with disabilities and is expert in the areas of autism spectrum disorder and functional behavior. She is the director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University and is also an associate professor in Indiana’s graduate school. In addition to serving on the advisory boards of the Autism Society of Indiana and Christole Group Homes, she is a member of the board of directors and chairman of the Conference Committee of the National Autism Society of America.

After Pratt’s opening discussion of “Multiple Methods of Working with Persons with Autism,” participants will choose one of two tracks, focusing on either early childhood or adult issues. Each track consists of three, one-hour discussions led by local autism professionals. The topics range from handling behaviors to estate planning.

The fee for the conference is $69 with CEUs, $49 without CEUs and $15 for students. For more information on conference content, contact Lessie Cochran at 2-7298 or at llcochr@bgnet.bgsu.edu. To register, contact Continuing and Extended Education at 2-8181.