CAREGIVER TRACK – This track is created for parents, grandparents, siblings, and others who support an individual with autism. You will have the opportunity to network with fellow caregivers while arming yourself with tools, resources, and supports to set you and your loved one up for success. The breakout session topics will include:
- Sensory foundations and implications on behavior
- Behavior support basics
- Co-occurring mental health issues
- Utilizing DD waiver services
- Turning 18 in Virginia
SELF-ADVOCATE TRACK – This track is created specifically for adults with autism. You will have the chance to meet other individuals on the spectrum while learning more about identifying personal interests, building healthy relationships, and taking care of your mental health. The breakout session topics will include:
- Identifying interests and finding others who have similar interests
- Healthy relationships, dating and sexuality
- Taking care of your mental health
PROFESSIONAL TRACK – This track is designed for teachers, medical professionals, first-responders, business owners, and other community members to gain resources and strategies on how to best support members of our autism community. The breakout session topics will include:
- Strategies for supporting people with autism and building “Autism Friendly Communities”
- Gender differences and real-life implications
- Sensory foundations and implications on behavior
- Behavior support basics
- Communicating with non-verbal individuals
CLOSING KEYNOTE – Walter Suskind is a star of the 2017 Academy Award-nominated documentary, Life, Animated, which follows the twenty-year journey of his family with autism. The film, based the 2014 bestselling book by his father, Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Suskind, details how Walter and his younger brother with autism, Owen, formed an extraordinary rapport and mutual support system across two decades.
Walter is the founder of SibStrong, a national organization that helps siblings join together to support their differently-abled brothers and sisters.
Walter will be closing our conference sharing lessons learned as a sibling of a person with autism and how having a brother like Owen has shaped him into the man he is.
IEP CONSULTS – If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s education and Individualized Education Plan (IEP), this is a great opportunity to get answers from Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC), Virginia’s parent information and training center!
A limited number of consultations with PEATC specialists will be offered throughout the conference. A registration link for these consultations will be included in your registration confirmation email.
ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE DETAILS :
- Lunch will be included.
- A limited number of scholarships and partial scholarship are available. To inquire about these scholarships, please contact us at [email protected].
- For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, please contact us at [email protected].
- Registration closes on April 10th!
For more information about the conference, visit https://ascv.org/conference/
Click HERE to register.