Autism Institute 2006 - June 14-16 - Visual Strategies, Bullying and many more topics!

Mark your calendars for AUTISM INSTITUTE 2006 !!!!!

Presented by the Kentucky Autism Training Center
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville

June 14-16, 2006
Galt House Hotel - Louisville, Kentucky

***********Registration Form Attached**********************

Featuring

Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Linda is a Speech Pathologist and Communication Specialist who is the Director of Cornerstone Communication Center, an organization that provides consultation, training, and professional development with the goal of improving communication. She is internationally known for her expertise in developing the use of visual strategies to support communication for students with autism, Asperger's Syndrome and others with communication or behavior challenges. Linda is a powerful and entertaining presenter who inspires program participants to accomplish new goals with students. She shares practical information that helps achieve
excellent results in student learning and is the author of Visual Strategies For Improving Communication, Solving Behavior Problems in Autism and the video series Visual Strategies Workshop.

Rebekah Heinrichs, M.S.N., M.S. Ed.
Rebekah Heinrichs works as an educational specialist in autism spectrum
disorders. She earned a masters degree in pediatric nursing from the University of Kentucky in 1982 and a masters degree in special education with a focus on autism spectrum disorders from the University of
Kansas in 2001. Rebekah is a certified parent educator who has worked most recently with the First Steps Washtenaw: Chelsea Parents as Teachers program in Chelsea, Michigan, where she resides in the country with her husband and two teenage children. She is also a trained community facilitator with the Adults and Children Together (ACT) Against Violence program which focuses on educating adults who work with or parent young children (birth to age eight) about anger management, social problem solving, discipline and media violence. Rebekah is the author of Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying: Practical Solutions
for Surviving the Social World, published by the Autism Asperger Publishing Co. She speaks nationally regarding educational, social and bullying issues; with a special focus on how these issues relate to children
with autism spectrum disorders and other exceptionalities.

*and a Keynote Speech and sessions by*

Dave Hamrick
Dave Hamrick is a 26-year-old man with high-functioning autism. He is currently finishing his graduate degree in meteorology from North Carolina State University. His career plans include being a forecaster with the National Weather Service. In addition to his academic pursuits, Mr. Hamrick is also very active in the autism community. He has been an active board member of The Autism Program of Virginia, served as an officer of a local autism society chapter, and a frequent presenter at autism conferences throughout Virginia and neighboring states about how autism has personally influenced him. Mr. Hamrick is also writing a book about his personal experiences with autism and how parents and professionals can better understand the disorder and how to cope with difficult circumstances when they arise.


Other distrigished presenters will addressing topics such as:

Supported Employment
Teaming between Professionals and Families
Feeding and Nutrition
Assistive Technology
Social Skills Development
High to Low Tech Solutions for the Classroom
Curriculum Modification
Behavior
Data Collection

2nd Annual Autism Supports and Services Provider Expo Thursday, June
15th
The KATC has a mission to enhance supports for persons with autism by
providing information and technical assistance to families and service
providers across Kentucky. As part of this mission the KATC is hosting
the 2nd Annual PROVIDER EXPO at AUTISM 2006. The purpose of the provider
expo is to provide a networking opportunity for families and
professionals. Service providers and support organizations from across
Kentucky are invited to share information about their services and
activities. There is no charge to exhibit . For information regarding
participation, please complete the Provider Expo Exhibitor Form that
came along with this registration packet. If you have questions, please
contact Rebecca Grau at 502-852-7799 or rebecca.grau@louisville.edu

Information Sessions Friday, June 16th
Throughout the day on the 16th, 45 min. information sessions will be
presented by agencies and universities across KY regarding the programs
or services they offer to individuals with ASD across the Commonwealth.
These sessions will be open to both AI06 conference attendees and guests
of the Special Focus Sessions. CEUs will not be available for these
information sessions, but handouts that are given out by the
organizations will be available outside of the room for attendees to
take. A final listing of times, organizations and speakers will be in
the conference binder and at the registration desk.

Community Awareness Sessions Friday, June 16th During the last day of
the conference, three community awareness sessions will be offered to
the following groups:

Pre-school Professionals employed through Early Childhood and Day Care
Centers, and Health Care Professionals seeking information about Early Identification of
Autism Spectrum Disorders Law Enforcement Professionals and First Responders

If you are a member of one of these groups and would like to attend,
please complete the Special Focus Session Registration Form that came
along with this registration packet. There will be no registration
charge for these sessions, however pre-registration is required If you
would like to attend any regular sessions at Autism Institute 2006 you
must register and pay the appropriate fees.