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April 23, 2008
The 2008 “Lighting The Way: Autism Spectrum Disorders in our Community” will be held June 12-13 at Augustana College.
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Today, one in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism and it occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others.
Featured speakers for the June conference are Kristi Sakai, Valerie Paradiz, and Elijah Wapner.
KRISTI SAKAI is the mother of three children, who along with her husband have all been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. She is the author of “Finding Our Way: Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family.” Her publication earned the Autism Society of America’s 2006 Literary Work of the Year in the family social category.
VALERIE PARADIZ, PhD, is a writer and co-founder of the Open Center for Autism, a day school and community center that offers educational and therapeutic programs for students diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Asperger Syndrome, and PDD.
ELIJAH WAPNER, the son of Valerie Paradiz and a teenager diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, is a budding performer who has developed an interest in comedy. Elijah speaks with his mom on topics such as adolescence and Asperger Syndrome, how humor can support developing social skills and social awareness, and tips and insights for parents, teachers, therapists and other professionals in the autism community. He has been featured on MTV’s True Life, on Japanese Public Television, and in the New York Times and Redbook Magazine. His quirky sense of humor and courage to learn social ability through humor is an inspiration to families and practitioners.
The June 12-13 conference is sponsored by Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities, South Dakota Parent Connection, Children’s Home Society, Children’s Care Hospital and School, Southeastern Behavioral Health Care, Sioux Falls School District, Prairie Freedom Center, and Augustana College.
Participation in this conference is recommended for educators, parents, social workers, counselors, therapists, adult service providers, and businesses.
The cost is $100 for both days. To register, call (605) 274-4126, or go online at www.augie.edu/autism. The registration deadline is June 2.
Contact: Bruce Conley
Director of News Information
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu