Parents of autistic children the focus of Galway conference
PARENTS of children with autism are invited to share their experiences and hear the latest research and practical advice at a conference in Galway next week. The Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN) at NUI Galway, in collaboration with the US science and advocacy group Autism Speaks, is making parents a particular focus of the event that takes place from June 11-12. This is the second year of the conference that will place a special emphasis on providing practical solutions for parents struggling with autism on a daily basis, particularly those with adolescent and adult children with the condition. â€ËœAutism Spectrum Disorders: From Research to Practiceâ€â„¢ will feature keynote talks, as well as workshops aimed at providing parents, practitioners, teachers and researchers with the latest evidence-based approaches to diagnosis, clinical management and adult service provision.[private] Workshops will be delivered on managing behaviour in the home, sleep, toileting, interventions for non-verbal, minimally verbal and verbal children and on how to manage transitions effectively. â€Å“Much of the research literature to date focuses on the needs of young children with little, if any, discussion paid to the needs of adolescents,â€Â said Dr Geraldine Leader, Director of ICAN. â€Å“For many parents, they are either currently dealing with teenagers challenged with autism, or are anticipating this new phase in a few short years. We are hosting a practical workshop as part of the conference on â€Ëœadolescence, growing up and sexuality. â€Å“Autism has become a national epidemic. This conference will bring the worlds leading experts in diagnosis, clinical management and education to NUI Galway as well as catering for the needs of parents. â€Å“International evidence indicates an alarming rise in the prevalence of autism, as reflected in the recent data from the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention which estimates that one in 88 children, including one in 54 boys, has an autism-spectrum disorder.â€Â â€Å“By way of comparison, these estimates represent more children currently diagnosed with autism than diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and Down syndrome combined.â€Â Professor Peter Gerhardt from the McCarton School, New York, will deliver an address focusing on issues relating to employment, quality of life and inclusion for adults on the autism spectrum, and Professor Susan Swedo, of the National Institute of Mental Health in the US, will update delegates on the latest changes to the diagnostic categorisations. Practical workshops addressing mood, anxiety, ADHD and the role of medication from early signs through to diagnosis will also be provided. For further information contact Geraldine at geraldine.leader@nuigalway.ie or call 091 493434. To register for the conference visit http://www.conference.ie.[/private]