DEADLINE EXTENSION: December 7, 2005 - 11:59PM Pacific Time     

Estimated Date of Acceptance/Not Accepted Notification: JANUARY 31, 2006

The Autism Society of America is pleased to announce the 37th National Conference to be held in Providence, Rhode Island. In preparation for the conference, we are soliciting proposals for presentations.

• ASA members and non-members are encouraged to submit a proposal to be considered. Acceptance of a proposal is not dependent upon membership status. The only accepted submission format is via the ASA Online Abstract System. If you are unable to submit online, please email technical support.
• After acceptance, a financial relations disclosure form will be required for all presentations. Without full disclosure of all possible conflicts of interest, the presentation will not be permitted. Submissions may have up to 7 Presenters but it is only mandatory that one attend.
• Please read ALL instructions below before submitting your work for review.
  Please email conference@autism-society.org if you have conference specific questions for ASA.

Proposed Format - To be considered for acceptance, proposals must include the following:

• Presentation Title: 12 words maximum
• Content Area: See options below
  
• Speaker Information: Include Complete Titles and Degrees, Mailing Address, Phone, Fax, and Email for each presenter involved in this proposal.
  
• Biographical Summary for Each Presenter: Available Length: about 100 words. Summarize the presenter’s background/experience in the area in which they would like to present. May be used for publication and is subject to editing by ASA staff. It would also be helpful to list 5-10 other conferences at which you have presented.
• Conference Program Description: An 80-word description for the Conference Program, subject to editing by ASA staff.
  
• Session Content Plan (Abstract): This description must provide information that is essential to the review process. The plan should include: details on the content that will be provided, learning objectives, and sufficient information to determine how the session contributes to best practice and advances the field of autism spectrum disorders. Suggested word length is 500-2,000 words.
  
• Upon acceptance, speakers will be required to submit additional presentation materials in electronic format for the conference proceedings and must allow their presentation to be recorded as outlined below.
  

PLEASE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY:

• All sessions are 75 minutes long in 2006. Sessions that address basic and applied research, practice, applications, issues, and related aspects are encouraged. We are particularly interested in sessions that contribute to a diverse conference program covering a broad range of topics. Speakers do not need to become members of ASA to submit, to have their work accepted or to present (however, are encouraged to do so), but ALL speakers in a session are required to register for the conference under the Speaker Registration Fee.
• Presenters will be required to submit materials in electronic format for the conference proceedings. Presenters will be required to have their presentation recorded utilizing an audio/video format that captures the voice presentation and the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation in a DVD-like format. The use of VCRs, DVDs or video that is not digitally part of the PowerPoint presentation is not recommended nor encouraged. It is advised that any video be incorporated into your PowerPoint presentation.
• Please be sure that you have appropriate permissions to utilize the video of adults or children. ASA will not provide VCR’s or other AV equipment in the concurrent scientific session room beyond a wired lavaliere and a wired lectern microphone, an LCD projector, laptop computer and screen. If audio needs to be presented, the request for a patch will need to be made in advance. On-site hook-ups will be the responsibility of the presenter(s).
• Presenters will be responsible for the rental costs of VCRs, flip-charts, or any non-standard equipment as listed above. Presenters will not be allowed to bring their own additional equipment, like a VCR, but will, with advance notice, be able to utilize their own laptop. If no advance notice is received by ASA, the additional hook-up costs will be the responsibility of the presenter(s).
• ASA does not provide and will not be able to provide for microphones for "panel" presentations, floor microphones in concurrent sessions for Q & A, wireless microphones, paper flip charts, etc. or special seating sets. All rooms will be set Theater Style with a Head Table for Three and a Lectern. There will be a raised stage/podium, if appropriate.

Review Process:

Each proposal will be reviewed by a panel of qualified individuals. Selections are based on quality and practicality of the proposed material and the need for a balanced program. All presenters must register for the conference, and have to cover their own travel costs.

Content Areas:

• Early Intervention: Treatment and Program Approaches
• Communication: Augmentative Communication, Expressive and Receptive Communication Approaches
• Education: Instructional Practices and Curriculum/IEP Development; Professional Development
• Behavior Issues and Supports: Functional Behavioral Assessment, Behavior Support Plans; ABA
• Social Skills: Strategies for Increasing Social Competencies
• Sensory Processing: Strategies for Addressing Sensory Processing Difficulties
• Family and Sibling Support: Practical Recommendations for Home, Advocacy Strategies, Success Stories
• Medicine and Research: Diet and Nutrition, Medications, Current Biomedical Research
• Transition Planning and Options for Adulthood: Employment, Residential, Self-Determination and Independence
• Personal Perspectives: Individual’s Perspective on Living with A Diagnosis, Self-Advocacy
• Technology: Use of Technology in Instruction

Please note: Upon acceptance, presenters will be required to provide additional information to facilitate their presentation and to confirm adherence to ASA’s 37th Conference policies. All submissions that are used for ASA publications (Proceedings/Program) are subject to review and editing. Submissions that do not include all the information requested above will not be considered for review. Upon acceptance, presenters grant ASA permission to use their material in future publications by ASA without charge or royalty.

CLICK HERE TO READ SESSION PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO SUBMISSIONS

READY TO SUBMIT? CLICK HERE TO BEGIN SESSION PROPOSAL