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2824 Helping Teens and Adults with Autism through Personal Crises

Saturday, July 14, 2007: 10:00 AM-11:15 AM

Herberger Ballroom 5 & B (The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa)

The purpose is to share methods to help teens and adults with autism who feel hopeless, suicidal or otherwise in crises. It is to help people respond to these people in a way that directs them to supportive resources and helps them find reasons to live rather than reasons to end a life or the lives of others they know. The panel will include experts in "first-response" techniques and autistic people who have survived having crises-level experiences. Each panelist will have fifteen minutes to speak on the general subject. The two "experts" will focus on techniques. The two adults with autism will focus on their own experiences and those of friends in support groups either on-line or groups that meet physically together.

There will be fifteen minutes allowed for questions at the end of this session.

Learning Objectives:

How to respond to an autistic person in crises
How to share appopriate resources
How to follow up initial contact
How to initiate emergency support locally
How to get more training

Content Area: Behavior Issues and Supports

Presenters:

Mary Meinel Newport
Author, Advocate, Individual with AS and has Spouse with AS, Former Driver
Self

Diagnosed with Asperger's, manic depression, head injuries, and PTSD, Mary is the mother of two adult, independent sons who were never diagnosed but exhibit ASD traits and grandmother of two. She is a also a former piano tuner, gemologist, actress and current artist and composer. She drove for almost three decades but no longer does because of health issues.

Gerald (Jerry) Newport, B.A., Math
Author/Advocate/Spouse of AS mate and with AS
Self

Jerry Newport, 57, discovered autism when he saw "Rain Man." Before diagnosis with Asperger Syndrome in 1995, Jerry founded AGUA, peer-run adult ASD support group in Los Angeles, where he met Mary, also Aspergian. Both appeared twice on Sixty Minutes and wrote three books on Asperger Syndrome. "Mozart and the Whale", movie inspired by the Newports, should reach American theaters in 2006. A joint autobiography with that name - due from Simon and Schuster in January 2007. The Newports have worked in tax consulting, gemology, piano tuning/repair and finance. They live in Arizona with one Cockatoo, eight Cockatiels and two Parakeets.

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