The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Membership review and information sources will be included as well as a briefing on voting in the national election by a father and son(deafness and autism) team. A psychologist will present family involvement, mental health and diversity issues among the deaf community and in group homes. A speech and language pathologist will describe the Rose-Mary Center’ s multi-sensory room adaptations and benefits for our target group, including less expensive home-based items. The Network Meeting will review growing membership via our association with the Autism Research Institute and website, www.autism.com.  Our national and international members include individuals and family members as well as professionals working toward our goals to build connections, reduce isolation experienced with the increased demands of dual disabilities and to encourage specialized research within our subgroups of unique individuals.  Updates on current issues specific to our members concerns in visual and hearing impairments as well as living with autism will be included.   This year, we will fortunately have a direct report from a young man with autism and deafness who voted in the national elections.  His father will present adaptations allowed under disability laws.
A more formal presentation will follow by a psychologist who  has been recognized for his efforts in developing special programs to address the communication and cultural  needs of  people in the deaf community, especially in Illinois.  He will briefly present an overview of research on the issues that confront individuals with deafness and autism and their families addressing different issues among parents also deaf or hearing.  He will discuss changes in previously described acquired autism, diagnostic and educational patterns following individuals developmentally from early childhood through young adulthood and living in group homes. Dealing with behavioral challenges across time and in different communication environments will be reviewed. Transitioning to adult programs in sheltered workshop settings and vocational rehabilitation also presents unique challenges. Time will be allowed for dialogue and questions regarding social emotional health needs and resources.
The next major presentation will be by a  Speech and Language pathologist working at the Rose-Mary Center in Ohio; it is a residential center for children and young adults with a wide range of developmental challenges including autism and visual and hearing impairments.  Seven community based group homes are also attached to the main facility. She will share her experiences in Neuro-Developmental Treatment and Learning Styles of Individuals with Autism.  Her focus at the meeting will be on Multi-Sensory Environments. To provide unique opportunities for learning, increasing attention and use of senses as well as encouraging relaxation.  The presentation will also include examples and ideas for incorporating similar experiences in a home or community residence using less expensive materials.  
Panel members are always available to address individual concerns and provide resources when possible.  This is done with the understanding that professionals are not able to provide diagnostic and direct treatment information in such a setting. Individuals with autism and hearing or visual impairments are always welcome to attend but this cannot be considered as an opportunity for direct clinical consultation.

Learning Objectives: