Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007 | Number 3
ABAI's 1st Autism Conference a Huge Success! 2nd Conference Scheduled for February 2008
By Dr. William L. Heward and Dr. Maria E. Malott
Figure 1. States represented by conference attendees.
ABA International conducted its 1st Autism Conference, Progress and Challenges in the Behavioral Treatment of Autism, in Boston, Massachusetts, February 2-4, 2007. The event was organized in an effort to serve the needs of practitioners who work with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The conference was attended by more than 1,600 people from 21 countries and from 47 states in the USA. (See Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 2. Countries represented by conference attendees.
ABAI recognizes the following organizations for their assistance with and support while developing, marketing, presenting, and otherwise contributing to the planning of this event: Autism ABA Special Interest Group; Parent Professional Partnership ABA Special Interest Group; Applied Behavior Consultants, Inc.; Center for Autism and Related Disorders; Institute of Professional Practice; May Institute; National Autism Center; and New England Center for Children.
The opening reception was a success thanks to the help of the National Autism Center, which hosted a wine and cheese reception. Dr. Rachel Tarbox also provided substantial assistance during the early development of the event, for which ABA International is grateful.
The program offered a wonderful collection of speakers who addressed a variety of topics on autism. The program included 12 invited presentations. The opening address by Dr. Catherine Lord described autism in the 21st century; Dr. Bobby Newman provided a description of applied behavior analysis; Dr. Tristan Smith addressed how behavior analysis has contributed to treatment of autism spectrum disorders. The importance of science-based treatments was discussed by Dr. Richard Foxx. Language assessment and intervention was covered by Dr. Mark Sundberg; social and interpersonal skills interventions by Dr. Marjory Charlop-Christy; issues in home settings, Drs. David Wacker and David Celiberti; school-based programs by Dr. Carol Davis; the IDEIA Act of 2004 by Dr. Mitchell Yell; helping students transition to adulthood by Dr. David Test; and Asperger Syndrome by Dr. Richard L. Simpson, Ed.D.
Dr. Catherine Maurice, author of the international bestseller Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family’s Triumph Over Autism, closed the conference with a powerful presentation, Facing Autism: Some Reflections, Some Observations, Some Hopes for the Future.
A special thanks to these presenters, the majority of whom are pictured in Figure 3, who took the time to make this conference possible.
Figure 3. Conference presenters (from L to R): Richard Foxx, Bobby Newman, David Celiberti, Marjorie Charlop-Christy, Mark Sundberg, Maria Malott (ABA Executive Director), William Heward (MC), David Wacker, Carol Davis, Mitchell Yell, and Tristram Smith. Not pictured are Catherine Lord, Catherine Maurice, and Richard Simpson.
This special issue of the ABAI Newsletter includes brief articles summarizing each presenter’s talk. Representatives of two SABA Awardees for Programmatic Contributions to Behavior Analysis also made presentations about the history and accomplishments of their organizations: Dr. William Ahearn, the New England Center for Children; and Dr. Dennis Russo, the May Institute.
The program also included poster sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings in which attendees could view 171 posters on behavioral research and practice presentations.
A Round Table was held with representatives from four of ABAI’s organizational members who described their agency’s work and responded to questions from the audience: Applied Behavior Consultants, Center for Autism and Related Disorders, the Institute of Professional Practice, and the National Autism Center.
A DVD of the program can be purchased from the ABAI on-line store: https://apps.abainternational.org/store/
Evaluations of the conference were very positive and many attendees encouraged ABAI to offer a second conference in 2008. In response to this high level of interest, ABAI has planned its 2nd Autism Conference, Issues and Recent Advancements in the Behavioral Treatment of Autism: Practical Strategies for Changing Behavior at Home and School. The conference will be held Friday, February 8th through Sunday, February 10th, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia. The main focus of the conference will be to present parents, educators, and other care providers with resources and information to more confidently face the challenges of raising and educating an autistic child.
The program has been designed to be responsive to the challenges, interests, and needs faced by direct service practitioners (e.g., in-home behavioral therapists, teachers of preschool and school-age children with ASD) and parents/family members. The emphasis will be on pragmatic, research-based "how-to" information that practitioners or parents can use to improve the lives of children with autism. Dr. William Heward will provide opening remarks and introduce this outstanding group of invited speakers:
An opening reception on Friday evening will provide attendees an opportunity to view poster presentations and exhibits of autism treatment providers and mingle with other attendees and invited presenters. Other significant additions include a bookstore with works published by conference presenters, an author book signing fair, and job placement for providers.
To learn more about conference program, go to: www.abainternational.org/autconf/index
Registration for the 2nd Autism Conference can be completed at: www.abainternational.org/autconf/convreg/index
Reduced early registration fees are available until
December 11, 2007.
We hope you can join us at ABA International’s 2nd Autism Conference.