The first Aroostook County Autism Conference will be held Friday, Oct. 7, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Campus Center, with lunch provided. Keynote speakers for the morning session will be Larry Bissonnette and Tracy Thresher, from the documentary Wretches and Jabberers. The afternoon presenter will be Dr. Margaret Bauman, who mapped the first differences between a typical brain and a brain with autism. Her discovery demonstrated for the first time that autism was related to abnormalities of brain development and not to poor parenting. Other topics and presenters include: TAMC child psychiatrist Dr. Silvia Merida Copeland, discussing medication management; Dr. Paul Johnson, BCBA, presenting a workshop on Conjoint Behavioral Consultation, fostering home/school collaboration; Dr. Ajay Rana, a pediatric gastroenterologist from Eastern Maine Medical Center, speaking about autism-associated GI issues; and Atlee Reilly, Esq. from Disability Rights Maine, talking about education rights for students with disabilities and supportive decision making and alternatives to guardianship. Sponsors of the event include Thompson Hamel, LLC, TAMC, Graves Shop and Save, MMG Insurance, United Insurance, and State Farm Insurance/John Harvell. Pre-registration is required and must be received no later than Monday, Sept. 26. No walk-in registration will be available. The cost is $25 for an individual with ASD; $45 for parents, guardians, non-profit organizations, and students; and $60 for professionals, with a continuing education credit (CEU) if needed. All fees are non-refundable. To register, visit www.aroostookautismsupportgroup.org/october-conference.html.
