Asperger's Syndrome Presentation

at the Radisson Hotel in Corning NY 

Asperger’s Syndrome,
High Functioning Autism and PDD-NOS:
Building Confidence Through the Life Span
Presenter: Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.
This workshop offers practical strategies for families, educators, and professionals who care for and work with children and adults diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, highfunctioning autism, and PDD-NOS. In this two-part seminar, participants will learn about the life span of individuals with AS/HFA/PDD-NOS from early childhood to adult life. Practical strategies will be offered in the areas of self-monitoring/self-regulation, self-advocacy, and creating safe, supportive home and school environments that foster social development and emotional confidence. Part I will focus on children in primary and middle school grades, including transition into early adolescence. Part II covers older adolescence, the high school grades, and transition into adulthood.
Valerie Paradiz, PhD, is a writer and the co-founder of the Open Center for Autism (www.oautism.org) and the ASPIE School Program. Her work developing pioneering educational
programs for children with ASDs has been featured in the New York Times, Redbook Magazine, The Guardian Newspaper, Autism Spectrum Quarterly and on NHK, Japanese
Television.
Valerie’s memoir, Elijah's Cup: A Family's Journey into the Community and Culture of High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome (Jessica Kingsley, 2005) is the
compelling story of the author's experiences raising her autistic son, their involvement together in the grassroots self-advocacy community, and her own ultimate diagnosis with Asperger's syndrome. The book offers readers an insider’s history and celebration of autistic culture, including profiles of individuals who are now believed to have had autistic-like traits, such as visual artist, Andy Warhol, comedian, Andy Kaufman, and physicist, Albert Einstein. Valerie has several forthcoming books on topics in education and self-advocacy and continues to publish literary non-fiction, including the recent narrative history, Clever Maids: The Secret History of the Grimm Fairy Tales (Perseus, 2005).
Valerie speaks and consults nationally and internationally on Integrated Self Advocacy (ISA), a model curriculum and comprehensive seminar series she developed specifically for schools and families in supporting and fostering emerging self advocates diagnosed with ASDs. She also speaks on topics such as parenting strategies, improving and creating school programs for children with ASDs, strengthening advocacy skills in parents, professionals and individuals on the autism spectrum, and developing emerging talents in children with ASDs. For information about upcoming events and conferences, visit
www.valerieparadiz.com