Join us November 7 and 8 for two mornings of learning, sharing, and growing our understanding of autism!
Registration Information:
Cost for attendees:
Professionals: $55 for both days
Group Rate (6 - 15 people): $275
Families and Individuals: Free
Groups larger than 15, please contact Ashley Hartmann at ashley.hartmann@esmw.org for a group rate.
Schedule:
November 7:
Welcome and Opening Keynote | Liane Holliday Willey | 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
When Autism and Mental Health Issues Co-Mingle
Liane Holliday Willey
Liane is a Doctor of Education with a specialty in psycholinguistics and learning style differences. She is an academic and internationally renowned author whose books, papers, grant work, and keynote presentations have earned international praise and awards. In every role Liane pursues, her goal is to help others understand the joy that happens when we celebrate differences and individuality.
Research reports that people with autism are at a higher risk for mental health challenges than people without autism are. Yet, there is still a woefully inadequate understanding of how best to support people with autism who are in crisis. Barriers to treatment, inadequate analysis of best support practices, and incomplete understanding of autism contribute to the gap in knowledge. Individuals with autism are joining the ranks of professionals to bridge this gap with their insight and experience. In this talk, autistic author and educator Liane Holliday Willey will share her personal experiences with mental health challenges, current academic research, and thoughtful conclusions for effective autistic mental health supports.
Break | 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Breakout Session 1 | 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Session A: A to Z: Autism, Advocacy, Self-Care, Trauma, and the Zillion Things in Between
Session B: Behavior Blueprint: Your guide to Positive Behavior Change
November 8:
Breakout Session 2 | 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Session A: Crisis Response and Strategies across the Lifespan in Missouri
Session B: Medication Use in Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Break | 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Breakout Session 3 | 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Session A: Internet Safety: How to Protect against Fraud, Prevent Financial Exploitation, and Recognize Online Threats
Session B: Tools for Toilet Training
Break | 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Closing Keynote | Jennifer Cook | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Relentless Positivity (and a Little Bit of Caffeine)
Jennifer Cook
Jennifer Cook was identified as being on the spectrum in 2011. An autism advocate, on-camera expert for Netflix’s triple-Emmy Award-Winning “Love on the Spectrum US,” star of Joey Travolta’s “Lights, Camera, Friendship!,” and Autism Spectrum Disorder expert for HBO Max, she also consults for companies like Twitch and Amazon. Jennifer is the author of nine bestselling books, available in eight languages – including the foundational “The Asperkids (Secret) Book of Social Rules”, groundbreaking memoir “Autism in Heels”, and newest “My Friend Julia: A Sesame Street Book About Autism”. Among her titles are a Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Autism Society of America’s Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly “Best Book” title winner, and six of BookAuthority’s “Best-Selling,” “Best Memoir,” and “Top Autism Books of All Time” picks.
Jennifer is an alumna of Brown and Columbia Universities. She sits on the Autism Society of America’s Council of Autistic Advisors, as well as the Advisory Boards for Holly Robinson Peete’s HollyRod Foundation and NEXT for Autism. Jennifer consults for Congress’ Autism Research Panel and is a multi-award-winning international presenter who has spoken everywhere from the White House to the National Institutes of Health to royal audiences in Europe. In her work, she helps unzip hidden social rules for neurodiverse people of all ages, coaching them toward more connected, fulfilling lives and relationships. Jennifer is based in Charlotte, NC.
The 2024 Virtual Autism Conference is sponsored by:
