Highlights

Some 2012 International Conference Highlights

More than 300 speakers and over 150 Sessions

SPECIAL KEYNOTE PRESENTATION CAROL GRAY

Carol Gray is the Director of The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1991, Carol developed Social Stories™ and Comic Strip Conversations strategies that are used worldwide with children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She has published several resources on topics related to children and adults with ASD, including articles on bullying, death and dying, and how to teach social understanding. (Carol’s complete three-part series of articles, Gray’s Guide to Bullying Parts I-III, 2000-2001,  was reprinted under one cover in a special edition of the Jenison Autism Journal, Vol 16 #1, 2004). She is the recipient of the Barbara Lipinski Award for her international contribution to the education and welfare of people with ASD.

SPECIAL KEYNOTE PRESENTATION ALISON TEPPER SINGER

Alison Tepper Singer is Founder and President of the Autism Science Foundation. Singer was formerly Executive Vice President of Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization. In 2007, she was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) where she has played a key role in developing the new federal strategic plan for autism research. She has appeared on Oprah, The Dr. Oz Show, The Apprentice, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show and many other news programs discussing autism research and other autism-related issues. Prior to joining Autism Speaks, Ms. Singer spent 14 years as a producer at NBC and CNBC. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. She has a daughter and an older brother with autism. She serves on many boards of autism-related organizations.

THOMAS CAFFREY, M.Ed., BCBA
“Three Global Causes of Problem Behavior in Teaching Children with DD, and How to Address Them”

Thomas Caffrey, M.Ed., BCBA, earned his academic degrees from Arizona State University, and from Georgian Court University where he was honored for his work in developing video-based training materials to help those working with children with autism in public schools. He completed post-graduate coursework in behavior analysis at Penn State University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Mr. Caffrey co-authored with Dr. Vincent J. Carbone a professional development training CD series “The Verbal Behavior Approach to Teaching Children with Autism” (http://www.abatoolchest.com). Mr. Caffrey has given over 200 national and international conference presentations and workshops. Currently, he provides training and hands-on support for professionals who serve children with autism or other developmental disabilities throughout the U.S. and abroad.

PETER GERHARDT, Ed.D.
“Evidence-based Practice in Support of Competence and Quality of Life for Adolescents and Adults with Autism”

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D, is the Director of Education, Upper School, for the McCarton School  in New York City. Dr. Gerhardt has more than 30 years experience utilizing the principles of  Applied Behavior Analysis in support of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum  disorders in educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. He has  authored and co-authored articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and  adults with ASD and has presented nationally and internationally on this topic.

Dr. Gerhardt serves as Chairman of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism  Research, is on the Editorial Board of Behavior Analysis in Practice and on numerous  professional advisory boards, including the Autism Society of America. Dr. Gerhardt received  his doctorate from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Graduate School of  Education.

Dr. Gerhardt’s research interests include issues related to: intensity of behavior analytic  instruction with adolescents and adults; community integration and employment;  development of adaptive behavior competencies; positive behavior supports with complex  individuals; and the use of technology to support community safety and independence.

DAVID HINGSBURGER, M.ED.
“Bullying and Teasing:  Helping People with Disabilities Cope”
“Skillful Loving, Joyful Sex”
“Safety Is Its Own Success:  Creating Safe Agencies Supporting People with Disabilities”

David Hingsburger has been involved in providing education and counseling for people with disabilities for over 30 years. In that time he has become involved in the self advocacy movement and has provided self advocates with training on abuse prevention, advocacy and rights. Dave travels internationally and gives workshops to people with disabilities, their families and care providers. He is the Director of Clinical and Educational Services at Vita Community Living Services in Toronto, Canada. A highly regarded speaker, his common sense approach begins with looking at the whole person; some of his stories are very poignant and he provides a wide variety of scenarios from which to draw. He has written more than 30 books and hundreds of articles on sexuality and developmental disabilities which are invaluable resources for parents, professionals, teachers and people with disabilities.

BRIAN IWATA, Ph.D.
“Functional Analysis and Treatment of Severe Problem Behavior”

Brian Iwata is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Florida, where he directs programs on disorders of learning and behavior.  He developed the first model for conducting functional (experimental) analyses of problem behavior, which is regarded as the standard in the field for both clinical research and best practice.  Brian is the former chief editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and former president of four national or international organizations, including the Association of Behavior Analysis.  He has published over 225 articles and chapters on various aspects of behavior analysis and has received over $7 million in research grants to support that work. 

DON MEYER
“Brothers and Sisters of People with Special Needs: Unique Concerns, Unique Opportunities”

Don Meyer is the director of the Sibling Support Project. Don is probably best known for creating Sibshops, lively programs just for young brothers and sisters of kids with special needs. Currently, there are over 340 Sibshops in eight countries. Don also created SibKids and SibNet, no-cost listservs for young and adult brothers and sisters which allow hundreds of siblings from around the world to connect with their peers.

Don was a founder of the SEFAM (Supporting Extended Family Members) program at the University of Washington, which pioneered services for fathers, siblings, and grandparents of children with special needs.

As a sought-after speaker, Don has conducted hundreds of workshops on siblings, fathers, and grandparents of children with special needs and trainings on the Sibshop model throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, Iceland, England, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan.

STEPHEN SHORE, Ed.D.
“Senses and Sensibilities:  An Inside View on Sensory Issues, What They Look Like, Avoiding Them, and Working through Ones That Occur”

Diagnosed with "Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies" and "too sick" for outpatient treatment, Dr. Shore was recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much support from his parents, teachers, wife, and others, Stephen is now a professor at Adelphi University where his research focuses on matching best practice to the needs of people with autism.

In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Stephen presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his books Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies, and the newly released DVD Living along the Autism Spectrum: What it means to have Autism or Asperger Syndrome.

President emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England, Dr. Shore serves in the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, the Board of Directors for Autism Society of America, Advocates for High Functioning Autism, and other autism related organizations.