Adelphi University to Host and Co-Sponsor a Conference on Autism

Garden City, NY
April 1, 2009

Adelphi University is pleased to host the conference "Issues in Independent Living for Adolescents and Adults on the Autism Spectrum" on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in the Ruth S. Harley University Center, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is the fifth annual of its kind, and is co-sponsored by the Adelphi University Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association (AHA), Asperger Center for Education and Training, The Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University, Compass Project, The Fay J. Linder Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, and the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership (GRASP). The workshops and panels include professionals from the various sponsoring organizations who offer expert knowledge and insight into issues relating to the autism spectrum from adolescence into adulthood, which is an age bracket often overlooked. There will be a wide range of exhibitors present to offer resources and program information, and the Adelphi University Bookstore will have books for sale about the autism spectrum with many of the speakers available for signings. The event is aimed toward helping individuals navigate the workforce and social environment in a way that will encourage independent development while stressing understanding of issues often faced.

Dr. Temple Grandin, an internationally known speaker who has authored numerous works on autism, will deliver the keynote address, drawing on her vast personal knowledge and experience. Moderator, Dr. Valerie Gaus, will lead in discussing the Jobs for Us Mentoring Program (JUMP), which is aimed at helping affected adults gain necessary support and skills for competitive employment. Among other items to be discussed will be the objective of helping adolescents to overcome social obstacles and form healthy relationships with their peers, in a section led by Dr. Shana Nichols. Another workshop, on identifying supports in college settings, will feature the Building Bridges Program at Adelphi, which assists able students on the spectrum adjust and thrive in a university setting.

Pre-registration is required to attend this event. To register or download a brochure, please visit www.ahaNY.org. For more information regarding the conference, please contact Patricia R. Schissel, president AHA/Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association, at PatS@ahaNY.org or 516.470.0360.

Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association/AHA Association (www.ahany.org) was formed 21 years ago out of Stony Brook University by Dr. John Pomeroy and a small group of parents seeking more support and information. AHA has grown to 10 support groups from Montauk to Manhattan, where they serve families, professionals and individuals on the spectrum, with groups for school-age issues, for families with older teens and adults, and separate groups for teens and for adults. AHA presents two major conferences yearly. Their website and electronic list serves families, individuals, and professionals in New York, as well as across the country and internationally. Answering over 2500 hotline calls yearly, they are a constant source of information, support, and referral.

About Adelphi University: Adelphi University, chartered in 1896, was the first institution of higher education for the liberal arts and sciences on Long Island. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,500 students from 41 states and 63 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.


Media Contact
For additional information, please contact:

Kali Chan Media Relations Director p - 516.877.4040 f - 516.877.3266 e - chan@adelphi.edu