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Conference Agenda
8:30 a.m. – Registration
9:00 a.m. – Let’s Get Personal: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation with Dave & Lindsey – Presented by Lindsey Nebeker and Dave Hamrick
Many individuals on the autism spectrum and their loved ones may express ongoing and sometimes exhausting challenges associated with relationships, interpersonal communication and interaction. What can we learn from these challenges, and how can we as a community better support and enable those who are neurodivergent to feel empowered, and what can we work on ourselves in our own relationships? In a semi-informal atmosphere, Dave and Lindsey (featured in Autism in Love) will talk about their personal journey of finding love and navigating through life, expressed through spoken word, imagery, and selected scenes from the Emmy-nominated documentary film. Join us for a special session with the lovebirds as they share their stories of celebration, loss, encouragement, sorrow, wisdom, companionship, truth, power and vulnerability — and what they have learned so far through their adventure as individuals and as a couple.
10:00 a.m. – Break and resource fair opens
10:15 a.m. – Panel of adults with Autism- Presented by – Leo Bird, Dave Hamrick, Brian Johnson, Tyler Leech, Lindsey Nebeker, Abby Niederhauser, Marie Ugorek, Joel Wesselink
11:15 a.m. – Awards
11:30 a.m. – Lunch Provided
12:30 p.m. – Early intervention, social skills, developing talents, vocational training and employment, and sensory issues presented by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
2:00 p.m. – Break
2:15 – Breakout Sessions
- Managing Challenging Behavior at Home: Clinical Options and Home-Based Interventions presented by Matt O’Brien, Ph.D., BCBA – Dr. Matt O’Brien, Behaviorist & Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Iowa. This session will include an overview of the clinics that exist in Iowa to help families address challenging behavior in school and at home. Strategies to increase adaptive behavior and reduce challenging behavior at home will be provided, with a focus on function-based, caregiver-directed intervention.
- A caring conversation about explaining the diagnosis of Autism to your diagnosed child, family members, and your community. In this session we will focus on steps to help you develop a plan to help you explain the diagnosis to family and friends as well as ways they can best support you and your child. Presented by Sue Askeland and Jan Turbes
- Introduction to Social Strategies: Building and Maintaining Friendships and Relationships Presented by Paige Burden, MA, CCC-SLP and Audrey Wood MA, CCC-SLP – This session will provide an introduction to some common strategies for making and keeping meaningful friendships and romantic relationships. Additionally, presenters will review available interventions and resources for those interested in further building social skills.
- Book signing with Temple Grandin
3:15 – Break and resource fair ends
3:30 – Breakout Sessions
- Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program – Connecting to Support and Resources – Presented by: Erika Hertel, Jackie Schott, and Clementine Karl
- A Vision for Our Future 2020-2024, the strategic plan for the Autism Society and how it will impact Iowans and our Autism community locally and the autism community nationally presented by Chris Banks, Autism Society of America CEO.- Since 2020, the Autism Society has been transforming how it operates and what it is doing to serve its affiliates and the Autism community. Chris joined the Autism Society of America in January 2020. He brings with him many years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector. He has been an administrator at community hospitals, secondary and higher education institutions as well served as a consultant to many organizations that serve individuals across the country.
- Social Networking for Adults with Autism
4:30 – Adjourn
