Surrey Branch
AUTISM and CHANGE
Making transitions easier for children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders
Main speakers:
ROS BLACKBURN
JACQUIE ASHTON-SMITH
SATURDAY 25th JUNE 2005
University of Surrey, Guildford.
10.00 a.m. 4.30 p.m.
Price (including lunch): Professionals £55
Parents/carers/people with autistic disorders: £35
This conference is for parents/carers, professionals and others interested in helping children or adults with autism and Asperger Syndrome. In the morning ROS BLACKBURN, a person with high-functioning autism, will talk about her life, and JACQUIE ASHTON-SMITH will talk about why change is difficult for people on the autistic spectrum, and how to help with everyday changes and more major ones such as moving house or divorce of parents. After lunch there will be a choice of talks about transitions that every child/young person has to go through, (see back page) and after tea there will be an open forum for those attending to ask questions of any of the afternoon speakers. (N.B. We would prefer questions to be submitted in advance on the booking form, to enable us to see which topics are of interest to the largest number of people. However, time permitting, questions will also be invited from the audience at the session.)
Ros Blackburn was diagnosed at one year old as severely autistic but with average intellectual ability. Now 36, she is a highly respected international speaker on autism, and her talks are entertaining as well as being extremely informative. Although she feels that many areas of her autistic condition have remained very severe, others, such as her severe language delay, have disappeared almost completely.
Jacquie Ashton-Smith is principal of the Helen Allison School, an NAS school in Kent for pupils aged from 5 to 19. She has worked in the field of autism for 25 years, 10 as a teacher and 15 as a principal, and has specialised experience in autism, asperger syndrome and challenging behaviour. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Autism, an MBA and is currently reading for a PhD.
To reserve your conference place, send back the completed booking form opposite with cheque, to the address given, by June 1st. After June 1st, email or phone to see if cancelled places are available. For further information about the conference contact Sara Truman, NAS Surrey Branch Officer: email: nas@mugsy.org Tel: 01483-822630.
Cancellations refunded up to 1st June, less £5 administration charge. We reserve the right to change the speakers or content due to unforeseen circumstances.
BOOKING FORM
Autism and Change Saturday 25th June 2005.
To book your place, return this form with cheque* to: Mrs. S Truman, 4AWest Meads, Onslow Village, Guildford. GU2 7ST.
Please reserve me ........ Professional place(s) at £55;*
Parents/carers/people with ASDs place(s) at £35
I enclose a cheque for £ ... made out to N.A.S. Surrey Branch.
*Professionals only: if an invoice is required give name and address to which it should be sent on a separate sheet.
Name ..
Please write in BLOCK CAPITALS and use a separate form for each person. Form may be photocopied.
Address .. ... .. .... . ... ............ ......... Postcode ....... . ..
Telephone: .. .. . ......
Email . ... ...
If professional, please give job title ..... ..
Do you require: vegetarian meal? Yes / No
wheelchair access? Yes / No
Other special food or other
requirements? ....... ..
Signed .
Cancellations refunded up to 1st June, less £5 administration charge. We reserve the right to change the speakers/ content due to unforeseen circumstances.
National Autistic Society. Registered charity number 269425
AFTERNOON TALKS
Please mark your first and second choice. You can only attend one talk, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
TALK 1st/2nd
(Speaker) choice
Getting ready for infant school
.................
(Gina Davies, Head of The Little Group nursery)
Transition from primary to secondary school
.................
(Cath Manns and Diana Ennis, Autism Outreach teachers)
Provision at age 16+
..................
(Ginny Willis, Special Needs Team Leader, Connexions)
Moving into adult services
..................
(Hannah Barnett, NAS Area Manager)
OPEN FORUM
There will be an opportunity during the talks to ask questions about that topic. After the tea-break, all the afternoon speakers will take part in an open forum, answering more general questions from the audience. It would help the organisers if questions could be submitted in advance, if possible. Please write your question here: