We’re looking forward to another great conference with Autism One. Please see their website for more information - I couldn’t get the photos to upload this morning!
http://www.autismone.org/category/categories/conferences/2009-chicago-conference-page
Hi everyone. I’m slowly starting to go through all my wonderful lute from the Autism One conference in Chicago. I have a brochure from www.autismfurniture.com - which I met the lovely people from Oregon who make the comfy items and Britt and I personally sat, fell, layed and fully tested them out. As an OT - she gave them two thumbs up!
The good people at Autism Furniture use specially cut foam that creates air spaces and a “zero pressure point” feel. I’m not sure what that means, but I can say the foam was comfortable and gave a lot of feedback. It also didn’t seperate and leave gaps where you’d fall to the floor.
The items they have are NESTING LOVESEATS, NESTING CHAIR SETS, THE HUG CHAIR and THE HUG BED & LOUNGER. You get to pick your own washable microfiber or velvet fabric (soft) and they can shrink the products down to ship - they bounce back to life out of the box.
Anyhow - just wanted to share them with you as my son seeks TONS of proprioception. We have bean bags and a huge crash pad that we’ve made out of a duvet cover and foam squares from Jo-Anne’s Fabric, but this furniture is better quality and less expensive than what it costs me to make our crash pad!
There’s no affiliation between TRPwellness and Autism Furniture. Just wanted to let you guys know they’re out there if this is something of interest to you.
Have a great day, Jackie
Wow - what an amazing conference. I’m so impressed with what Teri and Ed Arranga pulled together. The doctors, therapists, homeopaths, parents - everyone had so much information and research to put on the table. I left with two bags full of brochures and literature about the latest and greatest in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Thank you Autism One! I will definitely be back next year.
I’ll be blogging about all the wonderful therapies, treatments, and overall exhibitors that were there. I want to share as much as I can about the people that gathered in the name of helping each other.
Below are some fun features at the conference - I’ll save the meat and potatoes in the upcoming days.
First off - Karaoke night put on by Thriiive.com was really fun. It was a great opportunity to meet other parents and conference attendees. And now I have video of Britt singing “Waterfalls” by TLC. The rap portion is particularly fun to watch and will make for great blackmail. Kidding Britt - I’ll only show a FEW people. Thankfully, we met some lovely ladies from Iowa - big shout out!!! - who could sing for real. Sarah - I’m talking about you - and it was great to relax after a long day of learning. Thank you to Dana of Thriiive.com who worked the room and karaoke machine.
Second - Spa Night - put on by unlockingautism.org - was a wonderful, relaxing night about how to take care of ourselves ladies! They had the best smelling skin scrub I had ever smelled (Marigold!) by Lane Michaels http://www.lanemichaeldayspa.com/, yummy chap sticks, lotions and soothing eye treatments. We then went to the next room and got a demonstration by Julia of Faithfully Fit - who lead us through a stretching and relaxation routine that felt awesome. As moms of children with autism and other special needs, we often forget to breath. Thank you to unlockingautism.org for reminding us that we’re important too!
Much more to come! There is so much to share. It will take me days to sort through all the great and powerful information. Thanks for reading - Jackie
AND I LOVE CHICAGO! What a gorgeous city. Britt and I were lucky enough to sneak away on Thursday and go on a shoreline architecture tour that left out of Navy Pier. Unbelievably gorgeous tour that navigated us through the Chicago River and our brilliant tour guide explained the history behind the magnificent buildings. Highly recommend this adventure for those that attend the next Autism One Conference!
Hi Everyone - can’t wait to see you in Chicago - please look for us and come say Hi! See photo of Britt above - if you see her, I’ll be right next to her I’m sure! We’re there through Sunday and are so looking forward to the all the wonderful speakers - and Spa Night. Yes! Spa Night - how fun is that? It’s going to be jammed packed socializing and learning about the latest and greatest in the Autism Community. I’ll send interesting updates as soon as I’m back - Jackie
http://autismone.org/default.cfm?goto=chicago
Britt and I are so excited that we’ll be attending this conferene. We’re looking forward to meeting you there!
CHANGE HAS COMEHope Is Real. Children Are Recovering.
A diagnosis of or suspicion that your child has autism is devastating. After months or years of denial it cannot be denied any longer. You are faced with the greatest question of your life – how to best help your child.
The difficult step toward finding answers is a courageous one that can be as frightening as the initial suspicion or confirming diagnosis. It means recognizing and rejecting that labyrinth of Jabberwocky, gobbledygook, circular reasoning, and non-answers parents most often hear.
It means educating yourself. It means trusting yourself. It means believing your child can get better.
Your Instincts Are Right. There is a Better Way.
We have helped thousands of children by educating parents and doctors about treating the underlying biomedical conditions. Behavioral therapies will only take you so far, but add them together and that is when hope becomes reality.
This year’s theme Change Has Come reflects the immense strides our community has made over the last decade. Ten years ago no one believed a child with autism could get better. Today, thousands of children are getting better and hundreds have recovered.
Pre-Conference Programs.
There are more pre-conference choices than ever before (some like the Defeat Autism Now! Clinician Training and the Birt Center Law and Advocacy Training extend thru Friday). The programs provide the kind of in-depth coverage and, in many cases, hands-on training to help you quickly apply what you’ve learned.
The Pre-Conference Programs include:
- Art of Cooking Special Diets
- Beginning Biomed - In Spanish!
- Beyond a GF/CF Diet
- The Elizabeth Birt Center Law & Advocacy Training
- CARD Feeding Clinic
- Defeat Autism Now! Clinician Training
- First Responders
- Health & Happiness
- The Miracle Project
- Special Education Law Day
Main Conference Starts Earlier.
This year the main conference starts on Thursday evening. Please check the schedule page so you don’t miss any presentations.
With over 100 presenters you will learn from the leading researchers, scientists, educators, and parents about treatments and therapies to help your child. It’s the information that should be provided to every parent along with the diagnosis.
The main conference covers topics in 5 tracks:
1. Biomedical Treatments
2. Behavior / Education / Communication Therapies
3. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
4. Adolescence and Adulthood
5. Government / Legal / Personal Issues
Growing and Changing.
We are proud to introduce a number of needed collaborations between researchers and parents in the way of think tanks. We have always embraced the “no one is smarter than all of us” philosophy and the think tanks and symposium bring together the best researchers and scientists to learn from each other and to learn from you.
It is a wonderfully inclusive way to learn and covers such topics as the environment, language, vaccines, and residential living.
The Think Tanks and Symposium include:
• Elias Tembenis Seizures Think Tank
• Environmental Symposium
• Language Seminar/Think Tank
• Residential Think Tank and Presentations
• THRiiiVE at Autism One!
• Vaccine Education Seminar
• Afternoon with Dr. Amy Yasko
• Autism Team Forum
• Dr. Yasko Practitioner TrainingWe are proud to introduce legal and advocacy training as an integral part of the conference and as an ongoing concern to fight for our community. Get the information and training to make a difference at the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy Training.
Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Legal and Advocacy Training.
Deliberations play out in regional tempests, media parlays and turf skirmishes, but truth and justice are not served. Debates are not going to carry the day. The deciding frontiers will be in courts of law and by legislative action.
If you want to advance the cause and have wondered how best to help – get trained and join the fight.
More. More. More.
Movies, Mentor Moms, Tembenis mini-walk, Midnight Vigil, Arts Festival, Spa Night, and Special Dinners will both broaden and deepen your understanding of your child’s possibilities.
Our future lies in a multitude of voices across a collective of concerns each sharing contribution opening the door a little wider for the next mother and child.
From poets to philosophers to playwrights our community holds one common conception – when our children are treated for their underlying medical conditions good things start to happen.
You Are The Expert
No one knows your child better than you. You are not “just” a Mom. You are the expert. Your insights have been responsible for every breakthrough and eureka moment. Lend your voice to the continuing and growing knowledge of care and recovery.
Our Gratitude.
The days of “diagnosis as prognosis” are drawing to a close joining the “refrigerator mom” theory in the dustbin of history.
It was the pioneering work of Dr. Bernie Rimland, himself a father of a child with autism and the founder of Defeat Autism Now!, the Autism Research Institute and the Autism Society of America, whose selfless commitment and vision for 40 years laid the foundation to heal our children.
