Milestones Autism Conference With OAR Sets New Attendance Record
Online, July 5, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) joined Milestones for the 9th Annual Autism/Asperger's Conference in Cleveland, Ohio on June 21, 2011. In its first Conference-on-the-Road test, OAR sponsored four presentations in the "Research to Practice" conference track. Attendees heard OAR researchers and autism experts discuss fluency, quality of life for adults with autism, social interaction programs for high school aged students, and treatment of comorbid conditions.
For Milestones, this year's conference broke all previous attendance records by a wide margin. Over 900 people attended, not just from greater Cleveland and Ohio, but also from Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida. The conference also proved a success for OAR's new approach to its education mission--partnering with established events instead of holding an independent conference. "It was exciting to see the Conference-on-the-Road approach work so well," said Allison Gilmour, Director, Programs and Community Outreach. "Our speakers were among the best around, and we thought they would be a great fit for Milestones."
In addition to the speakers OAR brought to the conference, OAR also provided complementary registrations to a number of RUN FOR AUTISM -Cleveland team members as well as parents and friends from local autism organizations and schools. OAR encouraged conference participants to join the RUN FOR AUTISM team in 2012.
Gilmour concluded, "Milestones puts on a professional conference. OAR was happy and excited to be a part of the event."
In the next test of the Conference-on-the-Road program, OAR will offer OAR a research to practice track and presentations at the Autism NJ Conference on October 13-14 in Atlantic City, NJ. OAR funded researchers will speak on positive behavior support for adults with autism in the workplace, a new intervention for teaching flexibility, and peer mediated interventions. For details or to register visit http://www.autismnj.org/29thAnnualConference.aspx.