{"id":1110,"date":"2014-10-20T19:26:28","date_gmt":"2014-10-21T02:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aascend.org\/?page_id=1110"},"modified":"2014-10-20T19:30:17","modified_gmt":"2014-10-21T02:30:17","slug":"1110-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.aascend.org\/?page_id=1110","title":{"rendered":"Conference Details 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fifteen years! A lot has happened in the decade and a half since AASCEND was born in a conference at San Francisco State University. At the outset few Americans had heard of autism and even fewer considered that autistic children one day become autistic adults. All that has changed, due in part to the efforts of groups like AASCEND across the nation. AASCEND is now one of America’s oldest nonprofits specifically dedicated to the needs of adults on the autism spectrum, and AASCEND’s model of collaboration among autistic adults, family members, and professionals who work with them inspires groups nationwide.<\/p>\n

At the Innovation at Work conference, AASCEND’s seventh, AASCEND returns to its roots in a collaboration with the Autism Spectrum Studies program at San Francisco State University.<\/p>\n

\"logo\"<\/p>\n

For too long many adults on the autism spectrum have been excluded from the mainstream or marginalized because of their differences. For the past fifteen years, however, AASCEND has been a community of passionate volunteers on and off the autism spectrum who promote the belief that a society that includes everyone benefits all. Innovation at Work salutes leaders on and off the autism spectrum who are finding new ways for autistic adults to live, work and socialize successfully.<\/p>\n

Wrong Planet<\/em>, led by\u00a0Alex Plank,\u00a0creates community and connection online with more than 80,000 members. Members can follow and discuss the latest issues relevant to autism and Asperger\u2019s, watch Autism TV or even check out the dating scene. By advising media on portrayals of characters with autism, Plank helps create better social understanding and a more neurodiverse society.<\/p>\n

Jose Velasco,\u00a0head of\u00a0SAP\u2019s\u00a0new\u00a0Autism at Work<\/em>\u00a0program,\u00a0believes workers on the spectrum have unique skills and capabilities that can contribute to a company\u2019s bottom line. Having worked with the first cohort of spectrum employees at SAP, Velasco has insights into how companies can hire autistic workers and potentially gain a competitive advantage.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Employment on the Spectrum<\/em>\u00a0panel presents an up-to-date overview of model programs and employment opportunities for autistic workers in the United States and Europe, in microenterprise, corporations and government. Additionally, the panel will address how the Department of Rehabilitation can assist in a job search.<\/p>\n

Women on the Spectrum<\/em>\u00a0introduces a diverse group of autistic women. Their wide ranging experiences will offer insight into what it means to be a woman living on the autism spectrum and their dreams for the future.<\/p>\n

\"AASCEND<\/p>\n

Breakout sessions\u00a0explore\u00a0Social Thinking; Spectrum Employment Community on Linkedin; College Programs that Support Autistic Students; Autistic Global Initiative and their new documentary on Trauma; Friends Like Me and Autism-Specific Social Programs; Meditation; Personality Types; and Becoming an Autism Professional.<\/p>\n

While this conference primarily addresses the needs of what have been termed Asperger\u2019s or High Functioning Adults on the autism spectrum, AASCEND expresses solidarity with all who are living anywhere on the autism spectrum, their families and allies.<\/p>\n

CEUs offered:\u00a0This conference meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit for\u00a0MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and LCSWs\u00a0as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.\u00a0Details below.<\/p>\n

Ticket price\u00a0includes lunch and refreshments.\u00a0Conference\u00a0registration begins at 8:30am, October 18. \u00a0 Some program changes are possible.\u00a0Follow AASCEND on the\u00a0web<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0facebook<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Out of respect for attendees with sensory sensitivities\u00a0please do not wear perfumes, colognes or overly scented products to the conference.\u00a0Thanks!<\/p>\n

SPECIAL SESSION for Software Employers\u00a0\u00a0Friday October 17 \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0Details<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0(2-page pdf brochure)<\/p>\n

\"AlexKeynote speaker\u00a0Alex Plank\u00a0is creator of the influential autism website\u00a0Wrong Planet<\/a>. Wrong Planet is tthe web community designed for individuals (and parent\/professionals of those) with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs and other neurological differences<\/p>\n

\"Jose<\/p>\n

Keynote speaker\u00a0Jose Velasco\u00a0heads software giant\u00a0SAP’s\u00a0Autism at Work<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>program in Silicon Valley, designed in accord with the successful\u00a0Specialisterne<\/a>\u00a0model from Denmark. “Innovation comes from the edges. That’s why SAP plans to recruit hundreds of people with autism, making use of their unique talent for information technology.” SAP TV<\/p>\n

\"MichelleMichelle Garcia Winner\u00a0is an internationally recognized voice on the subject of social learning\u00a0on the autism spectrum\u00a0at all ages. She is the author of multiple books, including\u00a0Social Thinking at Work\u00a0and\u00a0Socially Curious and Curiously Social:\u00a0A Social Thinking Guidebook for Bright Teens & Young Adults.\u00a0Ms. Garcia Winner is recipient of\u00a0AASCEND’s 2014 Education Award.www.socialthinking.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"PaulettePaulette Penzvalto\u00a0is a classically trained opera singer, administrator and co-chair of\u00a0GRASP<\/a>\u00a0(Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership) based in New York City. Ms. Penzvalto employs her talents in support of international disabilities advocacy through her work at\u00a0YAI\u00a0<\/a>Seeing Beyond Disability<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and as an author and journalist. She produced this\u00a0video<\/a>\u00a0for National Geographic’s ExpeditionGranted \u2014 advocating support for\u00a0Expedition: Autism,\u00a0a trek across the Greenland ice cap led by fellow autistic expeditioner Paul Nussbaum. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0www.paulettepenzvalto.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"MichaelMichael Bernick\u00a0is former\u00a0Director of California’s labor department, the Employment Development Department. A fellow of the Milken Institute in employment policy, he helped create programs for people with autism at California State University East Bay and at William Jessup University.\u00a0He helped develop\u00a0The Specialists Guild<\/a>, employing persons with autism in software testing, and the\u00a0Autism Job Club<\/a>\u00a0for building extra-governmental autism employment networks. He is\u00a0the author of the upcoming book,\u00a0The Autism Job Club<\/em><\/a>\u00a0. Michael serves on the AASCEND Board of Directors.<\/p>\n

\"PamelaPamela Wolfberg\u00a0is Professor of special education in the area of\u00a0Autism Spectrum Studies<\/a>\u00a0at San Francisco State University. She is originator of the\u00a0Integrated Play Groups\u00a0model and founder of the\u00a0Autism Institute on Peer Socialization and Play<\/a>. She is widely published and leads research, training and development efforts to establish inclusive peer socialization programs worldwide.<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/p>\n

Paul Nussbaum\u00a0is an autism speaker and consultant with wide experience presenting to teaching professionals about coping with autism and transition to successful employment. Paul has appeared in several documentary films about autism, including the recent\u00a0Trauma Warriors<\/a>\u00a0about the often unrecognized kinds of trauma experienced by autistics. Paul serves on the executive committee of the\u00a0Autistic Global Initiative<\/a>\u00a0and on AASCEND’s Board of Directors. An avid outdoorsman, Paul spearheaded the\u00a0Conquering Heights\u00a0<\/a>trans-Sierra winter expedition highlighting autistic ability, and currently plans a more ambitious trip across the\u00a0Greenland icecap<\/a>\u00a0to further awareness of autistic ability. Paul founded and runs a successful handyman business.<\/p>\n

\"BrianBrian Jacobs, co-founder of\u00a0Emergence Capital<\/a>, has over 20 years of venture capital experience, helping technology startups become market leaders. He was twice named to\u00a0Forbes’ Midas List\u00a0of top venture capital investors. Brian spearheads AASCEND’s program to engage Silicon Valley corporations with the\u00a0autism advantage\u00a0\u2014 tapping the technical ability of some people on the autism spectrum. Brian was instrumental in creating the\u00a0Spectrum Employment Community\u00a0on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>. Brian serves on the AASCEND Board of Directors.<\/p>\n

\"PaulPaul Hippolitus\u00a0is director of the Disabled Students Program at\u00a0UC Berkeley, where he has developed the innovative Professional Development and Disabilities course.\u00a0Paul has served in the US Department of Labor and on the President\u2019s Committee on the \u00a0Employment of People with Disabilities.<\/p>\n

\"AnlorAnne-Laure (Anlor) Davin\u00a0is author of the forthcoming book\u00a0Being Seen:\u00a0A memoir\u00a0about me \u2014 an autistic mother, French immigrant and zen student.\u00a0<\/em>Anlor is\u00a0lay-ordained\u00a0in the Soto Zen tradition and is a long-time practicioner of a form of\u00a0simple meditation\u00a0available to all of any faith or none, and which she finds to be of tremendous help in coping with autistic\u00a0sensory overload. She also credits it with bringing calm and direction to a formerly chaotic autistic life. Anlor is a new autism blogger at\u00a0Autizen.com<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

(And more!)<\/p>\n

Panels:<\/p>\n