12 March, 2008 - Dublin to host a special all Ireland conference on Autism - Minister Hanafin

A national one day North/South conference on Autism is to be held on Tuesday 15th April in Croke Park the Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin T.D., announced today. The Minister for Education Caitríona Ruane will also address the conference. Minister Hanafin outlined the purpose of the special conference at the launch today of the Journal of Cross Border Studies in Ireland for 2008.
 
Minister Hanafin said "this conference will bring together parents and professionals who are all at the heart of autism services on the island of Ireland.  It will provide them with an opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed speakers address aspects of autism education, to gain knowledge of what works for autistic children as well as to celebrate what has been achieved to date on the whole island of Ireland. The conference will also allow participants to consider the next steps in providing for the special education of the needs of these children."

The conference will be chaired by Dr Mitchell Fleming, President of the Psychological Society of Ireland.There will be a number of key speakers including, Dr Rita Jordan, Dr Jaoquin Fuentes, Dr Ian McClure and Dr Patsy Daly, who will each address specific areas (see details below). Irish Autism Action will also discuss the role of ABA in education of children with autism. In addition to the main speakers there will be also a number of workshops throughout the day.
 
Invited participants from North and South include representatives of School Management bodies, Teachers Unions, public representatives from the Joint Committee on Education and Science, as well as representatives of HSE, National Council for Special Education, parents representatives and other interested professionals from across the special education spectrum. Officials from both Department's of Education involved in special education and autism provision are jointly hosting the event. Media from North and South are also expected to attend.

ENDS
 
A range of seminars are scheduled into the conference programme detailed below:

• Prof. Rita Jordan, Professor in Autism Studies, University of Birmingham, will facilitate this seminar discussing interventions in education for young children. She will introduce Dr. Joanne Atkinson, ASD Specialist Teacher with the South Eastern Education and Library Board's ASD Service, who will discuss how she provides supports to pre-school children and pre-school settings.
• Dr. Joaquin Fuentes, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Policinia Gi Puzkoa & Gautena, Spain, will facilitate this seminar on transitional periods where Frances Stewart, Coordinator of the Oakwood ASD Service, in the Belfast Education and Library Board, will describe the supports that she provides for children, parents and schools at the key periods of transition across the school stages.
• Dr. Iain McClure, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Murray Royal Hospital will facilitate this seminar discussing the relevance of evidence-based practice to ASD.   He will introduce Siobhán Kingston, Special Education Support Service & Teacher in St. Gabriel['s Special School, Cork.
• Dr. Brian McClean, Brothers of Charity, will discuss positive behaviour support for people with challenging behaviours.
• Diane Seach, SMILE, will discuss her work on interactive play for children with autism.
• Irish Autism Action will discuss the role of Applied Behavioural Analysis in the education of children with autism.
• Ros Blackburn will present an overview of her experience of living with autism