Register Today!
The 2008 4th Annual ASA-GGC Autism/Asperger Conference in only three
weeks away!
Visit the ASA-GGC website at www.asaga.com for more information.

Don't miss Keynote Presentations by:

Temple Grandin's mother, Eustacia Cutler
"Raising Temple"

Mrs. Eustacia Cutler is a talented playwright, author, actress, and
mother of four. She is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree
in English literature. Ms. Cutler understands the myths and
realities, the frustrations and angst that families experience as
they raise a child with autism. Ms. Cutler's oldest child, Temple
Grandin, was diagnosed with autism before the age of three during the
1950's when autism awareness and support systems were not yet in
place. Today, her daughter is noted as a prominent author and
professor of animal science at Colorado State University.

Ms. Cutler has documented her family's story in the book, "A Thorn in
My Pocket". In the foreword Ms. Cutler writes, "Think of me as your
future. I am where you will be many years from now, when you know
how it all played out and `what will be' has turned into `what was'.

And you will have come to terms with it, not perhaps in the way you
thought you would, but you'll no longer feel trapped in a morass of
angst and guilt. You will have resolved your child's future and your
own. You'll know you've give full measure and the measure you've
given has never been pointless.
I offer you my story as a promise of that, an overall insight to
carry with you as a talisman. And I promise that in the future, to
your surprise, your dreams will have changed, and changed you. I
know that's not what you want.

What you want is a real talisman, a magic something you think I
conjured up to coax Temple into joining life as you hope your child
will. There was no magic, there was just doing the best I could.
That's the point, that's the talisman. And never letting go of
hope."

and Judith Bluestone
"Behaviors ARE Communication!"

Through personal perspectives, research and clinical examples, this
presentation will elucidate how behaviors communicate systemic
neurodevelopmental weaknesses. Learn how and why to treat those
irregularities gently and respectfully, and watch dysfunctional
behaviors melt into functional social and academic achievements.

The presenter will help the group see root causes and interactive
aspects of many behaviors commonly observed in ASD, and to feel the
power of various senses as they integrate most common functions of
daily living. Participants will leave with enhanced appreciation for
sensory processing in general and how it relates holistically to the
autistic experience. They will also glean practical tips to gently
enhance weak systems and protect vulnerable systems.