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 List of Presenters/Presentations
  
Presenter Presentation
Lisa Ackerman Starting the Biomedical Treatment Journey
Timothy A. Adams, Esq. , Lynne Arnold & Mitchel D. Perlman, Ph.D Special Education Law Day: Intensive Training for Parents
James B. Adams, PhD Current State of Autism Research
Alanna Apap, BCBA NAVIGATING THE WAY
Tapan Audhya, PhD Unprovoked Seizures in Autistic Individuals
Carmen Augustin, MSW, LCSW Relationship Development Intervention®: An Overview
Mary Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA The Verbal Behavior Approach: Teaching Children with Autism
Jeffrey Becker, OD Seeing Is Believing: Sight, Vision and Autism
Marion Blank, PhD, Mary Beth Cull, & Harry Schneider, MD -- Language Seminar Talk is Good: Moving Beyond A Flawed Assumption to Meaningful Communication
Mark Blaxill, MBA Intellectual and Moral Failures in Autism Science
Kenneth Bock, MD The Importance of Integrative Medicine for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Recognizing Subgroups and the Need for Individualizing Biomedical Treatment Approaches
Tom Bohager Enzyme Therapy and Autism
Mika Bradford How to Supplement Their Minds without Losing Yours
Mika Bradford The Urgent Need to Plan: The example of Texas
Kerry Brooks Autism 2 Awesome: A Father's Love
Gregory Brown, MD, Vicki Martin, RN & Jane Sparks, RN A Parent's Survival Guide to Biomedical Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Jeff Cantor, DDS, Patricia Liston-Gannon, DDS, Pamela Johnson, DDS, Michelle Lancaster, DDS DENTISTRY AND AUTISM- A TROUBLED MARRIAGE
Manuel Casanova, MD Sensory Problems in Autism: Origins and Possible Intervention
Charles Chapple, DC Reaching Sensory Processing Disorders: Working to Benefit ADD/ADHD to Autism through Structure and Function
Ved Chauhan, PhD Abnormal REDOX system in autism
Lillian Chen-Byerley, MS, OTR/L, RCTC Recognizing the link between Central Nervous System Maturity and Sensory Integration
Rob Coben, PhD EEG Assessment and Treatment of Seizure activity in ASD
Ken Cook 10 Americans
Laura Lum Corby IEP Strategies: Navigating School Meetings
Mark Corrales, MPP The importance of research on environmental factors in a highly heritable disorder
Dorinne Davis, MA, CCC-A, FAAA The Davis Model of Sound Intervention: Combining Sound and Science for Positive Change
Dennis Debbaudt First Responders Training
Richard Deth, PhD Unique Aspects of Redox Regulation in Human Brain and Their Implications for Autism
Lisa M. Dietlin Transformational Philanthropy
Stephen Edelson, PhD Elias Tembenis Seizures Think Tank Participant
Mayer Eisenstein, MD, JD Immunization Facts and Accusations: Are They Worth the Risk?
Michael Elice, MD & Barbara Fischkin Biomedical Interventions with Older Children: How to Begin -- and Persevere
Lark Eshleman, PhD Healing the Wounded Child: (re)-integrating the child into the family
Seyyed Hossein Fatemi, MD, PhD Gaba A and Gaba B receptor abnormalities in autism
Barbara Loe Fisher, Vicky Debold, PhD, RN & Louise Habakus, HHP, AADP VACCINE EDUCATION SEMINAR
Richard Frye, MD, PhD Subclinical epileptiform discharges and functional reorganization in atypical cognitive development
Andrew & Carolyn Gammichia Defending Autism ~ Ensuring Social Justice through Community Awareness and Advocacy
Mark Geier, MD, PhD & David A. Geier New Insights into the Underlying Biochemistry of Autism: The Mercury Connection
Mark Geier, MD, PhD & David A. Geier New Insights into the Treatment of Autism: The Hormonal Connection
Kristin Selby Gonzalez Sensory Savvy 101
Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD The Child as a Whole: Why Behavioral and Biomedical Interventions are Both Critical to Growth and Recovery
Katherine Guttshall, MA, BCBA What to do when a child won't eat: Feeding Disorders and Developmental Delays
Boyd Haley, PhD The Effects of Synergistic Toxicities and Genetic Susceptibilities on the Toxic Effects of Inorganic and Organic Mercury Compounds: The Relationship to Autism and Related Disorders
Elaine Hall & Diane Isaacs The Miracle Project
Paul Hardy, MD Epilepsy in Autism: An Overview
Martha Herbert, MD, PhD More than Developmental: Environmental Impacts as Chronic and What This Means for Treatment, Research and Policy
John Hicks, MD Creating Health and Balance
John Hicks, MD The Law of Attraction
Sonja Hintz, RN & Sym Rankin, CRNA, APN How to Get Your Mainstream Physician to See Beyond Autism
David Holmes, EdD The Needs and Wants of Adults on the Autism Spectrum; Lessons learned from the Autism One Radio Show "Adults on the Autism Spectrum; Today!
Devin Houston, PhD Enzymes, GI Function, and Autism: What You Should Know
Laurette Janak How do you know? A medical literature search tutorial
Laurette Janak Minimizing parental health risks: What parents need to know
Laurette Janak Down syndrome, vaccinations and genetic susceptibility to injury: What does the research show?
Raun Kaufman Breakthrough Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, DN-C, RH Herbal Medicine in Autism
Cheryl Kilmer A Vision for the Future: New models for residential supports for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities
Brian King, LCSW The Sensory Experience: Understanding Sensory Challenges In Daily Life
David Kirby Metals, Myelin and Mitochondria - Several Paths to Autism?
Steven Kossor Funding treatment in PA: the Medicaid-EPSDT-BHRS connection
Robert Krakow, JD "Sublegal" - Can children with "autism" obtain justice in vaccine court?
Arthur Krigsman, MD & Sylvia Chin-Caplan, Esq. Autism and Vaccines in the US Omnibus Hearings: Legal and Gastrointestinal Perspectives of the Michelle Cedillo
Arthur Krigsman, MD Update in Autistic Gastrointestinal Disease
Andrea Lalama Reversing Autism: Connecting the pieces with the latest research: BT, Hg, Octopamine, Succinic Acid, Leptu and BIRM
Mary Jo Lang, PhD The Brain, Thinking and Behavior: Understanding Executive Function
Lindyl Lanham, DSH-P, BS Spec Ed & Cindy L. Griffin, DSH-P, DIHom., BME Autism's Many Facets: Recovery through Sequential Homeopathy
Jeffrey Lewine, PhD Epileptiform Activity in the Autistic Brain: Cause, Effect, or Co-Morbidity
Carolyn Lewis Autism and Autoimmune Disease: A close look at co-existing autoimmune diseases in children with autism and their immediate family members
Allen Lewis, MD Oxidative stress in autism: A paradigm for effective treatment
Derrick MacFabe, MD The Gut-Brain Link to Autism - Are short chain fatty acid fermentation products from opportunistic clostridial infections possible environmental triggers in autism?
Derrick MacFabe, MD Enteric and dietary short chain fatty acids - Possible triggers of autism-associated epilepsy and movement disorder
Cynthia & Mark Macluskie Our Journey of Hope and Recovery
Jackie Marquette, PhD TREATMENT AND CARE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
Julie Matthews, CNC Nourishing Hope for Autism - Evolving Autism Diets
Jenny McCarthy Keynote address
Woody McGinnis, MD Neurotoxic brainstem impairment as proposed threshold event in autistic regression
Mary Megson, MD AVOIDING THE PITFALLS: WINNING THE WAR
Claudia Miller, MD TILT: A New Slant on Autism
Mark Noble, PhD Perspectives from stem cell biology on autism risk factors and treatments
Nancy O'Hara, MD The Overview of The Biomedical Approach: Treatment Options From A to Zinc
Nancy O'Hara, MD Biomedical Interventions for Autism: The Paradigm Shift
Melissa Olive, PhD, BCBA Participant: Residential Think Tank
Dan Olmsted, Kim Stagliano & Mark Blaxill Age of Autism
Valerie Paradiz, PhD & Elizabeth Nickrenz The Roles We Play: Creating Theater with Autism Spectrum Youth
James Partington, PhD Teaching children to Talk About Experiences to Establish Social Interaction Skills
Jon Poling, MD, PhD Mitochondrial abnormalities found in children diagnosed with autism and the importance of defining biological markers
Kerri Rivera & Harry Schneider, MD Autism 101: Today's Biomedical Treatments
Rick Rollens The California Response To The Autism Epidemic: Identifying and responding to the needs of an aging population: Proposals and solutions from the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and the Alliance of California Autism Organizations
Mary Romaniec Letting Go! The Journey back to Grace and Dignity. Finding "balance" after the diagnosis
Dan Rossignol, MD Advanced treatments for autism and strategies for non-responders
Dan Rossignol, MD Using evidence-based medicine to choose effective biomedical treatments for autism and ADHD
Sarah Clifford Scheflen, MS, CCC-SLP tbd
Norm Schwartz, MD Autism and the Environment Protecting our Children
Alice Shabecoff The Toxic Assault on our Children
Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD Elias Tembenis Seizures Think Tank Participant
Stephen Shore, EdD Choosing Higher Education... and Staying There
Chantal Sicile-Kira Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: Puberty, Hygiene and Sexuality
Terrie Silverman, MS & Sally Brockett, MS Berard Auditory Integration Training: New perspectives from the international scene provide insight into functional outcomes
Allan Sosin, MD MASKING FOR SEIZURES
Cheryl Steinberg How to use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for reducing emotional stress in parenting a special needs child
Carol Stott, PhD Historical Perspective on Conceptualizations of Autism and the Impact on Research
Rev. Lisa Sykes Of Evidence, Ethics, and Education
Theoharis Theoharides, MD, PhD Mast cells disrupt the gut-blood-brain barriers and contribute to autism
Polly Tommey & Oliver Jones Our Children's Future
John Turner, DC, CCSP, DIBCN, Kathryne Pirtle & Sueson Vess Beyond a Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diet: Harnessing the Power of Traditional, Nutrient-Dense Foods-the Keys to Maximizing Treatment Success for Autism and Chronic Health Problems
Lauren Underwood, PhD A "Best Practices" Model for Treating Autism: Biomedical & ABA Therapies Put into Practice Together Improve Optimal Outcomes
Anju Usman, MD & Jane Casey Gut Recovery Program™: Symbiotics, Enzymes, Intestinal Biofilms, and Beyond
Sueson Vess & Betsy Hicks Implementing a GF/CF Diet
Aristo Vojdani, PhD Immunology of Autism
Aristo Vojdani, PhD The Role of Environmental Factors in Autism
Andrew Wakefield, MB, BS, FRCS, FRCPath Resolving a chaotic paradox: autism as a disease of the developing immune system
David Warner Autism and Athletics, if they want to play we find a way!
Robert Weiner, PhD, CST-D Rapid Clearing of Autism Symptoms with NeuroModulation Technique - A New Healing Modality
Stacey Whetlow Let Go through Radical Self-Forgiveness
Amy Yasko, PhD Assessment of Metals and Microbes as a Function of Nutrigenomic Profiling

Presenter Presentation
Lisa Ackerman

is the founder and executive director of Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), a national organization dedicated to providing information, resources, and support to families affected by autism, including speeding up the time from diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA provides support to more than 14,000 people across the USA, with 95% of its services at no cost to families. www.tacanow.org
Starting the Biomedical Treatment Journey

Everything parents need to know when starting down the path of recovery for children affected by autism. Practical suggestions and things to consider for parents new to biomedical treatment for children affected by autism (and at any age!)

Presenter Presentation
Timothy A. Adams, Esq. , Lynne Arnold & Mitchel D. Perlman, Ph.D

Timothy A. Adams, Esq.
received his Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Irvine and his Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. He has served as an adjunct professor and Associate Director of the Special Education Advocacy Clinic, Pepperdine University School of Law. He is actively involved in educating parents through presentations to disability rights organizations and parent support groups including speaker at Autism One (2005-2008), the National Autism Association (2005 and 2007-2008) and the National Epilepsy Foundation Annual Conference (2001). He has been interviewed and quoted in publications including the Daily Journal (2001), the Orange County Register and the nationally published magazine Parenting (March 2003); He is Roberts & Adams' Chief Executive Officer.

Lynne Arnold
is the chapter director for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) of Visalia, CA and an Autism One parent mentor. Through conference presentations and mentoring, she helps parents to understand their child's rights to appropriate interventions and education. Lynne is the editor of Autism: Asserting Your Child's Rights to a Special Education by David A. Sherman. She has presented at Autism One (2005-2008), National Autism Association Conference (2005 and 2007-2008), Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT, Autism Society of America and for other autism groups.

Mitchel D. Perlman, Ph.D
focuses on the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents who have specialized needs and/or who are involved in chaotic-intense-traumatic-critical situations. Known for the comprehensiveness of his investigatory assessments (psychodiagnostic, psychoeducational, neurocognitive), Dr. Perlman is often called on to be the impartial independent examiner in juvenile, family, civil and special education proceedings. He lends his expertise and keen insights to children/teens who have stepped away from the mainstream and/or who have gotten themselves in over their heads - emotionally, legally or in relation to others. He is involved in assessing some of the most fascinating individuals, and he has a knack for detecting and/or explaining things that have often gone unnoticed or that have been misunderstood. For example, in many children who had been diagnosed with autism and mental retardation, Dr. Perlman has found near-gifted to gifted intelligence and has been instrumental in guiding parents to the resources to unlock it.
Special Education Law Day: Intensive Training for Parents

Advocating for your child is a complex and sometimes counter-intuitive process. In these sessions, parents will learn the basic concepts of special education law, the importance of strategizing and how to use this knowledge to gain control of their child's education. The primary goal of this track: Become an empowered IEP team member by gaining an understanding of special ed law, which then can be directly applied to their child's specific needs and situation.

This is an intensive track designed to get your team up to speed quickly and will cover extensive information. To facilitate this process, each participant will receive a workbook with supporting information on key concepts, selected sections of IDEA, background facts on case studies as well as recommended reading and resources.

Presenter Presentation
James B. Adams, PhD

is a professor at Arizona State University, where he researches the biomedical causes of autism and how to treat it, with a focus on nutritional abnormalities/treatments and toxic metals/chelation. He also serves as the Science Director for the Autism Research Institute and Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!). Prof. Adams is the proud father of a teenage girl with autism.
Current State of Autism Research

This talk will focus on research results that relate to both the causes of autism and how to treat it biomedically. Autism is due to a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors, some of which are known, and there is some intriguing new research on specific abnormalities in mothers that can vastly increase their risk of having a child with autism. Autism involves many complex biomedical abnormalities, and treatments now exist for most of those, although the efficacy of many treatments needs more investigation, and better treatments are needed in some cases. Finally, this talk will briefly discuss future research that is needed so that we can learn how to both prevent autism and help heal those who have autism.

Presenter Presentation
Alanna Apap, BCBA

is a board certified behavior analyst with a master's degree in education working in South Florida. Using a multidisciplinary team approach for 20 years, her speciality is leading teams in the development of coordinated plans integrating educational, behavioral, therapeutic, and medical interventions, which leads to more successful outcomes for the child. She created Peer PALS (Playing And Learning Socially), a social integration program designed for schools and camps that teaches typical children how to make friends, play, model, and guide children with ASD. Alanna and her partner developed and piloted a comprehensive, visually oriented, research-based social skill curriculum for children and adolescents with ASD and Asperger's. The Surviving Social Situations Curriculum will be available within the next year. Please visit www.peerpals.us.
NAVIGATING THE WAY

Peer PALS which stands for Playing And Learning Socially is a highly motivating activity-based program that addresses core deficits and relies on trained typical peers to navigate the way. This presentation will debut the component Surviving Social Situations a 4-week intensive social-behavioral "summer school" or "camp" model where typical children surround and promote positive social interaction and engagement. Behavioral strategies are embedded throughout the program using a theme-based token economy and pivotal response training. Structured, visually oriented PowerPoint lessons designed specifically for students with ASD captivate and engage learners. Video examples will be used. Come see the smiles on faces that rarely smile and kids being kids.

Presenter Presentation
Tapan Audhya, PhD

is a Biochemist and, prior to his recent responsibility as Director of Research and Development at Vitamin Diagnostics, Inc., he spent twelve years in R & D at various divisions of Johnson and Johnson. He is also associated with New York University Medical School as a research professor. For the last 10 years, he has been involved in nutritional intervention in autism and has presented many papers at international and national conferences.
Unprovoked Seizures in Autistic Individuals

Evidence of both clinical and subclinical seizures has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Approximately 20-30% of autistic children have a seizures disorder. Of course, this estimate does not include children who initiate seizures when proved by frustration, fear, sudden shock, high fever, anger, or exposed to high pressure oxygen chamber. In our experience, many ASD children with untreated PKU, cerebral palsy, neuroinflammation, or mental retardation have a higher risk of seizures; also, children who display sudden repetitive movements, swaying, language regression (particularly after 2-4 years of age), etc., often have experienced seizures. On the other hand, many seizure-free autistic individuals begin to have seizures during puberty. Many autism candidate genes that have been associated with autism risk encode for proteins that regulate excitation/inhibition within CNS. These include nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, GABA receptors, glutamate receptors, etc. An altered GABA-A receptor, found very often in autistic individuals, has been proposed as a major underlying cause of seizures. Because GABA inhibits neurons from firing, and seizures are caused by inappropriate or unregulated firing of nerve cells, increasing or decreasing GABA activity through its receptors can cause the system to stabilize or destabilize and thus control seizures. In the presentation we will discuss some of the information that we have developed in our laboratory regarding seizures in autistic individuals.

Presenter Presentation
Carmen Augustin, MSW, LCSW

has over 25 years experience working with children, teens, and young adults with ASD and their families. She is a partner in Sweeney, Augustin, and Associates, a private practice located in Skokie, Illinois providing comprehensive services to children with special needs and their families. Ms. Augustin is a RDI® Program Certified Consultant, receiving her training and supervision from Dr. Steven Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle Sheely of the Connections Center in Houston. Ms. Augustin is on the professional advisory boards of the Autism Society of Illinois.
Relationship Development Intervention®: An Overview

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) ® is a program for educating and coaching parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). RDI® is based upon the latest information from developmental psychology and autism research. RDI® is specifically designed as a program for systematic long-term remediation of the core deficits of autism.

The bulk of resources are invested in preparing parents to act as participant guides, creating daily opportunities for their child to respond in more flexible , thoughtful ways to novel, challenging and increasingly less predictable settings and problems. Both parents are essential participants in the treatment process. RDI® is based upon the model of Experience Sharing developed by Steven Gutstein, PhD and Rachelle Sheely, PhD. Ms. Augustin will present an overview of RDI® principles.

Presenter Presentation
Mary Lynch Barbera, RN, MSN, BCBA

offers a unique perspective as both a parent of a child with autism as well as a professional. Mary's firstborn son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism one day before his third birthday in 1999. Mary became a board certified behavior analyst in 2003 and has since been working as the lead behavior analyst for the Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project. Mary is an international speaker and has had the privilege of working with hundreds of children on the autism spectrum. She has assisted in providing training to thousands of professionals and parents. In 2007 she published The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders. Mary hosts a monthly radio show on Autism One Radio.
The Verbal Behavior Approach: Teaching Children with Autism

Drawing on her experience as both a parent of a son with autism as well as a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), Mary Lynch Barbera will provide participants with information to help children with autism learn language and other important skills. Mary will highlight strategies from her book titled The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders and provide guidance using the scientifically proven strategies of applied behavior analysis (ABA), specifically utilizing B.F. Skinner's Analysis of Verbal Behavior. Parents and professionals will be empowered with information regarding ABA/VB programming for children with autism and other developmental disorders.

Presenter Presentation
Jeffrey Becker, OD

is a 1978 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and graduated from The Illinois College of Optometry in 1983. He has been practicing in Northeastern Pennsylvania for over 24 years, with a specialty practice in Rehabilitative Optometry. Dr Becker is an adjunct faculty member of Misericordia University, Dallas, PA where he teaches vision rehabilitation courses to master's level occupational and physical therapy students. Dr. Becker, in his 24 years of clinical and research experience, has examined and treated over 2000 neurologically impaired patients ranging in ages from birth to senior citizens. Dr. Becker is a Defeat Autism Now! Certified Physician and Director of Vision Services, NeuroSensory Center of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Seeing Is Believing: Sight, Vision and Autism

In this presentation, Dr. Becker, will discuss how visual processing affects children on the autism spectrum. He will use real life examples that will illustrate to parents, doctors and attendees how imbalanced visual processing affects a child's world. Dr. Becker will explain how vision therapy is helping to improve the functioning and behavior of children with autism and ASDs.

Presenter Presentation
Marion Blank, PhD, Mary Beth Cull, & Harry Schneider, MD -- Language Seminar

Marion Blank, PhD
is the Director of A Light on Literacy in the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Program at Columbia University. She is an internationally recognized developmental psychologist with extensive experience in designing language and reading programs for children with a wide range of learning disabilities.

Mary Beth Cull
joined Dr. Blank three years ago to become a member of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Program. She has been trained in behaviorist approaches with children on the spectrum and has now extended the work to include more cognitive/linguistic principles.

Harry Schneider, MD
received his medical degree from Columbia University and completed his residency at Northwestern University. Dr. Schneider is an Associate Research Scientist in the Functional MRI Research Center of Columbia University. He is in private practice at the Center for Medical and Brain Sciences in Plainview, NY, and uses both conventional medicine and the Defeat Autism Now! approach in his approach to the medical care of children on the spectrum. Dr. Harry Schneider served on the medical staff of North Shore University's Franklin General Hospital and South Nassau Communities Hospital, as well as serving as an Adjunct Professor for Clinical Training in the Family Practice Training Program at SNCH. He has participated in Tropical Medicine Research in Guatemala and Brazil for the World Health Organization and received research support as a Medical/Linguistic Consultant for Transcendent International's bilingual medical software. Dr. Schneider's background is as a linguist, with advanced degrees in language and linguistics, and he speaks multiple languages. He is in the process of obtaining a doctoral degree in Speech Language Pathology.
Talk is Good: Moving Beyond A Flawed Assumption to Meaningful Communication

Intervention programs are dominated by the theme that "talk is good." While well-intended, this emphasis leads to numerous problems--not least of which is a failure to differentiate between language and communication. As a result, programs fail to provide children with the guidance needed to enhance their functioning. The presentation will examine: (i) a range of powerful, but unstated assumptions that currently govern intervention efforts; and (ii) set forth principles for creating a more productive therapeutic environments.

New Therapeutic Frontiers in Language and Communication Restoration

After years of using neuromodulation, specifically electrical or magnetic stimulation to restore language function in diverse populations such as stroke victims, traumatic brain injury patients, people with Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease, practitioners at Columbia decided that we could help "nonverbal" children on the spectrum, as well. Because the other populations of patients we treated all began with neurotypical brains, we had to see find a way to see how "an autistic brain" was functioning for language; this could not be seen on a structural or regular MRI. We decided to use functional MRI for these children. While listening to recordings of their mothers' and fathers' voices, as well as music, we imaged known language areas and then applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to show us how these area were connected to each other. We discovered that many language areas did not work for language (some were activated for music, not language) and that the connections between them were defective. However, we now had a "road map," an image of their brains that we could use to determine which areas might benefit from stimulation. I decided to pilot the project from my office in Long Island, NY, using transcranial direct current stimulation. This is a non-invasive, minimal risk procedure using very low-dose electrical currents applied to language areas while the children are receiving specialized language instruction. All patients are beginning to regain language.

Presenter Presentation
Mark Blaxill, MBA

is the father of a daughter diagnosed with autism, editor at large for Age of Autism and a director of SafeMinds. He is managing partner for 3LP Advisors, an advisory firm focused on intellectual property transactions. He spent most of his professional career at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he was a senior vice president until he left the firm in 2006. While at BCG, he was the leader of the firm's strategy practice and led firm initiatives in the area of globalization, open source software, intellectual property and network analysis. He has just published a business book, The Invisible Edge: Taking Your Strategy to the Next Level Using Intellectual Property (Portfolio, March 2009) and is teaming up with Dan Olmsted to write a book on the natural history of autism.
Intellectual and Moral Failures in Autism Science

As the autism crisis continues to careen out of control, the most puzzling aspect of autism science is not autism itself but the breakdown in the ability of our scientific institutions to come to grips with the autism problem. This is a tragedy that is playing itself out at many levels. There are large conceptual problems in dealing with failure of the prevailing models of autism biology and causation. These failures are compounded by even larger conceptual problems when it comes to dealing with the environmental causes of disease more broadly. Taken on their own terms, these intellectual problems are challenging enough. But if you combine them with the politics surrounding modern medical practice, including the influence of pharmaceutical industry over the scientific process and the driving economic interests of the medical profession, the obstacles to real progress in reversing the autism epidemic can appear insurmountable. The breakdown of scientific governance is reflected in the recent NIH Strategic Plan for Autism, a depressing display of the victory of politics over health. In response to these failures, a growing social movement is rising up, one that faces many enemies. Ultimately the autism epidemic is less a scientific than a moral issue and calls into question our most basic values as an advanced society.

Presenter Presentation
Kenneth Bock, MD

received his MD with Honor from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1979. A pioneer and leader in the field of integrative medicine for over two decades, Dr. Bock's expertise lies in bringing a comprehensive integrative medicine approach to complex medical problems, including the 4-A disorders - autism, ADHD, asthma and allergies. His Healing Program for the 4-A disorders is detailed in his latest book, Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies, which has received international acclaim.
The Importance of Integrative Medicine for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Recognizing Subgroups and the Need for Individualizing Biomedical Treatment Approaches

Although ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and PDD (pervasive developmental disorder) diagnostic labels are given to an increasing number of children, they do not represent just one or two entities. In reality, there are many overlapping subgroups of ASD, including toxic, gut, brain, metabolic, mitochondrial, nutritional, immune and infectious. Thusly, individualizing each child's biomedical evaluation and treatment program is essential. Coupling behavioral, clinical and education interventions with a commitment to follow an appropriately tailored biomedical treatment program, frequently results in improvement in many affected children, and in an increasing number of them, even recovery (with a loss of their initial ASD/PDD diagnosis). This lecture will address these issues from an integrative medicine perspective, offering realistic hope to parents of children with ASD/PDD.

Presenter Presentation
Tom Bohager

has worked in the enzyme field for more than 10 years. He is the author of the books Enzymes: What the Experts Know and Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes. Tom was first introduced to alternative health care when his father was diagnosed with cancer in 1983. In 1998 Tom started Enzymedica. Since becoming educated on the use of enzymes as a therapy Tom has counseled thousands on its benefits and has made it his goal to educate as many people as possible on this topic. He writes articles, conducts lectures and is interviewed on radio and television about the importance of enzymes in maintaining and promoting optimal health. Tom is degreed in holistic nutrition from Clayton College.
Enzyme Therapy and Autism

Enzymes are instrumental in supporting all biochemical reactions in the body, everything from proper digestion to proper cellular function. Though some have overstated the benefits of these essential proteins, there is an abundance of evidence supporting their use as a way of overcoming some of the common issues and symptoms associated with Autism. Learn about the role enzymes play in healthy digestion, immune support, and overall health. The role of "Enzyme Therapy" will be discussed as a promising choice when combined with other well- known diets and therapies.

Presenter Presentation
Mika Bradford

Mika's journey into the world of autism began over a decade ago with the diagnosis of her youngest son. Mika is a certified nutritionist, outside sales associate, and customer service representative for the Kirkman Group where she provides technical support on the form and functions of supplements to customers across the world. In 2007 she established Natural Foods and Nutrition Consulting (which provides individualized nutrition counseling services to families and wellness programs for private businesses). Since 1999, Mika has supported the autism community by actively working with non-profits, developing resources and supports for parents and professionals. She is the director of community outreach of Families for Effective Autism Treatment - North Texas and is a board member for Community Now, a non-profit dedicated to the quality of life and long-term care of individuals with special needs. She is a veteran at communicating such topics as nutrition, dietary and behavioral interventions and how they relate to individuals with autism spectrum disorders. In keeping with her mission to encourage and support the autism community, Mika joined AutismSpot (a video based website) in 2008 as a content specialist providing information on interventions ranging from biomedical, education, self help, assisted living and family focused supports.
How to Supplement Their Minds without Losing Yours

Do you feel frustrated when trying to introduce supplements into your child's diet? Tired of endless crying and "wearing" the supplements that were meant for your child's stomach but somehow end up as unique accents on your clothing? There is hope! Learn how to lose the sippy cup concoction that takes 1/2 a day for your child to drink. Join Mika as she provides information on "How to Supplement Their Minds Without Losing Yours!" Learn what nutritional supplements can be mixed with as well as ways to successfully incorporate them into your daily lives. As a parent who has implemented special diets and nutritional supplementation plans for over a decade, Mika will share with you tips to avoid the proverbial pit falls when starting a special diet and supplement plan. Mika has supported parents and professionals from across the world with tools and techniques to make supplementing nutrients simple. Have you been doing this a while and now find your child is rejecting products that once were taken with ease? You too can walk away with a plan to get your child back on track to a healthy life.

Presenter Presentation
Mika Bradford

(see above)
The Urgent Need to Plan: The example of Texas

Participant: Residential Think Tank
The urgent need for forward thinking and planning for the care of individuals with disabilities has become evident across the world. Texas can be used as a point of referance for the perils and devastation that can lie ahead if future planning of housing and long-term care are not considered immediately. Mika will share statistics on the number of children with autism entering residential facilities and how the percentages of autism can be used as an indicator of the projected number of individuals with autism to enter state housing and services in the near future. Texas can be considered the canary in the coal mine for the following reasons:
Texas has more institutions than any other state. Currently, Texas institutionalizes more people with disabilities than New York State and California combined.
• About 5000 adults and children are warehoused in 13 state institutions.
• Texas has more children in institutions than any other state.
• The Department of Justice is investigating Texas state institutions after reports of horrific atrocities perpetrated against our most vulnerable Texas citizens.
• It costs more than twice as much in taxpayer dollars to warehouse people in institutions compared to community-based services.
• In Texas, state institutions for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities are titled "State Schools." This is a misnomer. These places congregate large numbers of people with disabilities, often against their wishes.
Many states like Texas are in need of transformation of services and care provided to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Join us as we come together for the common cause of developing a plan of action to provide humane and considerate environments that are safe and provide the quality of life our loved ones deserve.

Presenter Presentation
Kerry Brooks

Kerry L. Brooks is the founder and president of Autism 2 Awesome Inc. Mr. Brooks developed the program Autism 2 Awesome: A Father's Love after his personal journey of helping his son recover from autism. A Father's Love is an early intervention guide created to educate, empower, and inspire fathers who have children diagnosed with autism. Mr. Brooks has been conducting A Father's Love seminars, workshops and personal consultation over the last 2 years. Mr. Brooks has been employed with the Department of Justice for over 18 years. He also served as a United States Diplomat in Nicosia, Cyprus. www.autism2awesome.com
Autism 2 Awesome: A Father's Love

Autism 2 Awesome is a health and wellness early intervention guide created to educate, empower, and inspire fathers and family members who have children diagnosed with autism. Mr. Brooks has been conducting Autism 2 Awesome seminars, workshops and personal consultation over the last 2 years. In addition, Mr. Brooks will speak on "Be First 2 Respond," which will outline what parents can do following the diagnosis of autism of their child.

Presenter Presentation
Gregory Brown, MD, Vicki Martin, RN & Jane Sparks, RN

Gregory Brown, MD
is a board certified internist with 18 years experience in Emergency Medicine. He has received Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner training from Defeat Autism Now! as well as ACAM instruction in Chelation Therapy and certification in Hyperbaric Medicine from UHMS. He currently serves as Medical Director of the Autism Recovery and Comprehensive Health (ARCH) Medical Center and A & M Hyperbarics in Franklin, Wisconsin.

Vicki Martin RN
is on staff at the ARCH Medical Center. She is the parent of an 11-year old daughter with autism who was a poor responder to biomedical intervention. Ms Martin has used the Defeat Autism Now! approach for over 10 years and specializes in helping parents negotiate the maze of available options to choose the most effective treatments. She is certified in multiple educational interventions for spectrum disorders and is a strong advocate for all individuals with autism, especially those more severely affected. Her own daughter, who is non-verbal, recently found her "voice" by using RPM (Rapid Prompting Method), and her health is greatly improved as a result of biomedical interventions.

Jane Sparks RN
has over 17 years experience as an ER and ICU nurse. She is the parent of two affected children. One of her sons is now recovered and her youngest, age 6, is recovering. She is co-founder and full-time biomedical practitioner at ARCH Medical Center.
A Parent's Survival Guide to Biomedical Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Juggling diets, supplements, IV treatments, educational therapies and the rest of life is taxing under the best of circumstances. We will provide tips and approaches for choosing which battles to fight and which to postpone; what therapies need to be addressed in which children and when to avoid the "cure of the week." We will also take a look at those biomedical interventions that can be started before you meet with a practitioner, how to initiate them safely and effectively and how to make the most of your therapy dollar. After the presentation the ARCH Medical Center staff will conduct mini-workshops in several difficult aspects of biomedical management.

Presenter Presentation
Jeff Cantor, DDS, Patricia Liston-Gannon, DDS, Pamela Johnson, DDS, Michelle Lancaster, DDS

Jeff Cantor, DDS
has 35 years experience as a pediatric dentist and has been involved in the dental care of patients with developmental disabilities since 1977. He graduated from Bowdoin College, went to dental school at Columbia University in New York, and received his training in pediatric dentistry from the University of Rochester's Eastman Dental Center. Dr. Cantor has been involved with dentistry for patients with developmental disabilities both as a private practitioner and through Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago's Dental Program. At present, Dr. Cantor is Director of the Easter Seals Dental Program, is Dental Consultant to Autism One, and practices part-time in the private pediatric dental practice of Dr. Patricia Liston-Gannon located in Orland Park, Illinois. He is also Attending Pediatric Dentist at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center; a Lecturer at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a contributor to the Autism File Magazine.

Patricia Liston-Gannon, DDS

Pamela Johnson, DDS

Michelle Lancaster, DDS
DENTISTRY AND AUTISM- A TROUBLED MARRIAGE

Proper diagnosis and treatment of the dental patient presenting with Autism Spectrum Disorder presents many challenges to the knowledgeable dental practitioner. The initial examination may be very difficult to perform, and the medical history may present a variety of issues that can impact on the materials that can be used to restore decayed teeth. The assessment of the patient's diet may also present a complex trade-off between adequate nutrition, medical complications, and prevention of tooth decay. The fact that controversy exists in some critical areas further muddies the waters. Pediatric dentists, Drs. Jeffrey Cantor and Patricia Liston- Gannon along with orthodontist, Dr. Pamela Johnson, and general dentist, Dr. Michelle Lancaster, will address the major issues patients and their caregivers face in obtaining dental care today from both the perspective of the patient and the professional. Please bring questions to the presentation since what the audience is interested in learning guides the discussion.

Presenter Presentation
Manuel Casanova, MD

made his residency training in neurology and then spent 3 years doing a fellowship in neuropathology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. During his stay at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Casanova was in charge of Pediatric Neuropathology, a fact which kindled his interest in developmental disorders of the brain. His clinical experience was enhanced by appointments as either a consultant or staff neuropathologist at Sinai Hospital (Maryland), the North Charles Hospital and the D.C. General Hospital. Dr. Casanova has had over twenty years of experience in the neurosciences. Although trained in the classical methods of neurology and neuropathology, his interest has gradually shifted towards the study of abnormalities of cortical circuitry. His research has focused on the cell minicolumn, a vertical conglomerate of 80 to 100 neurons having a common latency of response to stimulation. Using computerized imaging analysis he has established the anatomical validity of the cell minicolumn. More recently Dr. Casanova has reported interhemispheric differences in the morphometry of minicolumns that could provide for the speciation of hominids. Localized in Broadmann area 22 - part of Wernicke's language region - the morphometric difference may play a role both in the development of language and in its disorders. His most recent studies have looked for the presence of abnormalities of minicolumnar organization and lateralization in the brains of patients who exhibit language disturbances, including autism, Asperger's syndrome, and dyslexia. He has summarized his work on minicolumns and provided an overview of the field in recent reviews of the literature appearing in Brain and Brain, Behavior and Evolution. Dr. Casanova holds the Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Psychiatry, Associate Chair for Research, University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry.
Sensory Problems in Autism: Origins and Possible Intervention

Participant: Elias Tembenis Seizures Think Tank
Minicolumns are basic architectonic and physiological elements identified in all regions of the neocortex and in all mammalian species thus far evaluated. The minicolumnar circuit is an evolutionarily and ontogenetically conserved template adapted in the various cortical areas according to their specific developmental and functional requirements. The minicolumnar core comprises radially oriented arrays of pyramidal projection neurons (pyramidal cell arrays). At the core and periphery of the minicolumn combinations of Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) interneurons provide for a diversity of signaling properties that serve to dynamically modulate pyramidal cell inputs and outputs that perform area and task-specific information processing needs. Recently, computer image analysis studies by our group have reported abnormalities in the pyramidal cell arrays (minicolumns) of autistic patients. These studies have shown reduced horizontal spacing between pyramidal cell arrays and diminished neuropil space at the periphery of the minicolumn. This observation, a deficit of columnar surround inhibition, has now been corroborated by studies probing tactile resolution and habituation to stimuli in autism. Lack of minicolumnar surround inhibition provides for signal amplification and an overall increase in noise. The resultant inability to differentially process simultaneous sources of information provides for a deficit in selective attention, which in autism permeates all sensory modalities. In this model, a reduction in the peripheral neuropil space would result in smaller minicolumns which would coalesce into discrete, isolated islands of coordinated excitatory activity. These islands could serve as potential ictal (seizure) foci. Moreover, their autonomous activity would hinder the binding of associated cortical areas, arguably promoting focus on particulars as opposed to general features. Inhibitory cell elements at the periphery of the minicolumn have a bitufted axonal system that span several layers perpendicular to the pial surface. Our basic hypothesis is that the geometrically exact orientation of these cells and their location at the periphery of the minicolumn (inhibitory surround) makes them the appropriate candidate for induction to magnetic field applied parallel to the cortex. The principle of electromagnetic induction proposes that a changing magnetic field induces the flow of electric current in a nearby conductor. Maximal induction is proposed for conductors at 90 degrees to the magnetic field. Preliminary results using slow Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of autistic patients (an attempt to strengthen the inhibitory surround of minicolumns) have shown promising results. Due to the connectivity of this brain region we expect the intervention to generalize to other cortical areas.

Presenter Presentation
Charles Chapple, DC

earned his doctorate degree in chiropractic from National College of Chiropractic in 1991. Dr. Chapple holds post-graduate certifications in areas such as chiropractic pediatrics (Fellowship in International Chiropractic Pediatric Association), acupuncture, applied kinesiology, and spinal rehabilitation. He was selected for "America's Top Chiropractors" for the last three years. His practice is in Roselle, Illinois, and he is conveniently reached at WWW.drchapple.com.
Reaching Sensory Processing Disorders: Working to Benefit ADD/ADHD to Autism through Structure and Function

So frequently, sensory processing disorders, ADHD to autism, are addressed through a variety of behavioral and biochemical approaches; this can result in the significance of the biomechanical aspects of these conditions being underestimated. Experts state that if a cluster of irregular nervous system reflexes remain unaddressed they will prevent "sustained long term improvement."

This presentation introduces the importance of the nervous system with its biomechanical relationships to the spine and cranium, and the noninvasive approaches of chiropractic and craniosacral therapy for the benefit of individuals struggling with sensory processing concerns and retained primitive reflexes.

Presenter Presentation
Ved Chauhan, PhD

obtained his PhD in biochemistry from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India. After finishing a postdoctoral training at University of Southern California, he joined New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities in Staten Island, New York where he is Head of Cellular Neurochemistry laboratory. Dr. Chauhan is the editor of the book titled Autism: Oxidative stress, inflammation and immune abnormalities to be published by Taylor and Francis group. In 2008, he served as an Associate Editor of the "Special Issue on Autism Spectrum Disorders" of the American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Dr. Chauhan has organized and chaired several Symposia on Neurobiology, Oxidative stress and Inflammation in Autism at various scientific meetings such as Annual Meeting of American Society for Neurochemistry (ASN), International Symposium on Advances in Neurosciences, and at the New York State Institute for Basic Research. He has published over 70 peer reviewed articles in Journals.
Abnormal REDOX system in autism

Membrane lipids play an important role in the control of cellular functions. Emerging evidence from our laboratory and other groups suggest that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are connected with abnormalities in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. We have reported previously altered levels of amino-glycerophospholipids (AGP) in the membrane and plasma in autism. Membrane fluidity, a marker of unsaturated fatty acids, was decreased in the erythrocyte membranes of children with autism as compared to typically developing siblings. Our results suggest increased peroxidation of lipids in the plasma, cerebellum and temporal cortex of autistic subjects as compared to control subjects. Decreased serum levels of ceruloplasmin (copper transporting protein) and transferrin (iron-transporting protein), major antioxidant proteins, were observed in autism that correlated with loss of previously acquired language skills in these subjects. Copper could selectively affect the levels of AGP in the membrane of lymphoblasts suggesting a potential role of copper in autism. Mitochondria are the main source of free radicals. We observed increased levels of free radicals in mitochondria, decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase, and concomitant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential in lymphoblasts from autism suggesting mitochondrial dysfunctions in autism. Taken together, our results suggest that REDOX abnormalities may account for some of the brain structural and cognitive deficits in autism.

Presenter Presentation
Lillian Chen-Byerley, MS, OTR/L, RCTC

has been practicing Occupational therapy, specializing in Pediatrics since 1978, with experience in the hospital, schools, and private practice (since 1983). Internationally credentialed and recognized in multiple neurodevelopmental specialties; including sensory integration, neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT), various listening programs, interactive metronome), and is the sole Tomatis provider in the Midwest. Lillian has gained recognition as a passionate advocate for those with autism and for her dedication to helping the underserved, was recently recognized by the Chicago chapter of Autism Speaks as an Autism Hero. A proud single mother of three, Lillian has first-hand experience with autism as her 19 year old son college sophomore son has Asperger's.
Recognizing the link between Central Nervous System Maturity and Sensory Integration

By integrating the salient values of multiple neurodevelopmental theories consistently into each of the child's autism therapies along with the school setting and the home, one has the opportunity to more directly impact the central nervous system, harnessing the developing brain's neuroplasticity and potentially producing a more positive overall therapeutic outcome.
In this discussion you will learn:
• the importance of developmental integration of primitive reflexes in terms of overall outcomes
• how the central nervous system is impacted by sensory integration theory
• critical role of auditory listening programs
• the importance of consistency across therapeutic, home, and school environments to maximize therapeutic gains

Presenter Presentation
Rob Coben, PhD

received his PhD in 1991 and has been a licensed psychologist in the state of New York since 1994. He is the Director and Chief Neuropsychologist of a private clinic in NY, which is also an affiliated research site with NYU's Brain Research Lab. His post-doctoral training in clinical and rehabilitation neuropsychology was done at the UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California. Dr. Coben is board-certified in EEG biofeedback (BCIA Associate Fellow) and a Diplomat of the QEEG Certification Board. He is a member in good standing of the American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society, International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, and the American Association of Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. He was recently bestowed the honor of Fellowship status from the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, for which he is also on the Board of Directors, Committee Chair and Consulting Editor for the Journal of Neurotherapy. Dr. Coben recently received grant funding from both the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research and the American Association of Psychophysiology and Biofeedback to perform research into the efficacy of EEG operant conditioning for autistic disorders.
EEG Assessment and Treatment of Seizure activity in ASD

Recent analyses have estimated the prevalence of seizure disorders in autistic series at anywhere from 20 to 46%. Paroxysmal discharges occur in an even higher proportion of autistic children. The electroencephalogram has been used for decades to detect seizures and similar brain activity. This has chiefly been done via analysis of EEG raw wave form analysis. Newer quantitative techniques have emerged including seizure/spike detection algorithms, topographical mapping, independent components analysis, source localization, and coherence assessment. With such techniques, children with autism can be assessed and the underlying nature and sources of their seizure activity analyzed. Once the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are understood, effective treatment strategies are possible. Recent research from our clinic has demonstrated how connectivity-guided EEG biofeedback can be used to significantly reduce autistic symptoms. A series of cases will be presented demonstrating how this treatment can be used to treat and decrease seizure frequency and intensity with resulting improvements in functioning.

Presenter Presentation
Ken Cook

is president and founder of the Washington, DC-based Environmental Working Group (EWG). EWG is a public interest research and advocacy organization that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. Mr. Cook and EWG's research and analysis are major forces in national policy debates over toxic chemicals, pesticides, air and water pollution, and the ecological impacts of modern agriculture.
10 Americans

Sure, you suspect there's bad stuff in the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat and things you touch. But do you know how many industrial chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals and known carcinogens have already invaded your body? The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) has found 287 chemicals in the blood of 10 Americans: toxins linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption, reproductive problems, immune disorders and other serious health problems. Who are they and how were their bodies contaminated? What can you do to protect yourself and those who depend on you?

Presenter Presentation
Laura Lum Corby

is the Founder/CEO of the Autism Solution Center, Inc. in the Memphis, Tennessee area and the Vice President and Educational Director for FAIR Autism Media. She is the parent of two children affected by ASD, as well as having an ASD herself. Ms. Corby is currently working towards her PhD in Psychology and plans to return to medical school when completed. She is actively involved in disability advocacy (local, state and national); legislative issues and awareness; autism research, education and treatments; building community relationships and inclusion with those affected by autism and their families. Her vision is to provide an Autism Solution Center, similar to a St. Jude's, but not related, for Autism that can address the multi-faceted needs of those affected by autism, accessible to everyone, at no cost. Ms. Corby is also a graduate of the Partner's In Policymaking Leadership Institute, a division of the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. She speaks often at conferences on biomedical/dietary intervention, behavior modification, IDEA rights and advocacy, understanding Asperger's Syndrome, and more. www.autismsolutioncenter.org
IEP Strategies: Navigating School Meetings

While most IEP workshops focus on the IDEA federal mandates, this workshop is dedicated solely to the navigation of the actual school IEP team meeting and the strategies necessary to ensure a successful outcome for the child. Our focus will center on the appropriate questions to be asked when services are denied or when the parent is in disagreement with the team decisions. We also cover the importance of accountability for the team. Who is holding their decisions accountable, and what recourse is available besides mediation or due process if you disagree? This workshop is designed to teach you how to put the ball back in the parentﾒs court and successfully secure the necessary services with the least amount of stress and emotional involvement.

Presenter Presentation
Mark Corrales, MPP

is an environmental policy analyst with over twenty years of experience assessing the health risks and economic impacts of air pollutants and regulations designed to limit air pollution. Mr. Corrales currently serves in the US Environmental Protection Agency's policy office, where he is the lead analyst reviewing major regulations focused on transportation-related emissions, as well as ambient air quality standards. Mr. Corrales also conducts research on emerging issues including the role of environmental factors in autism, risk analysis of sensitive subgroups, and environmental policy applications of bibliometrics, bioinformatics, and probabilistic uncertainty analysis. Prior to joining the EPA, Mr. Corrales managed a high-tech startup, following several years directing an environmental policy consulting practice in Washington, DC. His graduate degree is from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and his undergraduate degree in biology is from Harvard College. His many publications and presentations include "Environmental Genomics of Autism," with Martha Herbert, chapter in Autism Research, Oxford University Press, 2009.
The importance of research on environmental factors in a highly heritable disorder

A growing body of evidence suggests various environmental factors are associated with autism. Over time, it should be possible to translate scientific discoveries into widespread adoption of biomedical interventions or appropriate changes in environmental regulation. However, there is a disconnect between the scientific data needed and the data available. The scientific research on autism has focused almost no resources on environmental factors in autism until very recently. While a wide range of environmental factors have been mentioned in the autism research literature or in the popular press, almost none have been thoroughly investigated. This research gap has been partly due to a widely held assumption that environment plays almost no role in causing or treating autism -- which in turn relies on a misunderstanding about autism's high heritability, or the idea that autism is simply a genetic disorder. In fact, high heritability does not mean environmental interventions can play only a minor role in prevention or treatment. Genes and environment work together in several basic ways to increase the risk and severity of complex diseases such as autism. Research focused on these areas will be essential for progress in autism treatment and prevention.

Presenter Presentation
Dorinne Davis, MA, CCC-A, FAAA

President/Founder of The Davis Center, Succasunna, NJ, is the author of 4 books, including Sound Bodies through Sound Therapy® and Every Day A Miracle: Success Stories with Sound Therapy®. She has demonstrated the scientific principles behind the Voice-Ear-Brain Connection in The Davis Addendum® to The Tomatis Effect, and established The Tree of Sound Enhancement Therapy® from which her Diagnostic Evaluation for Therapy Protocol (DETP®) provides the correct administration of any sound-based therapy. She is credentialed in 20 different sound-based therapies and her background as an audiologist, educator and sound therapist provides the foundation to The Davis Model of Sound Intervention®.
The Davis Model of Sound Intervention: Combining Sound and Science for Positive Change

Sound therapy makes foundational change within the body using the connections between the Voice, the Ear, and the Brain as well as the body's cellular response to sound vibration. The Davis Model of Sound Intervention® incorporates these connections and utilizes The Tree of Sound Enhancement Therapy to determine the best protocol for administering any sound-based therapy. Dorinne Davis, author of Sound Bodies through Sound Therapy, is credentialed in 20 different sound therapies and will discuss how the major sound therapies, such as AIT, Tomatis, and BioAcoustics are best administered as related to The Tree analogy.

Presenter Presentation
Dennis Debbaudt

is father to Brad, a young man who has autism. Since 1993, Dennis has authored over 25 autism safety and risk-based articles and books including Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals: Recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Dennis's training video is in use by the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Dennis consulted and contributed to the Chicago Police Department's autism training block; he is a cited Subject Autism & Emergency Preparedness Subject Matter Resource at the Department of Homeland Security website and Lessons Learned Information Sharing. Dennis consulted to ABC News 20/20 for a segment on autism and false confession, and is a consultant for the Autism Society of America's Safe and Sound initiative.
First Responders Training

This special day of training is suitable for law enforcement, fire rescue, public safety, emergency medical response teams, hospital ERs, 911 dispatchers, social services, and criminal justice agency personnel. The general public is also welcome. (Law enforcement credits are available.)

Presenter Presentation
Richard Deth, PhD

is a molecular neuropharmacologist and Professor of Pharmacology at Northeastern University in Boston. His research efforts are directed toward elucidating the molecular events causing neuropsychiatric disorders in which oxidative stress and impaired methylation are prominent features. These include autism, ADHD, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. His laboratory was first to discover the novel signaling mechanism of D4 dopamine receptor-stimulated phospholipid methylation, which appears to be important for neuronal synchronization during attention. A key aspect of his work is regulation of the folate and B12-dependent enzyme methionine synthase, which supplies methyl groups to the D4 receptor and is inhibited by oxidative stress. Dr. Deth is the author of the book titled Molecular Origins of Human Attention: The Dopamine-Folate Connection.
Unique Aspects of Redox Regulation in Human Brain and Their Implications for Autism

Since oxidation is a threat to all cells, control over levels of the antioxidant glutathione provides a powerful mechanism for cell regulation. Methylation reactions and activity of the folate and vitamin B12-dependent enzyme methionine synthase are highly sensitive to redox status, and their inhibition appears to be an important factor in autism. Human brain maintains a unique environment that serves to optimize redox signaling, but this also increases vulnerability to heavy metals and toxic substances which interfere with redox status. Our recent studies have revealed brain-specific structural variants of methionine synthase, along with an age-dependent decrease of about 100-fold in its mRNA level across the lifespan. The latter decrease in methionine synthase activity appears to reflect an increased demand for glutathione synthesis to offset age-related increases in oxidative stress. Levels of methionine synthase mRNA in the brain are significantly lower in autistic subjects compared to control subjects, especially at a younger age. This pattern is consistent with presence of neuroinflammation, which other researchers have documented in autism. An improved understanding of redox regulation in human brain should assist in identifying the factors which cause autism, and should be helpful in guiding effective treatment.

Presenter Presentation
Lisa M. Dietlin

With more than 25 years of experience Lisa has come to believe acts of philanthropy should be strategic and thus transformational to both nonprofit organizations and individuals. Serving as a philanthropic agent, her expert advice, structured counsel and major gift program results are becoming the prime model for philanthropic leadership. Lisa is a frequent speaker on the subjects of entrepreneurial giving, major gifts fundraising and moves management, as well as board development. In 2007 CBS 2 Chicago named Lisa their permanent "Charity Contributor". Lisa was also interviewed for her expertise on Oprah & Friends Radio by Jean Chatzky and Better TV in NYC. Lisa holds a Master's Degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She is an adjunct faculty member at North Park University in Chicago in its nonprofit management degree and certificate programs. Lisa has also served as the Assistant Dean of Development for the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago as well as Senior Advancement Director at Michigan Technological University for the College of Sciences and Arts. Additionally, she holds seats on several nonprofit boards throughout the country. www.lmdietlin.com
Transformational Philanthropy

Lisa M. Dietlin and Associates, Inc. (LMDA) assists entrepreneurial individuals and nonprofit organizations in developing transformational philanthropic strategies. Serving as a philanthropic agent, our expert advice, structured counsel, and major gift programs results are becoming the prime model for philanthropic leadership. We believe that acts of philanthropy should be strategic and thus transformational to both nonprofit organizations and individuals. Put simply&we help find and focus major acts of philanthropy. Whether you are currently building your organization or thinking about starting one, not only is it imperative to build an infrastructure that is transformational for all participants, but sustainable, as well.

Presenter Presentation
Stephen Edelson, PhD

is the director of the Autism Research Institute. He has been active in the field of autism for over 30 years, and he had worked closely with Dr. Bernard Rimland for over 20 years. Dr. Edelson has conducted research in a variety of areas including biomedical, behavioral, sensory and cognition. He is a Board member of the Autism Society of America (ASA) and the Autism Society of Oregon. Dr. Edelson also participates on ASA's Panel of Professional Advisors. He is the editor of the Autism Research Review International quarterly newsletter, co-edited with Dr. Rimland the book Recovering Autistic Children, and has produced several videos on autism.
Elias Tembenis Seizures Think Tank Participant

Presenter Presentation
Mayer Eisenstein, MD, JD

is a graduate of the University of Illinois Medical School, the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Public Health, and the John Marshall Law School. In his 33 years in medicine, he and his practice have cared for over 75,000, children, parents, and grandparents. He is the founder and Medical Director of the Homefirst® Autism Recovery Clinic. He is board certified by the American Board of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians. He is a member of the Illinois Bar. Dr. Eisenstein is the author of: Give Birth at Home With The Home Birth Advantage; Safer Medicine, Don't Vaccinate Before You Educate, 2nd Edition; Unavoidably Dangerous - Medical Hazards of HRT and Unlocking Nature's Pharmacy. Some of his many guest appearances include: "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Hannity and Colmes". His weekly syndicated radio show "The Dr. Mayer Eisenstein Show", airs on XM Satellite Radio as well as multiple affiliates. He has formulated natural pharmaceuticals which can be used to treat many chronic medical conditions. One of his goals is to lower the use of pharmaceuticals in the American population.
Immunization Facts and Accusations: Are They Worth the Risk?

All vaccine programs carry risk and benefit. Therefore, the goal should not only be the prevention of a specific disease by vaccination, the benefits must outweigh any potential long term negative side effects. For example, as a public health measure, if children do not get polio because of the polio vaccine but later die of a cancer caused by the SV40 virus received as a contaminant in the vaccine, the risk may outweigh the benefits.

Vaccine proponents claim that the benefits of childhood and adult vaccination are undeniable. However, vaccine opponents point out that the incidents of autism, diabetes, and other chronic immune and neurological dysfunction have increased dramatically in the last 30 years. This points out the difficulty in making an informed decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate.

Presenter Presentation
Michael Elice, MD & Barbara Fischkin

Michael Elice, MD
is a board certified pediatrician who has been in practice for 30 years, most recently with Dr. Marvin Boris, the renowned, pioneering Long Island allergist. Together at Autism Associates of New York in Syosset, doctors Boris and Elice minister to several thousand patients with autism and/or allergies and estimate recovery rates of 65%. According to Dr. Elice, "biomedical treatment of autism and ASD is based on the idea that autism is actually a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic, epigenetic, metabolic and autoimmune origins." Dr. Elice is a graduate of Syracuse University and the Chicago Medical School. He completed his pediatric residency at the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, and has academic teaching and staff positions of North Shore University Hospital and Schneider Childrenﾒs Hospital. He is an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University Medical School and the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Additionally, he is on the medical advisory board of the New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) and is a member of the National Autism Association New York Metro Chapter. He has lectured at Defeat Autism Now! Conferences around the country. www.autismny.com/index.htm

Barbara Fischkin
is known to autism parents as the host of "Maverick Mama," the Autism One Radio Internet program and as the author of mom.notcalm, a weekly column posted on Spectrum Magazine's online edition. She is the author of three books - fiction and narrative nonfiction - and is an award-winning journalist who has published in major national and international publications for more than three decades, reporting from Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Long Island. Her first book Muddy Cup: A Dominican Family Comes of Age in A New America (Scribner 1997) has been hailed as a landmark work on immigration and the Dominican Diaspora. Ms. Fischkin's satiric journalism novels, the first offerings in her Lost Tribe of Ronkonkoma Series, are titled Exclusive and Confidential Sources (Bantam Dell 2005/6). Confidential Sources also depicts a family's struggle with autism. Ms. Fischkin's literary agent Frank Weimann is currently presenting proposals by Ms. Fischkin for book, film and television projects related to autism. www.barbarafischkin.com & www.spectrumpublications.com
Biomedical Interventions with Older Children: How to Begin -- and Persevere

In a rare physician-parent presentation, Dr. Michael Elice, a prominent Long Island DAN Protocols pediatrician and Barbara Fischkin, an author, journalist, Autism Mom and advocate will report on the bio-medical interventions which Fischkin's severely autistic son, Daniel Mulvaney began in January 2008 at the age of 20. These interventions targeted Daniel's auto-immune system and acquired environmental toxicity and are based on medical findings that revealed, metaphorically speaking, a body that functioned as a "garbage truck that was not dumping." Ms. Fischkin and her husband Jim Mulvaney are -- as patients of Dr. Elice, themselves -- on bio-medical interventions, as well, and their case histories will be included as will comparative videos of Daniel at his work sites. Dr. Elice will also speak in detail, more generally, about the benefits and challenges of beginning bio-medical treatments with older children. young adults and adults -- and will discuss systematic methods for modifying the most disturbing of autistic symptoms, as children with autism grow up and prepare to lives distinguished by as much independence as possible.

Presenter Presentation
Lark Eshleman, PhD

is a child and adolescent psychotherapist. She is a certified school psychologist in Pennsylvania and board certified in domestic violence by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. An expert in working with children who have experienced early emotional trauma, attachment difficulties, neglect and abuse, Dr. Eshleman is the founder and director of the Institute for Children and Families (ICF) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a leading treatment center for children who suffer from the effects of early trauma. Her international work is highlighted by her development of a treatment and training program to help children and families devastated in the war in the former Yugoslavia; that program continues to be used today in areas of crisis around the world. She is the author of Becoming a Family: Promoting Healthy Attachments with Your Adopted Child (Taylor Publishing Company) as well as other publications and has contributed family and professional magazines and journals.
Healing the Wounded Child: (re)-integrating the child into the family

This presentation will give an overview of normal, healthy attachment development and what happens if attachment development goes awry. Healthy attachments are formed between infant and parent when the child learns that his or her needs will be met in a predictable way by a loving, trusted adult. What happens if attachment does not develop in a positive way? What if adults are faced with parenting a child who has needs they cannot meet? Many children on the autism spectrum are isolated not just by the nature of the disorder, but also by the fact that loving parents may lack the tools and support needed to help them function on a day-to-day basis, much less make progress over time. Families often feel shame, fear, and frustration in not knowing how to parent an autistic child or keep others in the family safe. Here are practical suggestions and insights that can help on a day-to-day basis.

Presenter Presentation
Seyyed Hossein Fatemi, MD, PhD

current research focuses on the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that contribute to normal structure and function of the brain and which, under certain circumstances, cause neuropsychiatric disorders. He has authored 81 articles, 22 book chapters, and edited three books. Specifically, he is interested in studying the potential roles of several proteins (Reelin, GAD 65/67, GFAP, Bcl-2, P53, SNAP-25, PDE4A, PDE4B, COMT) which have been implicated in the pathology of schizophrenia and autism. His research has been conducted on two levels: one at the level of human brain dysfunction (postmortem studies involving schizophrenic, depressed, bipolar, and autistic patients) and secondly on development of an animal model to mimic schizophrenia and autism (prenatal viral infection in mice). He has also investigated the effects of various psychotropic agents, e.g., olanzapine, clozapine, fluoxetine, valproic acid, haloperidol, and lithium, on expression of genes of interest in rats following chronic administration of each drug. Dr. Fatemi received his Ph.D. in Human Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Following receipt of his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1991 and completion of his residency in psychiatry at University Hospitals in Cleveland in 1996, Dr. Fatemi was appointed Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy at University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Fatemi was promoted to full professor of psychiatry and adjunct professor of neuroscience in 2006. In 2007 he was also promoted to adjunct professor of pharmacology.
Gaba A and Gaba B receptor abnormalities in autism

Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social deficits, language abnormalities and repetitive behavior. A limited number of reports have demonstrated abnormalities involving the glutamate and GABAergic systems in brain, blood, and platelets of subjects with autism. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. There are three classes of GABA receptors: GABAA, GABAB, and GABAC. GABAA receptors are ligand-gated ion channels responsible for mediation of fast inhibitory action of GABA in the brain. GABAB receptors are present in the thalamus, cerebellum, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and interpenduncular nucleus and are coupled via G proteins to membrane K+ and Ca++ channels and to adenylate cyclase in humans. Our laboratory has performed a comprehensive investigation of GABAA and GABAB receptor subunit expression in cerebellum, parietal cortex (Brodmannﾒs Area 40 (BA40)), and superior frontal cortex (BA9) in brains of subjects with autism vs. matched controls via qRT-PCR and western blotting techniques. We have found widespread changes in GABA receptor expression in brains of subjects with autism. In particular, two receptor subunits demonstrated a concordance between mRNA and protein in cerebellum (GABRA1, GABBR2) and three demonstrated concordance in BA9 (GABRA4, GABRA5, GABRB1). Importantly, each of these 5 subunits have previously been demonstrated to be associated with autism. We suggest widespread GABAergic dysfunction in the brains of subjects with autism

Presenter Presentation
Barbara Loe Fisher, Vicky Debold, PhD, RN & Louise Habakus, HHP, AADP

Barbara Loe Fisher
is co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center (www.NVIC.org), a non-profit founded in 1982 by parents of vaccine-injured children to prevent vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and defend the informed consent ethic. Co-author of the landmark 1985 book DPT: A Shot in the Dark and author of the 2008 book Vaccines, Autism & Chronic Inflammation: The New Epidemic, she is editor of the NVIC Vaccine E-newsletter and a blogger at www.VaccineAwakening.blogspot.com and, she has served on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, Institute of Medicine Vaccine Safety Forum, FDA Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, Vaccine Policy Analysis Collaborative, and Consumers United for Evidence Based Healthcare - U.S. Cochrane Collaboration. The mother of a DPT vaccine-injured son and a vaccine safety advocate for more than 27 years, Barbara has defined and debated the vaccine safety and informed consent issue on every national television and radio network, in major news publications, in state legislatures and in Congress, and in many other public forums.

Vicky Debold, PhD, RN
has worked in the health care field for more than 30 years as an ICU nurse, health care administrator, and health policy analyst focusing primarily on pediatrics and patient safety. Currently, she is an affiliate faculty member at George Mason University, Health Administration and Policy Department. She previously worked as a health policy analyst for the US Congress at the Physician Payment Review Commission, the Michigan Health and Safety Coalition, and the Michigan State Commission on Patient Safety. Additionally, she has served as an assistant professor at the University of Michigan and as an associate professor and director of the Health Systems Management Program at the University of Detroit, Mercy. Her doctoral degree is from the University of Michigan (1999) - from both the School of Public Health (Health Services Organization and Policy) and the School of Nursing (Health Systems Administration). She was a University of Michigan Regent's Fellow and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in health services research at the Michigan Peer Review Organization. Dr. Debold's son, her only child, experienced serious, long-term health problems following receipt of seven live virus and killed bacterial vaccines at his 15-month well-baby appointment. That event sparked her interest in vaccine safety and chronic childhood illness. In addition to serving as a director and committee member for autism non-profit organizations and as the volunteer director of patient safety and a board member of the National Vaccine Information Center, she is the appointed consumer representative to the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). She has served as a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Board of Scientific Counselors on the topic of vaccine acceptance and is currently participating in the National Vaccine Program Office, National Vaccine Advisory Committee, Vaccine Safety Working Group public engagement process for the review of CDC's Immunization Safety Office Draft Scientific Agenda.

Louise Habakus, HHP, AADP
is a board-certified health practitioner specializing in integrative nutrition and homotoxicology. Louise was a corporate marketing executive for one of the world's largest global investment management firms before leaving the corporate world to raise her children. She received her master's and bachelor's degrees from Stanford University. Louise deferred to prevailing mainstream pediatric medicine and vaccinated her babies according to the CDC schedule. After learning that both of her children were vaccine-injured, Louise and her husband, Ron, embarked on a journey of recovery and advocacy. Louise lectures widely on the subject of parent vaccine choices and informed consent. She invites parents, grandparents, homeschoolers, soldiers, legislators, teachers, scientists, doctors and the press to listen, challenge, open their minds, and do their own research. Louise is a member of the New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice and played a lead role in organizing the freedom of choice rally in Trenton last October, an event that attracted over seven hundred participants and received national press. Louise and Ron invited the world to her front lawn rally last fall to send a strong message to then-Senator Obama and Governor Corzine as they drove past her house en route to a fundraising event.
VACCINE EDUCATION SEMINAR

Barbara Loe Fisher will review the history of the vaccine safety/informed consent movement; the inflammation thesis of vaccine-induced pathology; why Gardasil is the contemporary example of what is wrong with the mass vaccination system (just as DPT vaccine was an example in the 1980s); and why fighting for the legal right to exercise informed consent is the logical rallying point for parents seeking to institute safety reforms in the mass vaccination system.

Dr. Vicky Debold will describe the processes by which vaccines are developed as well as licensed, recommended, and monitored by the government for safety and effectiveness. Issues related to potentially highly reactive new vaccines and adjuvants will be discussed relative to gaps in licensing and recommendation processes and problems with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Strategies for citizens to work with consumer advocacy groups such as NVIC to encourage government officials to conduct better vaccine safety research and improve vaccination policies including adoption of informed consent requirements will be highlighted.

Louise Habakus, HHP, AADP Louise Kuo Habakus will tell the story that is playing out in living rooms across the country of the many ways that parents are "connecting the dots." Parents are asking tough questions about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. They want to know if the childhood vaccination program represents yet another arena in which government and industry have failed to protect our families. Louise talks about our vaccination choices, why we should care, and how we have the power to create change through community and grassroots advocacy.

Key learning objectives:
1. Reasons for concern - how are parents "connecting the dots"?
2. Vaccination safety and efficacy - what do we need to know?
3. Government and industry - more of the same?
4. Vaccination choices - what are they and why should we care?
5. Grassroots advocacy - do we have the power to create change?

Presenter Presentation
Richard Frye, MD, PhD

received his MD and PhD from Georgetown University. He completed his pediatric residency training at University of Miami and child neurology residency training at Children's Hospital Boston. Following residency Dr. Frye completed a fellowship in behavioral neurology and learning disabilities at Children's Hospital Boston. Dr. Frye is also funded by the National Institutes of Health to study brain function in individuals with dyslexia and is the medical director of the University of Texas medically-based autism clinic.
Subclinical epileptiform discharges and functional reorganization in atypical cognitive development

Subclinical epileptiform discharges have been suggested to be associated with abnormalities in cognitive development. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of a series of children who manifest atypical cognitive development and subclinical epileptiform discharges on electroencephalogram. We found that subclinical epileptiform discharges were associated with a pattern of developmental cognitive symptoms, including symptoms of language delay, attention deficit and autism. Subtle symptoms of seizures were often not detected even with a detailed history. Most children responded well to antiepileptic medication. Using magnetoencephalography we found a distinct pattern of functional reorganization associated with the development of good language function. Overall, this study suggests that children with developmental cognitive disorders that do not respond to behavioral and educational therapy may benefit from screening with an electroencephalogram. Such children may benefit from a trial of antiepileptic mediation if subclinical discharges are detected.

Presenter Presentation
Andrew & Carolyn Gammichia

Andrew and Carolyn Gammicchia are the founders of L.E.A.N. On Us (www.leanonus.org). As professionals in the field of law enforcement with a combined experience of over 45 years, they are now utilizing that expertise for advocacy within social justice issues for individuals with disabilities and their families. Having experience from street patrol to investigations as well as having a son with ASD has provided them a unique insight when developing curriculums and resource materials, providing trainings, creating collaborations for appropriate response and preparedness efforts, and working toward a nationally mandated training so that individuals with autism will one day obtain the assistance, victims' services, and justice that others may take for granted.
Defending Autism ~ Ensuring Social Justice through Community Awareness and Advocacy

Events of this past year have often sounded like a bad movie to many of us. Parents of children have been incarcerated unjustly; individuals forced to plea to crimes not committed; two women's lives were taken at the hands of loved ones; multiple students have been restrained, secluded, arrested, and subjected to emotional and physical harm; parents trying to seek assistance for their child are accused of Munchausen's Syndrome and have had children removed from their custody while trying to heal them medically, with their child's emotional well-being destroyed when thrown into a world that didn't understand their needs. Within all of these and so many more situations increasing in incidence, they involve an individual with autism and their families. In this session the Gammicchias will address current trends that have been affecting individuals with autism and families' rights - social justice issues in not only the ASD community but our entire society in response to what has been transpiring. Case studies will be discussed along with the misperceptions that are often gleaned from media misrepresentation and sensationalism. A practical guide will also be provided to attendees and reviewed with suggestions on how families can be prepared for accusations of neglect or abuse when their child elopes, has self-injurious behavior, or their communication is misinterpreted. There will also be helpful suggestions and a "tool box" of resources provided so that attendees can advocate in their communities to lay a solid foundation to ensure the needs of individuals with autism are met while also providing awareness.

Presenter Presentation
Mark Geier, MD, PhD & David A. Geier

Mark R. Geier, MD, PhD
has an MD and a PhD in genetics. He is board certified in genetics by the American Board of Medical Genetics and is a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology. Dr. Geier is a founder and medical director of ASD Centers, LLC (www.asdcenters.com), and has been in clinical practice for more than 29 years during which time he has been involved in the evaluation and treatment of more than 600 patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Geier was a researcher at the National Institutes of Health for 10 years. He was also a professor at the Johns Hopkins University and at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Geier has published more than 100 peer-reviewed medical articles, including co-authoring more than 20 peer-reviewed studies on the relationship of genetic, biochemical and hormonal changes in autism, which has resulted in new insights as to the cause and treatment of autism. He has also helped to co-author a new book, "Sacred Spark" (www.sacredsparkbook.com) on autism. Dr. Geier has served as a scientific reviewer for autism grants for the U.S. Government. He has a patent pending for the treatment of patients diagnosed with autism. Dr. Geier has also been involved in vaccine/biologic litigation.

David A. Geier
is vice-president of the non-profit 501(c)3 Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc (www.iciautism.com) and the non-profit 501(c)3 CoMeD, Inc (www.mercury-freedrugs.org). David is also the executive director of ASD Centers, LLC (www.asdcenters.com). He graduated with honors from UMBC with a BA in Biology and a minor in History. He has been a researcher scientist at the National Institutes of Health. David has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed medical studies, and helped to co-author a new compelling new book, "Sacred Spark" (www.sacredsparkbook.com) on autism. Over the last few years David, as a member of the Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc. and CoMeD, Inc., has studied and co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed studies on the relationship of genetic, biochemical and hormonal changes in autism, which has resulted in new insights as to the cause and treatment of autism. David has a patent pending for the treatment of patients diagnosed with autism. He has also been involved in vaccine/biologic litigation.
New Insights into the Underlying Biochemistry of Autism: The Mercury Connection

Saturday Lecture
This presentation will provide a clear and concise overview of new research examining the underlying biochemistry of autism. Attendees will understand how newly published research allows patients diagnosed with autism to be evaluated using clinically available, routine laboratory testing to identify specific biomarkers associated with medical dysfunction in autism. This will include examination of important biomarkers, including urinary porphyrins, transsulfuration metabolites, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hormonal disturbances. In addition, information will be presented on the latest large-scale population and clinical studies associated mercury intoxication with autism.

Presenter Presentation
Mark Geier, MD, PhD & David A. Geier

(see above)
New Insights into the Treatment of Autism: The Hormonal Connection

Sunday Lecture
This presentation will provide a clear and concise overview of new research evaluating the importance of targeted treatments to improve clinical outcomes among patients diagnosed with autism. Special emphasis will be placed on examination of hyperactivity/impulsivity, stereotypy, aggression, self injury, abnormal sexual behaviors, and/or irritability behaviors that frequently occur in those with an autism diagnosis. Further, the presentation will examine the importance of high testosterone (and other androgens) in patients diagnosed with autism and explore how high testosterone induces clinical symptoms observed in many children diagnosed with autism. Finally, attendees will be presented newly published peer-reviewed clinical studies on over 200 patients diagnosed with autism showing that interventions designed to lower or significantly reduce the functionality of testosterone (and other androgens) were observed to significant improve clinical outcomes. The new information presented may provide an important alternate treatment course for many patients diagnosed with autism that are presently administered psychiatric medications.

Presenter Presentation
Kristin Selby Gonzalez

is the Director of Autism Education for Enzymedica. She has been using The Son-Rise Program® with her son, Jaxson, age 6, diagnosed with autism, for over 4 years. She is certified in the Wilbarger Protocol® (a form of sensory integration), has knowledge in the Alert Program® (another form of sensory integration), The Handle Program® (another form of sensory integration), and is a provider in the Listening Program™(an auditory integration therapy). Kristin is certified in the Body Ecology Diet, and is familiar with the Gut and Psychology Diet, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and the gluten- and casein-Free diet.
Sensory Savvy 101

How do you know which sensory integration method to choose? How do you know if your child has sensory issues? Kristin will provide tools and the basic understanding of sensory integration methods, in language you can understand. She will help you recognize when your child is in fight or flight mode. She will provide tips and starting places on how to help them today. She will talk about how to implement a sensory diet in the home with a positive approach. Kristin believes parents are their child's best resource with the strongest connection to them and explains why this is so important. Kristin presents in a fun, upbeat way and she leaves parents feeling inspired and motivated.

Presenter Presentation
Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD

is the founder and executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) and the founder and president of the board of Autism Care and Treatment Today (ACT Today). Dr. Granpeesheh received her PhD in psychology from UCLA and is licensed by the Medical Board of California and the Texas and Arizona State Boards of Psychologists. Dr. Granpeesheh holds a Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, is a board certified behavior analyst and has been providing behavioral therapy for children with autism since 1979. She is a member of the Defeat Autism Now! Executive Council, on the Scientific Advisory Board of the US Autism and Asperger's Association and first vice chair of the national board of directors of the Autism Society of America. Dr. Granpeesheh is a member of the Autism Human Rights and Discrimination Initiative steering committee and on the oversight committee of the Department of Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arizona.
The Child as a Whole: Why Behavioral and Biomedical Interventions are Both Critical to Growth and Recovery

Treatment approaches grounded in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) are now considered to be at the forefront of educational interventions for children with autism.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) is among the world's largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism and related disorders since 1990. Following the principles of ABA, and with a comprehensive curriculum of programs to teach communication, social skills, adaptive, motor, play, cognitive and executive functioning skills, CARD develops individualized treatment plans that focus on developing the child's skills and generalizing these to daily life.

CARD recognizes that autism is not a purely behavioral disorder, and the underlying causes of the symptoms are associated with a number of medical issues that when treated appropriately result in stabilization of the child's medical condition and subsequent growth and improvement.

While ABA and biomedical practitioners have individually helped provide successful treatment models for autism, in developing a "Best Practices" model, these interventions must work together to provide the best possibilities for successful outcome.

Case studies will be presented in support of the behavioral-biomedical treatment model, and recent research will be presented to show successful outcomes with these protocols.

Presenter Presentation
Katherine Guttshall, MA, BCBA

is a Supervisor at CARD Specialized Outpatient Services in Tarzana, CA. Her interests include bringing the best research practices within ABA to the outpatient setting. Her current clientele include children with and without developmental disorders who present with challenging behaviors, including feeding disorders, aggression, and cooperation with medical procedures. Kate has presented at numerous national conferences and has been published in the field of applied behavior analysis.
What to do when a child won't eat: Feeding Disorders and Developmental Delays

Pediatric feeding disorders are characterized by a child's inability to take in the appropriate amount of food and liquid necessary to maintain growth. Feeding disorders are displayed in many forms.

Development of the disorder can be attributed to medical complications or behavioral considerations. However, it is most likely that an interaction of two or more factors produce the feeding problems. Through the application of behavior analytic principles, successful treatment can be reached. The ultimate goal is for the child to have age appropriate eating skills, generalize treatment gains to home, school, and community, and to train all caregivers to correctly implement the child's protocol.

Presenter Presentation
Boyd Haley, PhD

received his PhD in Chemistry/Biochemistry at Washington State University. He was an NIH Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Physiology, Yale University Medical School. His first academic appointment was at the University of Wyoming where he was promoted to full professor. In 1985 he was hired by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center with academic appointments as professor in the College of Pharmacy and in the Department of Biochemistry. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry and served as Chair of this department from 1996 to 2005. Dr. Haley was a founder and is the scientific advisor of ALT Biosciences, Inc., a biotech company that synthesizes and markets to major research institutes nucleotide photoaffinity analogs for biomedical research.
In the past 23 years Dr. Haley has emphasized studies on the biochemistry of Alzheimer's disease. His research in the biochemical aberrancies in Alzheimer's disease also lead to his identifying mercury toxicity as a major exacerbating factor, perhaps even a causal factor for this disease. He was one of the first to propose that the organic-mercury preservative (thimerosal) in vaccines was the most likely toxic agent involved in Gulf War Syndrome and autism related disorders. He has followed this up with research that demonstrates that several additional factors (Al3+, certain antibiotics), including testosterone, increase the toxicity of thimerosal. Further, in collaboration with others he has shown using mercury analysis of birth-hair that autistics represent a subset of the population that cannot excrete mercury effectively.
Dr. Haley has testified before numerous government agencies at the federal and state levels on the effects of mercury toxicity from dental amalgams and vaccines.
The Effects of Synergistic Toxicities and Genetic Susceptibilities on the Toxic Effects of Inorganic and Organic Mercury Compounds: The Relationship to Autism and Related Disorders

Data now exists that strongly indicates that there is a genetic subset of the human population that is unable to effectively excrete mercury from low level exposures. This leads to a retention toxicity in this subset at levels of exposure that is easily excreted by the bulk of the healthy population. Autistic children seem to fit into this subset. Current compounds being used to "chelate" mercury from the body (e.g., DMPS, DMSA, glutathione, EDTA) are not very effective. We will describe a new type of approach that has the possibility to provide for better and safer treatment for mercury toxic individuals. This new approach using a potent antioxidant has been proven by our laboratory, and confirmed by another commercial toxicity testing laboratory, not to be toxic at levels about 1,000 times the levels that would be used in treatment therapies. The data on these compounds will be presented.

Presenter Presentation
Elaine Hall & Diane Isaacs

Elaine Hall
founded The Miracle Project in order for children to cultivate rich and joyful milestones with new friends, family, and community members. That sense of belonging amplifies each child's and parent's sense of thriving growth. Through her program and the many volunteers who come together to assure its success, Elaine is committed to providing the celebratory experiences and connections with one's peers, which she believes is every child's birthright. Prior to innovating The Miracle Group, Elaine performed nationally with Sesame Street Live! She has worked as an on-set acting coach for Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios, ABC Television, Nickelodeon, and most recently, the feature film, Akeelah and the Bee. She founded the critically acclaimed children's theater program, KIDS ON STAGE, L.A.. "Coach E" coaches both typical and "special" children with relationship, self-esteem and self-confidence issues, as well as children and young adults seeking a professional career in the entertainment industry. So too, Elaine is beloved for her expertise in bringing Jewish studies to autistic children, assuring that they are able to share the joy of celebrating ceremonial rites of passage at the core of Judaism. Elaine's media projects celebrate diversity, positive thinking, kindness and meaningful connection to others.

Diane Isaacs
is a film and television producer with over 20 years of industry experience. As President of Green Moon Productions, a film company she co-founded with Antonio Banderas, Diane produced the Emmy-nominated HBO historical drama titled And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself; Imagining Argentina with Academy Award winner Emma Thompson; Antonio Banderas's directorial debut Crazy In Alabama; Forever Lulu with Patrick Swayze; Tart starring Mischa Barton; and The Body starring Antonio Banderas. With film & English degrees from New York University, Diane worked on The David Letterman Show before producing the revolutionary television series, Miami Vice. As president of production for the Don Johnson Company, she produced the ABC series The Marshal, the CBS pilot Nash Bridges, and the acclaimed CBS telefilm In The Company Of Darkness starring Helen Hunt. Her experience in content development, writing, production, music, film, marketing and overall producing is aligned to fulfill The Miracle Project's diverse platforms.
The Miracle Project

The Miracle Project is a theatre and film arts program for children with special needs and their typically developing siblings and peers. Autism: The Musical won two Emmy Awards. Meet Elaine Hall (founder & creative Director) and Diane Isaacs (co-founder & producer) during two days of Miracle Project workshops with children, plus an evening presentation for parents.

Presenter Presentation
Paul Hardy, MD

is a board certified neurologist with subspecialty training in behavioral neurology/neuropsychiatry. He has held teaching appointments at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine. For the past 30 years, he has specialized in working with developmentally disabled individuals throughout their life cycle, particularly those with autism. Since 1997, he has been a Defeat Autism Now! physician, combining his academic background in neurology and psychiatry with the new concepts and treatments developed by Defeat Autism Now! A particular interest for him has been the recognition, evaluation, and treatment of developmentally disabled individuals with occult subclinical seizures. Often these seizures can contribute to cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral disturbances.
Epilepsy in Autism: An Overview

This presentation will discuss Dr. Hardy's extensive experience in evaluating and treating the unique issues of epilepsy in persons with autism. The general classification of epilepsy will be presented with a discussion of specific syndromes associated with autism, followed by the unique epidemiologic issues. The challenges of diagnosis will be reviewed, especially in children and in people who are nonverbal. Finally, the various treatments for epilepsy will be discussed beginning with dietary and nutriceutical treatments that should serve as the foundation for more standard pharmaceutical treatments. The role of the "therapeutic trial" will also be a focus of discussion.

Presenter Presentation
Martha Herbert, MD, PhD

is an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, a pediatric neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a member of the MGH Center for Morphometric Analysis, and an affiliate of the Harvard-MIT-MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. She is director of the TRANSCEND Research Program (Treatment Research and Neuroscience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), which utilizes multimodal imaging techniques including MRI, EEG and MEG and is particularly aimed toward using imaging in coordination with clinical observation, metabolic biomarkers and animal studies in shedding light on the physiological level of changes in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and on potential domains of plasticity and targets for intervention. Dr. Herbert earned her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Prior to her medical training she obtained a doctoral degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying evolution and development of learning processes in biology and culture in the History of Consciousness program. She then did postdoctoral work in the philosophy and history of science. She trained in pediatrics at Cornell University Medical Center and in neurology and child neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Herbert received the first Cure Autism Now Innovator Award. She is the co-chair of the Environmental Health Advisory Board of the Autism Society of America and directs their Treatment Guided Research Initiative, is on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Autism Speaks and is a co-PI of the ATN site at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research program includes studying what makes some autistic brains unusually large, how the parts of the brain are connected and coordinated with each other, and how we can develop measures sensitive to changes in brain function that could result from treatment interventions. She is also pursuing multisystem prospective at-risk infant sibling research to monitor medical and physiological development in parallel with behavioral development.
More than Developmental: Environmental Impacts as Chronic and What This Means for Treatment, Research and Policy

Environmental factors affect brain development, but the problem does not stop there. Environmental exposures persist as body burden, they continue to accumulate, and they have ongoing and active impacts on metabolic and immune function at the subcellular, cellular, organ and systems levels. Therefore autism is more than a developmental disorder. The chronic and persistent features of autism include many treatable features as well as a component of alteration of brain development; the relative contributions of these different aspects is virtually unevaluated, but responsiveness to treatment suggests we have been underestimating the importance of chronic and persistent contributors. Understanding this aspect of autism further underscores the importance of treatment, the importance of research oriented toward environmental contributors and interventions and toward optimization of health and brain plasticity, and the allocation of major resources toward reducing unnecessary suffering.

Presenter Presentation
John Hicks, MD

For over thirty years, Dr. Hicks has dedicated himself to the art and science of integrated holistic medicine. Using a cooperative medical, nutritional, emotional and energetic approach, Dr. Hicks works with the Pathways team of health professionals to develop a customized wellness plan for each patient. Using diagnostic testing and analysis, supplements, herbs, nutritional support, homeopathy and vibrational interventions, his intention is always to compassionately support the body as it works to access its own intuitive healing potential.
Creating Health and Balance

Our magnificent bodies intuitively know how to be well. Unfortunately, higher toxic levels and depleted amounts of nutritious soil have left our bodies challenged to maintain adequate levels of the nutrients necessary for optimal function. By understanding the potential of our DNA, we can learn to make customized nutritional choices that support our bodies. At the same time, we cannot underestimate the power of our thoughts and beliefs to affect our health, in both a positive and negative way. In this lecture, you will learn how to take control of your health through nourishing the body and healing the mind.

Presenter Presentation
John Hicks, MD

(see above)
The Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction is a Universal Law that simply says that we attract into our lives whatever we think about. The things that we think about, and our feelings and emotions are what create our physical reality. When you begin to understand the Law of Attraction, you realize that your dominant thoughts - what you think about the most - will find a way to manifest themselves into your reality. You're sending out a signal and the entire Universe responds. If you spend all your time thinking about what you don't want - the Law of Attraction responds by giving you more of what you don't want! And when you finally get that, and you begin to exercise some deliberate control about the signal that you are sending, then life really begins to be fun, because then you recognize that nothing happens outside of your creative control. You can choose what you want to attract into your life by releasing your old thought patterns and beliefs, and deliberately create the thoughts that attract health, wealth, and happiness into your life! When you learn how to focus your thoughts on something that you desire from a joyful place, and maintain your vibrational harmony with that desire, the Universe must find a way to bring it about. That's the promise of the Law of Attraction.

Presenter Presentation
Sonja Hintz, RN & Sym Rankin, CRNA, APN

Sonja Hintz, RN
has worked with children with disabilities since the age of twelve. Sonja witnessed her mother's efforts in developing independent living for adults with developmental disabilities, seeing adults move from institutions to new homes in the community, called group homes. At 16 she was hired to work in these group homes as a counselor which included living there part-time, teaching activities of daily living, and advocating in situations involving discrimination. Following, this Sonja worked as a public health nurse, a psychiatric nurse, and a neonatal intensive care nurse. Currently she is working at True Health Medical Center with Dr. Anju Usman. With the birth of her second child, Sonja was compelled to reevaluate her traditional based medical paradigms to meet the needs of her son, who was on the autism spectrum by the age of three. Through the use of a therapeutic diet, homeopathy, herbs, vitamins, essential oils, and chelation in addition to many other therapies, he has made a recovery. For the last 10 years she has applied what she has learned to help other children improve their quality of life.

Sym Rankin, CRNA, APN
is a graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana and the Charity Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia (New Orleans). As a practicing anesthetist for over 25 years, she has witnessed an alarming increase in chronic and autoimmune diseases. Those observations became less academic and more personal after her son was diagnosed with autism. Her son's journey of recovery led to Sym's realization that mainstream medicine is far more interested in merely treating symptoms than in asking the difficult questions of why those symptoms exist. She recently joined the practice at True Health Medical Center in Naperville, hoping that she can help other families on the same journey.
How to Get Your Mainstream Physician to See Beyond Autism

Mainstream medical practitioners see autism as a behavioral disorder and often overlook how sick our children really are. They need your help to understand that a child's autistic symptoms result from physical conditions that need medical treatment. This session will focus on becoming an informed advocate for your child's health care. Learn to help your mainstream physician understand the metabolic problems in your child so s/he can become an effective member of your team. This session will review current resources and lab tests, and we'll discuss how to match them with specific behavioral observations. The discussion will include the delivery of anesthesia and the unique risks your child may face. If you can speak the same language as your pediatrician, gastroenterologist, anesthesiologist or other medical professional, you can guide them to an understanding of biomedical treatments.

Presenter Presentation
David Holmes, EdD

is board certified in forensic science, behavioral science and psychology. He is a certified/licensed chief school administrator/supervisor/principal and teacher. He is immediate past president and founder of The Eden Family of Services and its current chairman and CEO, and he is the longest standing chairman of the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America. He has served on the faculties of numerous universities and most recently on the psychology faculty at Princeton University. He has been a featured guest on many TV and radio shows, including National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation, CNN's House Call, and CBS News Weekend Journal. Dr. Holmes is a national award-winning author of numerous books, book chapters and articles, most notably, Autism through the Lifespan-The Eden Model. Dr. Holmes was nominated [2007] and served as a Fellow, to the 32nd Federal Institute on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI) in Washington, D.C. Dr. Holmes is the host of the international radio show, "Adults on the Autism Spectrum: TODAY!" on Autism One Radio.
The Needs and Wants of Adults on the Autism Spectrum; Lessons learned from the Autism One Radio Show "Adults on the Autism Spectrum; Today!

After serving as host to Autism One Radio's "Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Today!," I have obtained numerous views as to what adults with autism want and need. These perspectives have come from family members, service providers, advocates and from adults with autism themselves. This presentation will address some of the pressing issues of the day when it comes to what it is that adults with autism want and need and how to access supports that will give them a quality of life that they truly deserve.

Presenter Presentation
Devin Houston, PhD

provided the first enzyme product targeted to children with autism in 1999. Since then, he has worked to further the research into enzyme development. Dr. Houston has a distinguished career in academic and industrial enzyme research.
Enzymes, GI Function, and Autism: What You Should Know

For the family with newly-diagnosed autism, understanding biomedical approaches to treatment can be quite an undertaking. One resounding thread in most all dietary protocols is the inclusion of enzyme products. However, unlike most supplements, there is no one disease associated with "enzymes". This presentation will illustrate exactly what an enzyme is, how it functions, and why enzymes are recommended by most practitioners to support GI health. A basic understanding of enzymes will allow parents to confidently choose the right enzyme approach to their child's digestive problems.

Presenter Presentation
Laurette Janak

is a parent-researcher and mother of a child on the autism spectrum who also has Down syndrome and leukemia. She presented at the Autism One 2007 and 2008 conferences sharing her investigations into mechanisms that might explain the significantly increased occurrence of autism within the Down syndrome population. Her most recent work includes publication of two articles on Down syndrome and autism appearing in the Winter 2009 edition of the international magazine The Autism File.
How do you know? A medical literature search tutorial

Wednesday Lecture
The media continually tells us the important findings of newly-published studies. But how do you know if media's interpretation of the study is really what the study found? And how do you know if it was a well-designed study without methodological flaws? If you would like to know how to obtain studies and judge them for yourself then this workshop is for you! Through the use of an on-line Internet demonstration, you will learn the basic techniques for doing a medical literature search in the National Library of Medicine. Don't be at the mercy of the media any longer. Come and join in the inquiry!

Presenter Presentation
Laurette Janak

(see above)
Minimizing parental health risks: What parents need to know

Wednesday Lecture
In 2006, a study found magnesium deficiency in a group of parents who have children with autism. In Spring 2008 autism researcher Dr. Jill James and colleagues published their findings of elevated homocysteine and low glutathione in a similar group of parents. This workshop will explain, in simple terminology, what these findings mean and how they may relate to a host of seemingly unrelated health disorders such as depression, fibromyalgia, cancer, cardiovascular disease and others. Strategies to lessen the risk of health consequences implicit in these abnormalities will be the main focus of the talk.

Presenter Presentation
Laurette Janak

(see above)
Down syndrome, vaccinations and genetic susceptibility to injury: What does the research show?

Friday lecture
Many have questioned the role that vaccines play in the development of autism. Research has found the prevalence of autism within Down syndrome far exceeds that seen in the general population. In this workshop, data will be presented from the published medical literature to support the notion that children with Down syndrome are more likely to be genetically susceptible to injury from various components of vaccines. Since the increased susceptibility in one subgroup of children implies that there can be other groups that are similarly affected, the data presented will seriously challenge the concept of a "one-size-fits-all" policy of vaccination. This presentation will be of interest to parents of children with autism as well as those with Down syndrome.

Presenter Presentation
Raun Kaufman

is the CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America™. As a child, Mr. Kaufman was diagnosed with severe autism and recommended for lifelong institutionalization. Instead, his parents developed The Son-Rise Program®, which enabled their son to completely recover from his autism. Now an international speaker, writer, teacher, and Ivy League graduate with a degree in Biomedical Ethics, Mr. Kaufman bears no traces of his former condition (and is the subject of a book and movie). He has written articles featured in journals such as The Autism File and Good Autism Practice and has been interviewed by media such as National Public Radio, BBC Television, Fox News Channel, The London Telegraph, and People Magazine.
Breakthrough Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Raun K. Kaufman will provide concrete, bold strategies you can implement now for your child's immediate gain. With humor and inspiration, Mr. Kaufman will recount his own story of recovery and outline some crucial yet often-overlooked aspects of autism and its treatment. His lecture details innovative, outside-the-box techniques from The Son-Rise Program® that you can use today to help your child: move beyond stimming (without you stopping or discouraging your child's behavior), learn new skills (without you having to push or pressure), and, most especially, to form meaningful, caring relationships with others.

Presenter Presentation
Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, DN-C, RH

has over 35 years of experience in alternative medicine and is one of the foremost herbal experts in North America. He is a long-serving national officer of the American Herbalists Guild and a respected teacher, writer and lecturer who has presented at over 120 national conventions and conferences. He has authored or edited 26 books, including The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs. KP Khalsa is a faculty member in the Botanical Medicine Department of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington, where he trains naturopathic medical students, and he is a professor of natural products pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. KP serves as senior research scientist and chief medical formulator for Yogi Tea, the largest selling herbal medicine tea line in the natural foods marketplace.
Herbal Medicine in Autism

The challenge of the spectrum of disorders we call autism demands that we cast a wide net in the process of hunting down anything that might aid improvement. Herbal medicine, while not yet on a par with other alternative autism treatments in the United States, offer promise for autism and for a large swath of common problems that go along with the syndrome. We will discuss effective treatments for immunocompromise, sleep, cognition, lethargy, mood, digestive disorders, allergy, bowel function, anxiety and seizures. We are at the very beginning of our understanding of herbal medicine in the modern era. Mechanisms often are not known. Understand that the safety profile for children is often not well established. Still, in general, herbs are remarkably safe. Preliminary results with herbs in autism are promising. Children with autism are susceptible to a long list of other characteristic maladies, including immune and dietary issues. We will discuss effective herbal medicines to keep the whole child healthy. Scientific references will be supplied, doses will be explained and professional quality sources will be discussed. We will include a limited discussion of potential herb and drug interactions.

Presenter Presentation
Cheryl Kilmer

Since the age of 17, Cheryl has committed herself to making a positive difference in the lives of those with developmental disabilities, thus beginning a lifelong journey that has benefited thousands of individuals and their families. Cheryl graduated from the University of Michigan and holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. In 1980, she founded the Training, Education, and Research Institute (TERI) and has been the CEO of the corporation throughout its history. Based in San Diego, California, TERI serves over 600 children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families; employs 350 professional and paraprofessional staff; and maintains a $14.5 million annual operating budget. The agency offers a wide range of services to this population, supporting them across the lifespan. Cheryl's goal in establishing TERI was to raise the quality of life and supports available to individuals with significant disabilities. She has met this goal in many ways, including having TERI cited as a model program in the state of California for the quality of services it provides. Twice nominated for Maria Shriver's prestigious Minerva Award, Cheryl has been repeatedly recognized and honored for her considerable contributions to the field.
A Vision for the Future: New models for residential supports for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities

A Vision for the Future
While some adults with autism will likely live in homes of their own with only a little support, many more will require a range of ongoing and even intensive services throughout their lifespan. In order to get this type of support, adults with significant autism and their families will likely turn to an agency or organization for help. As with any business, agencies that offer adult residential support can be good or bad; high quality or low quality; forward-thinking and passionate or mundane and limited. The sad reality at this time is that there is a tremendous lack of adult residential supports and programs that meet the hopes and dreams of many people with autism and their families. This presentation will focus on the design and delivery of new and existing models for providing high quality residential supports for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Presenter Presentation
Brian King, LCSW

is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Naperville, IL where he brings a unique three-fold perspective to the world of Asperger's. Brian is not only a single father of three sons on the autism spectrum, but he is also blessed with Asperger's himself. Therefore, Brian's social work practice focusing exclusively on working with Asperger's clients and their families. Brian has become known worldwide for his positive approach to Living the Asperger's experience and is dedicating his time to serving as an ambassador between the Asperger's and neurotypical communities. His goal is to help both communities learn to better communicate, appreciate, and cooperate with each other in a spirit of mutual respect.
The Sensory Experience: Understanding Sensory Challenges In Daily Life

Brian King will discuss the 10 senses every human being possesses as well as how they serve as a lens through which the autism spectrum child experiences the world. As an Asperger's adult he will explain how he experiences the world through his 10 senses and how this impacts all aspects of life including social and work situations.

Presenter Presentation
David Kirby

is author of the critically acclaimed book "Evidence of Harm, Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic - A Medical Controversy" (St. Martin's Press - 2005), which debuted at number 27 on The New York Times bestseller list and is still widely read today. Kirby has appeared on such venues as Meet the Press, Larry King Live, The Today Show, Imus in the Morning, CNN Headline News Prime, Montel Williams, Air America, and dozens of local radio and television stations. Kirby, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, has been a professional journalist for over 15 years, including extensive contributions to The New York Times. He was a foreign correspondent in Mexico and Central America from 1986-1990. Kirby has also worked in politics, medical research, and public relations.
Metals, Myelin and Mitochondria - Several Paths to Autism?

Author and writer David Kirby will discuss new biological science that has emerged since the beginning of 2008. Kirby believes there are different paths to the same constellation of symptoms that we label "autism spectrum disorders" based on different combinations of genetic factors and environmental triggers. Three such triggers under study today are heavy metals, live viruses and immune overstimulation - all of which occur in nature but also happen to be associated with vaccination. This will be a look at how heavy metals can cause brain damage, how live viruses can attack myelin (nerve coatings) and how overstimulation of the immune system in children with mitochondrial disorders can cause autistic regression.

Presenter Presentation
Steven Kossor

is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Behavior Change, founder and director of the Network for Behavior Change, and founder and clinical director of the Children's Behavioral Health Center. He is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist. For more than thirty years, Steve has specialized in helping children with developmental difficulties, including autism, and is recognized widely as an expert diagnostician and behavioral treatment specialist with extensive experience in the Medicaid EPSDT - BHRS system.
Funding treatment in PA: the Medicaid-EPSDT-BHRS connection

This program will describe the Pennsylvania model for EPDST that permits any person under the age of 21 with an autism spectrum diagnosis to receive funding for 20 or more hours of weekly intensive behavioral treatment via Medicaid, regardless of family income. Participants will learn how this federally mandated program could be implemented cost-effectively in all 50 states. The presenter will describe the model Steven Kosser created over 17 years ago that consists of built-in safeguards to ensure quality services, promotes professional integrity, and includes a method of treatment outcome measurement that tremendously increases the probability that funding will continue until treatment is finished successfully. Content is designed for parents, advocates, attorneys and conscientious treatment providers.

Presenter Presentation
Robert Krakow, JD

is an attorney in private practice in New York. Bob started his legal career with the New York Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy organization. For nine years in the 1980s Bob was a prosecutor with the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney's office, serving as Bureau Chief of the special narcotics prosecution division. He founded his law firm in 1989, focusing on the trial of civil and criminal cases, and specializing in the representation of individuals injured by exposure to vaccines. Bob represents families of children with autism in a variety of venues, including insurance coverage disputes, vaccine exemption issues, IDEA education disputes with school districts, and claims by educational and medical neglect. He has also represented medical and legal professionals in disciplinary matters and civil litigation. Since 2002 Bob has served a the Board Chair of Lifespire, Inc., a 59 year-old New York and New Jersey not-for-profit organization that provides residential, day habilitation, occupational, educational and medical programs and supports for more than 6000 developmentally disabled adults and children. Bob was co-founder of Autism United, a founding Board member of the National Autism Association and former Board member of SafeMinds. In 2005, Bob co-founded A-CHAMP (Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning), now known as the Autism Action Network (www.autismactionnetwork.org), a national political action organization that advocates for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Most recently, Bob is co-founder of the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy, the first and only center of its kind that seeks to develop legal advocacy for families and children in all aspects of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
"Sublegal" - Can children with "autism" obtain justice in vaccine court?

Robert Krakow, JD, will present a survey of recent science related to "autism" and developments in vaccine court. What is obstructing children with vaccine-induced autism from getting the justice they deserve? Why aren't more cases successful? For those cases that are settled or "won," what really happens next insofar as restitution? How has the statute of limitations caveat been abused, and is there any legal hope in the future for those disqualified by it?

Presenter Presentation
Arthur Krigsman, MD & Sylvia Chin-Caplan, Esq.

Arthur Krigsman, MD
is a pediatrician and board certified pediatric gastroenterologist and is an assistant professor of pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine in New York . He is the director of gastrointestinal services at Thoughtful House Center for Chidren in Austin, Texas, where his time is divided between clinical care of autistic gastrointestinal disease and clinical research exploring the nature of this gastrointestinal pathology in autistic children. A New York based satellite practice, located in Lawrence, New York, services an identical group of affected children living in the Northeast. Dr. Krigsman has evaluated and treated over 600 children suffering from autism and a variety of gastrointestinal problems and has presented his findings at scientific meetings in the United States and abroad. He has testified at a Congressional hearing dealing with autism and its possible causes, and, more recently, testified regarding the gastrointestinal disease of plaintiff Michelle Cedillo in the U.S. Omnibus Autism Proceeding.

Sylvia Chin-Caplan, Esq
is a 1984 graduate of Boston College Law School and has an undergraduate degree from Northeastern University's College of Nursing in Boston. Sylvia is admitted to the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Autism and Vaccines in the US Omnibus Hearings: Legal and Gastrointestinal Perspectives of the Michelle Cedillo

In this two-part discussion, Sylvia Chin-Caplan Esq. will review the legal process surrounding claims of vaccine induced injury in the US court system. Topics to be addressed include the role of vaccine court in the US justice system, class action vs. filing outside the class, burden of proof, and examples of previous awards and the appeal process. Specific legal arguments presented to the court in the Michelle Cedillo case will be presented along with a review of the decision. Following this, Arthur Krigsman MD will discuss the medical facts considered by the court in determining whether Michelle Cedillo suffered from symptoms of bowel inflammation, highlighting critical items omitted by the court in its decision.

Presenter Presentation
Arthur Krigsman, MD

(see above)
Update in Autistic Gastrointestinal Disease

Dr. Krigsman will discuss the clinical presentation and endoscopic and histologic pathology associated with ASD. A review of various treatment options will be given, and potential areas of further research will be explored.

Presenter Presentation
Andrea Lalama

is a determined mother who embarked on a tireless journey of research to learn everything about autism to help her own children. In doing so, she gleaned extensive knowledge from scientists, pathologists, microbiologists, medical doctors, and homeopaths. Andrea formed hypotheses leading to cost-effective remedies that many parents report have helped their children. Spurred by parental success and support, Andrea launched the non-profit foundation "Reversing Autism," which enables her to pursue promising avenues of research and better help parents. By request, she has presented her research via workshops around the US and internationally while offering parents her homeopathic and holistic care consultation services. Andrea is Autism One's liaison to South America. For more information, please visit www.reversingautism.org.
Reversing Autism: Connecting the pieces with the latest research: BT, Hg, Octopamine, Succinic Acid, Leptu and BIRM

This presentation debuts original information that can be implemented effectively, immediately, and that has had a high degree of success. Andrea will focus more specifically on her discovery of the role of the lesser-known neurotransmitter Octopamine, a discovery that was key to her son and other children regaining skills in many areas of functioning, most notably social-interaction and communication. This presentation will also provide insight on what is helping ASD children in countries outside the US. Finally, Andrea will expand on her personal hypotheses regarding what she believes may be causing the children to develop the so-called autism "predisposition."

Presenter Presentation
Mary Jo Lang, PhD

is founder and director of Beacon Day School for Children with Autism and Related Disorders, and Beacon Autism Spectrum Independence Center (BASIC), in Orange, California. She leads a staff of teachers and therapists dedicated to providing appropriate instruction and activities for each student. Dr. Lang is Associate
The Brain, Thinking and Behavior: Understanding Executive Function

Executive Function describes a collection of brain processes that control and manage other cognitive processes. Psychologists credit executive function as responsible for planning, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, rule acquisition, initiating appropriate actions and inhibiting inappropriate actions, and selecting relevant sensory information. This session will examine the Brain activity related to executive function, the influences on Thinking, and the resulting Behaviors that can occur when executive function is impaired.

Studies have shown that age-related improvements in executive function from childhood to adolescence can occur in children with autism. This indicates some degree of brain plasticity and suggests a window for delivering effective treatment. Mature executive functioning is limited in autism, but with proper treatment, we can maximize a child's ability to grow and function.

Presenter Presentation
Lindyl Lanham, DSH-P, BS Spec Ed & Cindy L. Griffin, DSH-P, DIHom., BME

Lindyl Lanham, DSH-P, BS Spec Ed

began working with autistic, deaf and blind children in 1972 at the Texas School for the Blind's Deaf Blind Annex, then went on to a successful career as an award-winning teacher of visually and multiply challenged children. After her second son was diagnosed with profound learning disabilities, later attributed to Tourette Syndrome (now recovered and a college senior), she homeschooled and found as many alternative answers to her son's issues as possible, finally recovering him with homeopathy and NACD. She began her private homeopathic practice in 2002, and in 2003, became co-owner of Homeopathy Center of Houston. She has focused ever since on recovering children from autism, as the prime mover in development of the Houston Homeopathic Method for Autism.

Cindy L. Griffin, DSH-P, DIHom., BME

began her private homeopathic practice in 1998, and founded Houston School of Homeopathy in 2001 as a means of teaching an all-encompassing, complex multi-disciplinary homeopathic approach, which is still unique to the Houston School and Center. In 2003 she and Lindyl Lanham joined to create Homeopathy Center of Houston as a general homeopathic practice, with a focus on autism spectrum disorders. Since then, the practice has grown to include 3 other practitioners, and worldwide renown for dedication to "thinking outside the box" in order to recover children from autism. Cindy continues to practice, research, write and teach about complex homeopathic approaches to autism.
Autism's Many Facets: Recovery through Sequential Homeopathy

Many autistic behaviors stem from specific causes, such as parasites, high bacterial and viral loads, yeast, etc. Drawing from many different clients' stories, we will demonstrate how a complex, multi-method sequential homeopathic approach can greatly improve many of the stereotypical behaviors within the autism umbrella with cause-based and/or specific support approaches. These include: OCD/PANDAS, scripting, gut pain, apraxia, dyspraxia, endocrine or hormonal imbalances, behaviors attributable to "yeast" and dysbiosis, etc. Examples will include test result changes, subjective improvements, and even loss of autism diagnosis.

Presenter Presentation
Jeffrey Lewine, PhD

is the executive director of the Alexian Brothers Center for Brain Research and the Illinois Magnetoencephalography Center. He received his doctorate in neuroscience in 1988 from the University of Rochester where he was a member of the Center for Brain Research and the Center for Visual Science. Following completion of his graduate training, he was named a Director's Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he worked on the development of magnetoencephalography [MEG], a new method for studying brain function. In 1992 he moved to the Albuquerque VA Medical Center and the University of New Mexico where he focused his efforts on using brain imaging to guide clinical care. In 1997 he was appointed the Director of the Functional Brain Imaging Program at the Center for Advanced Medical Technologies of the University of Utah. In 2002, he was recruited to the University of Kansas Medical Center as the director of the Magnetoencephalography Program at the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center. While at the University of Kansas, Dr. Lewine also held appointments in the Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Psychology. In 2006, Dr. Lewine joined the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network to provide leadership for new efforts in neuroscience research. Dr. Lewine is the co-author of a textbook on functional brain imaging and he has authored more than 100 articles and book chapters. He has done research on a wide range of clinical conditions including autism, ADHD, depression, dyslexia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Lewine is especially interested in the scientific evaluation of novel treatment strategies for children with learning and developmental disorders.
Epileptiform Activity in the Autistic Brain: Cause, Effect, or Co-Morbidity

The observation that almost 30% of children with autism develop clinical seizures by the time that they reach adolescence is one of the fundamental observations in support of the biological basis of autism. Yet, the relationships between clinical seizures, "sub-clinical" epileptiform activity, and autism are poorly understood. At present it is uncertain if epileptiform activity is simply co-morbid with autism, a consequence of the underlying neurobiological abnormalities of autism, or a possible cause of at least some specific features of autism. In this presentation I will explore the hypothesis that, in many cases, the autistic brain is hyper-excitable and prone to epileptiform discharges because of malfunctions in inhibitory GABA systems and/or excitatory glutamine systems. Through normal mechanisms of cortical plasticity and learning, these discharges become self-reinforcing and lead to epileptogenic neural circuits that are no longer able to support normal function and which, through axonal connections, disrupt normal processing in other networks. In some cases, the critically disruptive epileptiform activity may be triggered by other factors including abnormal signaling pathways, abnormal immunological responses, or environmental toxins. The presence of epileptiform activity is a common thread linking almost all of the genetic conditions associated with autism [e.g., tuberous sclerosis complex, Fragile-X, etc.] and also a common finding in conditions of environmental toxicity [e.g., mercury poisoning]. Using functional brain imaging data from magnetoencephalography [a noninvasive method for recording the magnetic signals generated by the brain's electrical activity], I will provide evidence that auditory and language cortices are especially prone to the development of epileptogenic circuits in autism, and that this is specifically related to language dysfunction. Finally, I will explore how suppression of epileptiform activity in the autistic brain can lead to improvements in language skills and a reduction of autistic features.

Presenter Presentation
Carolyn Lewis

has offered dietary support through her website, support group meetings, and phone consults for the past eight years. Her son with autism made significant improvements with a gluten-free/casein-free diet beginning at age two. Although her son's diet continued to improve over the years, his health declined significantly in 2008. The diagnosis of a autoimmune disease changed the course in dietary and other interventions for her son. Her son is now doing well in mainstream 4th grade. Carolyn holds weekly support group meetings at The Angel Center is Oswego, Illinois for parents with children on the autism spectrum.
Autism and Autoimmune Disease: A close look at co-existing autoimmune diseases in children with autism and their immediate family members

Carolyn will address potential roadblocks in dietary, biomedical, and other interventions due to unidentified and/or untreated autoimmune disease.

Presenter Presentation
Allen Lewis, MD

brings a high level of expertise and experience to his role as Medical Director of Pfeiffer Treatment Center. Dr. Lewis earned his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he also completed a medical student research fellowship in the Department of Environmental Health. Dr. Lewis completed his residency in pediatrics at Primary Children's Medical Center and the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City, then served two years on the Pediatric Residency Education Committee. He was a clinical teaching preceptor for pediatric as well as family practice residents during his ten years in private general pediatric practice in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Billings, Montana, before joining PTC in 2003. Dr. Lewis is board certified in pediatrics.
Oxidative stress in autism: A paradigm for effective treatment

For many parents and professionals, three fundamental questions need to be answered: (1) What is autism? (2) How did this happen? (3) What can be done? Today the face of autism will affect almost 1% of all babies and, tragically, many parents are not informed that viable treatments for autism even exist. Treatment options exist for those who grasp that autism is a medical illness with a biologically impaired brain. The presence of oxidative stress and damage from free radicals in the brain and immune system of children with autism have been established. In fact, as oxidative stress is involved in the formation of Alzheimer's Disease, one could postulate that a similar set of genes would put one at risk for either. It is the timing of the oxidative insults that determines which will manifest, autism or Alzheimer's Disease. This lecture will touch on the role oxidative stress plays in better understanding and treating autism, as well as the role of applying the Pfeiffer Methodology in assessing a person with autism.

Presenter Presentation
Derrick MacFabe, MD

is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group, Departments of Psychology (Neuroscience) and Psychiatry (Division of Developmental Disabilities) at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario Canada. He is examining the role of genetics, biochemistry and environment in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders. Dr. MacFabe's work recently has been listed among the "Top 50 Scientific Discoveries in Canada" by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
The Gut-Brain Link to Autism - Are short chain fatty acid fermentation products from opportunistic clostridial infections possible environmental triggers in autism?

The lecture examines the possible role of infectious agents in the causes and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It discusses the effects of a series of infective and dietary agents of increasing incidence which are capable of inducing brain changes and complex behaviors (i.e., aggression, biting, food craving, perseveration, social impairment, hyperactivity, obsessive compulsive activity, sensory sensitivity) in humans and experimental animals. Dr. MacFabe presents his current research examining the ability of a panel of gut bacterial metabolic products (i.e., short chain fatty acids) associated with antibiotic induced clostridial infections, and their ability to produce brain neuroinflammatory, metabolic, epigenetic and behavioral changes closely resembling those found in ASDs. It discusses the hypothesis that ASDs are produced by pre- or post-natal antibiotic resistant clostridial infections in sensitive subpopulations.

Presenter Presentation
Derrick MacFabe, MD

(see above)
Enteric and dietary short chain fatty acids - Possible triggers of autism-associated epilepsy and movement disorder

Clinical observations suggest that gut and dietary factors transiently worsen, and in some cases appear to improve, symptoms in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Recent clinical evidence suggests there is a high association of seizure disorder and abnormal electroencephalographic changes in this difficult to examine population. Furthermore, tics and repetitive behaviors, core features of persons with ASDs, resemble behaviors found in movement disorders. Can a common factor link these disparate findings in autism? This lecture outlines basic science and clinical evidence that short chain fatty acids, present in diet and produced by opportunistic gut bacterial infections, may be key triggers in ASD associated seizure and movement disorder. It discusses that these compounds have widespread effects on behavior, brain electrical activity, immune system and metabolism, which may have major implications in ASD diagnosis, cause and treatment.

Presenter Presentation
Cynthia & Mark Macluskie

Cynthia Macluskie
has been an active member of the autism community for eight years. She has a little boy who, through biomedical and therapeutic means, lost his diagnosis of autism and is a typical 10 year old. Cynthia founded and continues to run the parent support group ROK (Recovering Our Kids) in conjunction with ASA-GPC. She currently sits on the APIPA (Medicaid provider) Parent Advisory Committee, the Department of Economic Security Autism Workgroup, is a board member of ACT Today and ASA-GPC. Her interest is medical treatment of co-morbid factors of autism, Defeat Autism Now! protocols and how to navigate the state Medicaid system.

Mark Macluskie
is a typical ten year old boy who has recovered from autism. He was diagnosed with autism at 2 ½ and his family was told that he would have to be institutionalized. Mark proved the doctors wrong and lost his diagnosis at age 8. He has spoken on behalf of children with autism in the Arizona Senate twice. He actively worked on getting Steven's Law passed. Steven's Law forces insurance companies to cover autism in the state of Arizona. He is passionate about helping other children with autism.
Our Journey of Hope and Recovery

Mark and I would like to share our journey of recovery from autism. We will be sharing biomedical and behavioral interventions that were crucial in Mark's recovery. Mark would like to speak about his passion for ensuring that all children with autism have the opportunity to recover. We are very grateful for the opportunity to speak and show people what recovery can look like.

Presenter Presentation
Jackie Marquette, PhD

is an expert in transition assessment, consultant, independent scholar, and author of five books. She has published in journals and writes a monthly newsletter. She created and validated the Capability and Independence Scale (CAISﾩ). The CAISﾩ protocol acknowledges the challenges a teen or young adult with ASD faces daily and offers broad supports that become a strong connecting link to capability and quality of life. Jackie's work is in preventing isolation and crises and promoting capability and quality of life outcomes in youth with ASD. She has PhD from University of Louisville and studied how youth with ASD overcame challenges with broad supports that led to individualized quality of life outcomes. Lastly, Jackie has firsthand knowledge as she has a 32-year-old autistic son who lives in independent assisted living. www.drjackiemarquette.com
TREATMENT AND CARE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

A hospital emergency room or clinical setting can be frightening for individuals with autism. Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide services to the uninsured and those covered by Medicaid and Medicare. Often individuals with autism seek specialty and emergency healthcare at CHCs. An increased awareness among the medical staff in CHCs is needed regarding autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and the characteristics and challenges individuals with autism face daily. Approaches are offered to holistic nurses that diminish traumatic experiences in wellness visits and crisis situations, and instead create an atmosphere of respect, acceptance, and supports that positively impact the quality of care for individuals with autism. The recommendations offered in this article are drawn from the Capability and Independence Scale (CAIS)ﾩ where ASD and quality of life were studied.

Presenter Presentation
Julie Matthews, CNC

is a Certified Nutrition Consultant specializing in autism spectrum disorders (as well as healthy pregnancy and babies). She has been a Defeat Autism Now! practitioner for six years. Her work and her book, Nourishing Hope for Autism, are based on a scientific understanding of the biochemistry of ASDs and the role of nutrition in restoring health. Julie has a private nutrition practice, teaches cooking classes, and hosts a weekly radio show in San Francisco.
Nourishing Hope for Autism - Evolving Autism Diets

For autism, dietary intervention means eliminating problematic foods and adding nutrient-rich healing foods. This session will explain how dietary intervention helps ameliorate symptoms and engage healing and will focus on nourishing children. This session will explain the most popular and effective autism diets and when and how to use them: GF/CF, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Body Ecology Diet, and low oxalate diet. You will learn nutrient dense food ideas and strategies as well as creative approaches for picky eaters and the entire family.

Presenter Presentation
Jenny McCarthy

is a best-selling author, actress, activist, and mother who recovered her son Evan from autism. Her latest book with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel, Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide, provides all the necessary information about biomedical treatment from diagnosis, dietary interventions and environmental changes for the home to advanced therapies that doctors use today. She is also the co-founder of Teach2Talk.com, which produces a DVD educational series that targets core speech, language, play and social skills through video modeling. Information about Jenny McCarthy's autism organization, Generation Rescue, can be found at www.generationrescue.org.
Keynote address

Jenny McCarthy will share a wealth of knowledge about preventing and healing autism.

Presenter Presentation
Woody McGinnis, MD

of the Autism House, Auckland, New Zealand, coordinates research at multiple academic centers through the Oxidative Stress in Autism Study. McGinnis is a former primary care physician who cultivated an interest in the effects of nutrition, toxins, and emotional stress in behavioral disorders. He lectures extensively, and his contribution to the literature includes reviews on Vaccines and Autism, Oxidative Stress in Autism, and Discerning the Mauve Factor. His brainstem hypothesis for autistic regression from toxins is slated for publication by the CRC Press in 2009.
Neurotoxic brainstem impairment as proposed threshold event in autistic regression

Loss of vocalization, changes in social behavior, and altered gastrointestinal function occur in variable permutations in a significant subset-probably a majority-of children who eventually receive the diagnosis of autism. Regression of an ostensibly well child is at once a great tragedy and mystery of autism, and occurs in the second year of life, after maturation of the protective blood-brain barrier. A number of small areas which cluster around the primitive brainstem fail to develop blood-brain barrier, so may act as portals for entry of a broad class of toxins including mercury, cadmium, herbicide, and MSG. Conceivably, many abnormal findings in autism-most particularly, regression-stem from one or more toxins entering these areas of brain. In 1964, Rimland was the first to suggest primary brainstem involvement in autism. For the first time in public conference, Dr. McGinnis explains how toxins hypothetically trigger autistic regression, and presents data from examination of relevant areas of brainstem and vagus nerve from children with autism.

Presenter Presentation
Mary Megson, MD

is a board certified pediatrician, fellowship trained in child development. She has a large practice of children with developmental disabilities and has specialized in autism since 1999. She combines her understanding of child development with biomedical treatments to get the best outcome for each child.
AVOIDING THE PITFALLS: WINNING THE WAR

Dr. Megson will discuss how children emerging from autism have ongoing predictable developments, medical, social, educational needs and what to do about them as you travel this road.

Presenter Presentation
Claudia Miller, MD

is the Assistant Dean for the MD/MPH Program, School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She serves as Vice Chair for Community Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine where she is Professor of Environmental and Occupational Medicine (with tenure). She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (1985), is board certified in Allergy/Immunology and Internal Medicine, and holds a Master's Degree in Public Health from the University of California-Berkeley. She has more than 30 years of experience in public health, environmental health and medicine with various federal agencies and universities, serving in teaching, research, clinical and administrative roles. Dr. Miller has held appointments to federal and state advisory committees, and served as a consultant to the U.S. government and other nations. Her publications have led to scientific recognition of TILT, the disease process she and her MIT co-author, Dr. Nicholas Ashford, first described in their professionally acclaimed book Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes. Their work garnered the World Health Organization's prestigious Macedo Award.
TILT: A New Slant on Autism

Parents of children with autism often suspect environmental and food triggers. Their doctors may disagree--they simply do not see it. In the late 1800s, it was the emergence of the germ theory that enabled physicians and scientists to consider and conduct research into the origins of infectious diseases. As with the germ theory, TILT is a recently published, scientific theory of disease that offers a new framework for understanding how everyday exposures can make you sick--and you won't even know how it happened! By understanding how TILT works, you can find out exactly what is making you ill and make the changes essential for getting well and staying well. This newly described disease mechanism involves two steps, and because they are often subtle and spaced apart in time, this mechanism has escaped notice. Like the germ theory of disease and the immune theory, TILT is also a theory of disease, one that explains the connection between our exposures and common chronic health conditions that are on the rise. "TILT" stands for "Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance." Chronic conditions ranging from autism to ADHD, asthma and autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue, migraines, depression and addictive behaviors such as overeating leading to obesity, and substance abuse, may result from this invisible two-stage disease process.

Presenter Presentation
Mark Noble, PhD

is one of the founders of the field of stem cell biology in the central nervous system (CNS), and has led pioneering research efforts in this field for over 25 years. His laboratory was the first to develop isolation and growth techniques for precursor cells of the CNS, and the first to carry out repair of CNS injury through transplantation of purified and ex vivo expanded precursor cells. His laboratory also carried out some of the leading studies on adult-specific precursor cells. During the past decade, Dr. Noble and his colleagues (Drs. Margot Mayer-Proschel and Dr. Chris Proschel) have been working to develop a comprehensive approach to the nascent field of stem cell medicine, and have opened up multiple new arenas of research. These include the analysis of developmental maladies as precursor cell diseases, the physiological control of precursor cell function, the discovery of broad general principles in toxicological research, the analysis of the biological basis of damage to the CNS induced by systemic chemotherapy, the discovery of means of killing cancer cells without killing normal cells of the body, the development of astrocyte transplantation therapy for treatment of spinal cord injury, along with multiple other topics. He is currently Professor of Genetics, Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Rochester and Director of the University of Rochester Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute.
Perspectives from stem cell biology on autism risk factors and treatments

One of the greatest challenges in understanding autism lies in our failure to understand the cellular foundations of the multiple problems that may face children with these syndromes. Analysis of the CNS is providing a wide range of data of potential relevance to understanding the links between, e.g., oxidation and inflammation and the tissue pathology of children with autism. The goal of this presentation will be to provide an integration of multiple areas of study in the context of understanding ASD pathogenesis and implications of such information for treatment.

Presenter Presentation
Nancy O'Hara, MD

is a board-certified pediatrician who taught children with autism prior to her medical career. She was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and earned a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. She began her general private practice in 1993, and in 1998 began her consultative, integrative practice solely for children with special needs. She is the liaison for medical mentoring for Defeat Autism Now! and one of the leaders for their clinicians' training in the US and abroad.
The Overview of The Biomedical Approach: Treatment Options From A to Zinc

Thursday evening lecture
Dr. O'Hara presents an overview of how to care for your children with autism, focusing on the importance of gut and immune system issues. Cases studies will illustrate the problems in our children's gastrointestinal and immune systems, and how to best treat them.

Presenter Presentation
Nancy O'Hara, MD

(see above)
Biomedical Interventions for Autism: The Paradigm Shift

Saturday lecture
Dr. O'Hara will review important features of the history, physical exam, and laboratory features common to children with autism spectrum disorders focusing on the importance of gut and immune system issues and how to treat these medical problems.

Presenter Presentation
Melissa Olive, PhD, BCBA

is the Treatment Evaluation Manager for the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). Dr. Olive completed her undergraduate degree at Middle Tennessee State University majoring in elementary and special education. She went on to complete her master's degree at Vanderbilt University in 1992 in early childhood special education with an emphasis in early communication intervention. She was selected as a trainee for a national project on Positive Behavior Support at the University of Minnesota where she graduated with her doctorate in 1999. She has received over $500,000 in federal funding to conduct research on assessment and intervention for challenging behavior. She is the author of 23 book chapters and peer-reviewed publications and she currently serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Early Intervention, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, Exceptional Children, and Young Exceptional Children. She is also a frequent guest reviewer for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Her research interests include communication intervention, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), functional communication training (FCT), assessment and treatment of challenging behavior, behavioral outcomes of biomedical interventions, and training others to implement applied behavior analysis. Prior to joining the CARD staff, Missy served on faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Texas at Austin.
Participant: Residential Think Tank

Presenter Presentation
Dan Olmsted, Kim Stagliano & Mark Blaxill

Dan Olmsted
Award-winning journalist Dan Olmsted is the editor of Age of Autism, a former United Press International senior editor, and a former assistant national editor of USA Today. He is a graduate of Yale and has over 30 years of experience in the field of journalism. Mr. Olmsted has overseen investigations such as UPI's reporting on suicide-related problems with the drug Lariam; and he covered 9/11 and the anthrax attacks. Dan is teaming up with Mark Blaxill to write a book on the natural history of autism.

Kim Stagliano
is a writer, blogger and mother to three daughters with autism. She and her husband Mark reside in Fairfield County, CT. She is a cum laude graduate of Boston College and worked in advertising and sales promotions prior to staying home to care for her children's intense needs. Well known within the autism community, she has a sense of humor and easy going style that makes her presentation both informative and entertaining. In addition to running the day-to-day activities of Age of Autism, Kim writes for Huffington Post, Betty Confidential and other media.

Mark Blaxill
is the father of a daughter diagnosed with autism, editor at large for Age of Autism and a director of SafeMinds. He is managing partner for 3LP Advisors, an advisory firm focused on intellectual property transactions. He spent most of his professional career at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he was a senior vice president until he left the firm in 2006. While at BCG, he was the leader of the firm's strategy practice and led firm initiatives in the area of globalization, open source software, intellectual property and network analysis. He has just published a business book, The Invisible Edge: Taking Your Strategy to the Next Level Using Intellectual Property (Portfolio, March 2009) and is teaming up with Dan Olmsted to write a book on the natural history of autism.
Age of Autism

Join Dan Olmsted, Mark Blaxill and Kim Stagliano for an interactive presentation of how Age of Autism has become a media leader in presenting the issues important to the biomedical autism community with more than 2,100,000 visits. They'll give you an inside glimpse into the how the site works, a preview of what's to come and a look at some of the best posts, reactions from mainstream media, the AAP and others, and comments from readers like you. You'll also learn how you can participate as a contributor to the site. A special feature of this presentation will be when Abdulkadir Khalif and Hodan Hassan of the Minnesota Somali community join Dan, Mark, and Kim. The high ratio of autism in the Minnesota Somali community is just exactly the type of up-to-the-minute relevant reporting that Age of Autism provides.

Presenter Presentation
Valerie Paradiz, PhD & Elizabeth Nickrenz

Valerie Paradiz, PhD
develops educational programs for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and has been featured in the New York Times, Redbook Magazine, and The Guardian. She is the developer of Integrated Self Advocacy (ISA)®, a curriculum and training series for educators and therapists who wish to support individuals with ASDs in achieving greater ability in self-advocacy. Valerie's memoir, Elijah's Cup is the compelling story of the author's experiences raising her autistic son, their involvement together in the advocacy community, and her own ultimate diagnosis with Asperger's syndrome. Valerie is a member of the national board of directors of the Autism Society of America (ASA). In an advisory capacity, she serves the US Autism & Asperger Association (USAAA), Pace University's Center for Teaching and Research in Autism (TARA) and the editorial board of The Autism File magazine. www.ValerieParadiz.com

Elizabeth Nickrenz
is a graduate student in the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago, pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology and anthropology. Her work looks at how people affected by autism spectrum disorders draw upon larger conversations about medicine, identity and social life in order to define and interpret these conditions. Over the past two years, she has also been working with colleagues to develop and document effective theater arts and improvisational curricula for teenagers and young adults on the autism spectrum.
The Roles We Play: Creating Theater with Autism Spectrum Youth

Improvisation, dramatic performance, standup comedy, and imaginative role-play are powerful tools for teaching social awareness and developing flexible social thinking among young people on the autism spectrum. The theater offers a wide array of learning opportunities for individuals with ASDs and related conditions. Performance provides scripts and strategies for generalizing social competence on stage to experiences off stage at home, work, school, or in the community, and collaboration in shared creative projects-such as improvisational games, character and scene development, and building narrative-can foster a place for community and self-advocacy among these often isolated youth. But most important, it's a lot of fun! In this presentation, Valerie Paradiz and Elizabeth Nickrenz survey current methods found in theater programs for individuals on the autism spectrum, including information on the improvisation-based after school and summer camp programs they have piloted for students in upstate New York and New York City. Themes include: how to develop a program in the theater arts, from basic group games to story-writing and performance; the rewards and challenges of building bridges of collaboration between dramatic artists and professionals working in the education and disability fields of autism; sample curricula and lesson plans for improvisational play; and framing rehearsal as social coaching.

Presenter Presentation
James Partington, PhD

is the director of Behavior Analysts, Inc. and provides services to children and their families at the STARS Clinic in Walnut Creek, California. He is internationally recognized for his work in teaching parents and professionals effective and practical methods for motivating and teaching skills to children with developmental delays. He is a licensed psychologist and a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), and has 35 years of experience working with children with developmental disabilities. His expertise is in language-based intervention with children who are experiencing language delays as a result of autism and other related developmental disorders.
Teaching children to Talk About Experiences to Establish Social Interaction Skills

Children with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have significant delays in communication and social interaction skills. Consequently, their parents often feel frustrated and disappointed by their inability to participate in daily interactions that most families take for granted, such as storytelling, laughing together, discussing the day's events, and speaking with their child about his or her thoughts and feelings. To develop these interaction skills, it is usually necessary to teach a variety of specific advanced language skills that are often not adequately addressed in many intervention programs. Some of these skills include being able to describe and answer questions about events as they are happening (i.e., "What are we doing?" "Who is here?" "Where are we?"). Another important set of skills is to be able to ask peers and family members for information (e.g., "Where is the playground?" "When can we go to the playground?" "Who will take me there?"). Additionally, the child also must be taught to remember and describe what they have learned about their peers (e.g., "What is Joe's favorite video?"), and describe recent past events, (e.g., "Who sat next to you at lunch today?" "What did he bring for lunch?"). Intervention programs that develop these types of skills can improve a child's ability to establish and maintain meaningful friendships. This presentation will teach parents and educators effective strategies to develop these advanced language skills with the emphasis on teaching the child to attend to the actions and interests of others.

Presenter Presentation
Jon Poling, MD, PhD

is the Medical Director of the Athens Regional Medical Center Apheresis Unit, Clinical Assistant Professor Medical College of Georgia, and a partner at Athens Neurological Associates. He is certified in MRI/CT interpretation by the American Society of Neuroimaging, is a diplomate of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Poling's education and training includes residency at the Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery and completion of study for both his MD and PhD at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Poling has co-authored numerous scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals.
Mitochondrial abnormalities found in children diagnosed with autism and the importance of defining biological markers

Dr. Poling will discuss the current state of science regarding mitochondrial abnormalities found in children diagnosed with autism. He will provide an update on the biomedical research on this important subset of children on the autism spectrum. The importance of defining biological markers in autism cannot be overstated. Metabolic and immune disturbances in children with autism require a paradigm shift in autism definition from the classical definition as a genetically predetermined developmental disorder. Instead, these data indicate that autism, in some cases, is a systemic disorder with primary brain manifestations. These findings have important potential implications for future prevention and treatment strategies.

Presenter Presentation
Kerri Rivera & Harry Schneider, MD

Kerri Rivera
Director of Autism02 - Hyperbaric Clinic, is the devoted mother to Alex and Patrick. Eight-year-old Patrick is currently in recovery from autism. In December 2006, Kerri founded Autism02, a Defeat Autism Now! based non-profit autism clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Under Kerri's full-time direction, the clinic specializes in treating children of low to very low income families at no charge. Kerri is responsible for having had the Defeat Autism Now! protocol translated into Spanish so it could be applied throughout Latin America. She is a rescue angel for Generation Rescue, a bilingual mentor for TACA, and Autism One's liaison to Mexico.

Kerri Rivera, es madre de Alex y Patrick. Patrick de los 8 anos se encuentra bajo el espectro del autismo. En diciembre del 2006, Kerri fundo una clinica como asociacion civil (A.C.) que denomina Bebepingo (Autism02). La base del funcionamiento de esta clinica es el protocolo DAN! (deten el autismo ahora). La clinica tiene como objetivo dar el tratamiento a los ninos que se encuentres en el espectro del autismo, apoyando a los ninos de bajos recursos a un costo minimo y en caso dado sin carga alguno. Kerri aunado a la resposibilidad de la clinica es la encargada de las traducciones al espanol del protocolo DAN! y asi correr la voz por Latino America, para apoyar y ayudar a estos ninos. Ella es un angel del rescate por Generation Rescue en espanol, asi como mentor bilingue por TACA.

Harry Schneider, MD
received his medical degree from Columbia University and completed his residency at Northwestern University. Dr. Schneider is an Associate Research Scientist in the Functional MRI Research Center of Columbia University. He is in private practice at the Center for Medical and Brain Sciences in Plainview, NY, and uses both conventional medicine and the Defeat Autism Now! approach in his approach to the medical care of children on the spectrum. Dr. Harry Schneider served on the medical staff of North Shore University's Franklin General Hospital and South Nassau Communities Hospital, as well as serving as an Adjunct Professor for Clinical Training in the Family Practice Training Program at SNCH. He has participated in Tropical Medicine Research in Guatemala and Brazil for the World Health Organization and received research support as a Medical/Linguistic Consultant for Transcendent International's bilingual medical software. Dr. Schneider's background is as a linguist, with advanced degrees in language and linguistics, and he speaks multiple languages. He is in the process of obtaining a doctoral degree in Speech Language Pathology.

Harry D. Schneider recibio su diploma medico de la Faculdad de Medicina de Columbia University en Nueva York y completo despues su formacion medica de posgrado a la Universidad Northwestern. El Doctor Schneider actualmente es cientifico en el laboratorio de resonancia magnetica funcional en el Instituto Neurologico de Columbia University. Tambien mantiene una consulta medica llamada el Centro de Enfermedades Cerebrales en Plainview, NY usando medicina convencional y alternativa respecto a ninos con autismo. Dr. Schneider ha participado como Profesor de Medicina en falcultades de medicinia en varios hospitales en Nueva York. Tambien perticipa como medico ceintifco en la Organizacion Mundial de Salud, habiendo hecho pesquisas cientificas en el Brasil, Ecuador y Guatemala. Mas que ser medico, el Dr. Schneider tiene doctorado en la linguistica y esta para recibir un doctorado en la patologia del habla o la locopedia. El habla varias lenguas y va a tratar de dar este discurso en espanol con la ayuda con todos ustedes que atiendan su presentaction
Autism 101: Today's Biomedical Treatments

This presentation, which is in Spanish, will be appropriate for those whose child has been recently diagnosed as well as those who have already begun working for their child's health. "Autism is preventable, treatable, and curable." Autism 101 will expound on this credo by sharing powerful, proven advice on applying a systemic approach to recovery, known as the Defeat Autism Now! protocol. It will also provide hope by explaining the role of the Defeat Autism Now! protocol in cases of recovered children. Specific instruction will be given in five areas: diet, supplements, therapy, chelation, and hyperbarics. Each area will be dissected into various subheadings, such as: why apply this specific technique, when to begin, where to find it, what to look for as far as advancement, and when to discontinue.

TRATAMIENTOS BIOMEDICOS DE HOY
apuntes de como recuperar a los ninos que se encuentran bajo el espectro del autismo presentado por Kerri Rivera, directora de Autism02, clinica Bebepingo A.C. mejor conocido con Autism02 clinica hiperbarica. Esta presentacion esta dirijida a padres de familia proactivos en la recuperacion de sus hijos. Se enfoca especialmente a los ninos recien diagnosticado en el autismo. De igual manera a aquellos que ya han iniciado su trabajo de recuperacion de la salud de sus hijos. "El autismo es evitable, tratable y curable". Este es el lema de la clinica Autism02 desde su inicio de diciembre de 2006. Tratamientos Biomedicos de Hoy, experiencias intercambiables de informacion, consejos, viviencias, todo esto enriquece el protocolo de DAN! y va a entregar esperanza y entusiasmo sabiendo la importancia en el protocolo de DAN! en el caso de los ninos recuperados. Tratamientos Biomedicos de Hoy van al fondo del protocolo de DAN!, historias completas de sacraficio, recopilacion historica de datos, historias de recuperacion. Todo esto recopilado en mas de 5 anos. Investigacion y aplicando todo esto esta en el protocolo de DAN!. El protocolo es muy complejo y efectivo. Es un sistema multidiciplinario que se encuentra disponible y al alcance de todos para la recuperacion de los ninos. Inicia con cinco areas basicos: Dieta, suplementos, terapia ABA, quelacion y la camara hiperbarica. Cada una de las areas se subdivide en varias partes, principalmente como se aplica cada tecnica, donde iniciar, donde buscar y encontrar la sensibilidad del nino, como ver y evaluar, cuando detener, continuar o cambiar el tratamiento. Por ejemplo: Juanito se presenta con auto agresion y diarrea. Inicia la dieta sin gluten, sin caseina, sin soya y 72 horas despues disminuye la autoagresion, obra mejor y tiene contacto visual para la primera vez en 4 anos. Tratamientos Biomedicos de Hoy estara bajo la perspectiva y supervicion de la directora, la cual cuenta con 5 anos de experiencia en el autismo y 3 anos trabajando primera mano con ninos en el espectro del autismo con los padres y asesorada por brillantes medicos DAN!. Apoyara a que los padres comprendan su papel en el camino hacia el rescate.

Resumen: Despues de anos de usar neuromodulacion para restorar el habla o lenguge perdido en personas con la enfermedad Parkisnons, Alzheimers y los que sufrieron de derrame cerebral, aqui en la Columbia University decidimos que fuera posbile usar la misma tecnologia con los ninos autisticos que solo hablan pocas palabras. Lo unico que faltaba era ver, usando la resonancia magnetica funcional, como funcionara el cerebro autistico respecto a comprender y hablar su idioma. Con esta tecnica pudimos ver si los areas del cerebro que debian funcionar en ninos neurotipicos que si o no funcionaban ingualmente en el cerebro autistico. Tambien podiamos ver como estaban conectadas areas de language la una a la otra. Usando una forma de mapa cerebral del nino autistico podiamos determinear cuales areas beneficiaran de estimulacion electrica llamada neuromodulacon. Esta tecnologia es muy segura y usa pequenas corrientes electricas. Hace mas de veinte anos que nadie sufrio de efectos adversos de este tratamiento. Todos los ninos que reciben este tratamiento junto con un nuevo metodo de ensenar language llamado ﾑaprendizaje implcitoﾒ han mejorado significamente: desde unos pocos sonidos o palabras hasta usar frases de 3-5 palabras. Los ninos tambien se ponen mas conciente de su ambiente y comprenden mas. En nuestra consulta trabajamos todos juntos - yo con los padres de los ninis - para establecer el major tratamiento y estar de acuerdo lo que es el mejor camino por su nino. Tenemos una meta comun: realizar el sueno de poder hablar como merecen!

Presenter Presentation
Rick Rollens

is the former Secretary of the California State Senate, a position he held for many of his 24 years of distinguished service to the California State Senate. Prior to this, Rick served on the staff of Congressman Jerome Waldie in Washington, DC. Currently Rick is President of Rollens Consulting, a government relations and lobbying company in Sacramento. Rick serves as the Legislative Advisor to ARCA, the Association of Regional Center Agencies, which provides services and support to the over 220,000 Californian's with developmental disabilities, including autism. Shortly after Rick's son, Russell, was diagnosed fifteen years ago, Rick became a co-founder of the Sacramento family support group FEAT, Families for Early Autism Treatment. In March 2006, Rick was appointed by the California Speaker of the State Assembly to serve on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. He was also recently appointed by California's Superintendent of Public Instruction to the State Department of Education's Autism Advisory Committee. Rick's recent efforts have involved the establishment and major funding of the U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, which has become the largest private or public organization dedicated to research, clinic services, and education for autism anywhere in the world.
The California Response To The Autism Epidemic: Identifying and responding to the needs of an aging population: Proposals and solutions from the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and the Alliance of California Autism Organizations

This presentation will present the latest numbers and impact of California's ever-growing autism population and the challenges that population is having on families and support services. The realities of providing the needed level of more expensive and costly service provision for an aging autism population at a time when California is facing the most serious state budget crisis in its history will be presented. Innovative responses to housing, employment, and daytime activities for the aging into adolescent and adult autism populations will also be presented. Included in this presentation will be an update on the work and work product of the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and the work of the newly created Alliance of California Autism Organizations (ACAO).

Presenter Presentation
Mary Romaniec

is a recognized authority and speaker on the subject of autism. Her own son's recovery from autism has inspired her to take on the role of mentor, writer and speaker. When her own son, Daniel, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 18 months, she soon learned how little the medical community understood about this disorder, which has been claiming children in unprecedented numbers all over the world. Driven by a sense of urgency, Mary began long nights of researching the Internet, speaking with other parents and attending conferences that discussed ways to treat autism. Contrary to the widespread myth that children cannot be treated successfully for autism, Mary was able to unlock the door that led her son to be declared recovered by the age of four. Along the way, Mary began reaching out to other parents who were just beginning the journey toward recovery for their children. As a mentor, she authored the 10 week GFCF diet calendar, which is in wide use in the autism community on various websites and quoted as a valuable tool in Jenny McCarthy's book, Louder than Words. She has also written other articles on the topics of IEP negotiation, marriage topics and care for the caregiver. Her articles have appeared in Mothering Magazine, Autism/Asperger Digest, Autism Today and Journeys Magazine as well as other autism-related websites.
Letting Go! The Journey back to Grace and Dignity. Finding "balance" after the diagnosis

Thursday evening lecture
Along the road toward recovery, a parent/caregiver finds their sense of grace and dignity has taken a back seat to the health and well being of their child. The parents' health suffers, as often does the marriage. Family dynamics are changed and challenged. This presentation will alert parents/caregivers to the odyssey toward their child's recovery and the toll it can potentially take on the caregivers' health and marriage. The presentation will offer well-honed strategies to stay connected as a couple, stay connected to the other children in the family and provide a sense of relief over the everyday stresses that come with the autism diagnosis. The topics discussed in this presentation are not commonly covered in autism conferences but are still very much a part of the autism diagnosis. It is recommended for parents feeling the daily stress due to the demands associated with their child's autism. It is also recommended for couples who are seeking a different perspective on how to overcome the toll autism has placed on their marriage. Traditional marriage counselors are not equipped to address the unique issues that arise after a child has been diagnosed. The strategies discussed in this presentation will be sure to put a smile on the face of all who attend as they find the tools to "balance" after the diagnosis.

Presenter Presentation
Dan Rossignol, MD

received his Doctorate of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Virginia. He is now a physician at the International Child Development Resource Center (ICDRC) in Melbourne, FL. The father of two children with autism, ages eight and six, he has written several papers, including four on the use of HBOT in autism, one on the use of urinary porphyrins data in autism, one on mitochondrial dysfunction in autism, and a review article on biomedical treatments for autism and ADHD.
Advanced treatments for autism and strategies for non-responders

Thursday evening lecture
Dr. Rossignol will discuss advanced treatments for autism, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), IV therapeutics (including chelation and glutathione/NAC), anti-inflammatory medications, IVIG, high-dose antioxidant therapy, and advanced laboratory testing. He will also review approaches and strategies for children who are slow to respond to treatment or are non-responders, including the management of subclinical seizures, the glutamate/GABA brain ratio, brain autoimmunity findings, and chronic GI Clostridia.

Presenter Presentation
Dan Rossignol, MD

(see above)
Using evidence-based medicine to choose effective biomedical treatments for autism and ADHD

Saturday lecture
Dr. Rossignol will review over 20 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on effective biomedical treatments (including nutritional supplementation) in both autism and ADHD. Certainly, laboratory testing can be helpful in guiding treatment, but many symptoms of these disorders can be treated with supplements that have proven effectiveness compared to a placebo. We will review treatments for attention, concentration, hyperactivity, speech, self-stimulatory behavior, insomnia, social interaction, eye contact, and toe-walking that all can be potentially improved with supplementation. This lecture will also review novel treatments such as nicotine, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, naltrexone, music therapy, neurofeedback, elimination diets, alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, anti-inflammatory treatments, glutamate antagonists, oxytocin, homeopathy, vision therapy, massage, acupuncture, and auditory integration training.

Presenter Presentation
Sarah Clifford Scheflen, MS, CCC-SLP

is a practicing speech-language pathologist who specializes in providing therapy to children, including children with autism spectrum disorders and other pervasive developmental disorders. Sarah works in a clinic at a major pubic research university in Los Angeles, California, and is also the founder, together with Jenny McCarthy, of Teach2Talk Academy, a program in Los Angeles, California, providing comprehensive therapy for children with autism and other developmental disorders. Sarah also partnered with Jenny to create teach2talk, a company that produces educational products to teach language, play, and social skills to children using techniques including video modeling. You can learn more about Sarah at www.teach2talk.com or by emailing her at sarah.scheflen@teach2talk.com.
tbd

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Presenter Presentation
Norm Schwartz, MD

is a Defeat Autism Now! physician and an integrative medicine specialist with an extensive background in treating complex chronic medical problems. He was medical director of Integrative Medicine for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he developed a multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). He is currently researching the application of systems biology in determining ASD subtypes to find the most effective treatment for an individual. Dr. Schwartz has a special interest in the application of ecological principles for the creation of a safer more sustainable world for ourselves and the generations to come.
Autism and the Environment Protecting our Children

There is accumulating evidence that links autism spectrum disorders to environmental toxins as well as the limitations in eliminating environmental toxins. Environmental exposures appear to be the most likely cause for the increase in autism spectrum disorders. In this presentation we will review the scope of the problem and identify what can be done, including minimizing exposures, supporting detoxification pathways, medical treatments, and preparing for pregnancy. Of note is that these interventions can be applied throughout the life cycle to decrease one's vulnerability to the increasing epidemics of chronic disease.

Presenter Presentation
Alice Shabecoff

co-author with her husband Philip of Poisoned Profits, was the former executive director of the National Consumers League, the nation's oldest consumer organization, and of the Community Information Exchange serving the community development field. She is a widely published journalist and author.
The Toxic Assault on our Children

This presentation discusses the first cumulative analysis of the scale of chrnoic chilhood illnesses in the US, as well as the first round-up of the scientific evidence linking these illnesses to the explosion of toxins in our everyday lives. The presentation also explains why the general public as well as the public health field remains underinvolved in of this epidemic. The presentation will focus on neurodevelopmental illnesses, while also covering cancer, birth defects and asthma.

Presenter Presentation
Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD

Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD is an integrative pediatric neurologist, board certified in adult and child neurology as well as in pediatrics. She received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she was awarded the Edward Padow Award for Excellence in Pediatrics and graduated with a Special Distinction in Research in child neurology for her work in autism, which was conducted with Drs. Isabelle Rapin and Shlomo Shinnar. She completed her residency at Schneider Children's Hospital and her pediatric neurology fellowship at Montefiore Hospital. In 2007, Dr. Shetreat-Klein began University of Arizona's accredited fellowship in integrative medicine. She also sits on the expert advisory board for Better School Foods and started Mindful Meat and Mitzvah Meat, an organic, humane, grass-fed meat project. She teaches integrative neurology as faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and lectures widely about food, toxins and neurological health. Her current work has been to investigate the role of carnosine and other antioxidants in normalizing EEGs and improving development in children with autism and developmental disabilities, after having achieved clinical success with this population. Dr. Shetreat-Klein has authored and co-authored several papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Elias Tembenis Seizures Think Tank Participant

Presenter Presentation
Stephen Shore, EdD

was diagnosed as a child with "atypical development with strong autistic tendencies," viewed as "too sick" to be treated on an outpatient basis and recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much help from his parents, teachers, and others, Stephen completed his doctoral dissertation at Boston University focused on matching best practice to the needs of people on the autism spectrum. More recently, Dr. Shore accepted a professorship at Adelphi University teaching courses in special education and autism. In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Stephen presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his books Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, and the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies. President emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England, Dr. Shore serves also on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, for the Board of Directors for Autism Society of America, Unlocking Autism, and other organizations.
Choosing Higher Education... and Staying There

With today's greater awareness, research, and interventions, ever-increasing numbers of people with autism are entering higher education. Many of the common challenges encountered by college students on the autism spectrum transitioning from high school and home into a college environment will be explored. Topics covered include what these young adults experience in the paradigm shift from being advocated for in public school to having to advocate for oneself in college. Additional areas of discussion include obtaining academic accommodations and strategies, legal issues, residential and housing considerations as well as developing self-advocacy skills while the student is still in grade school.

Presenter Presentation
Chantal Sicile-Kira

is an autism author, advocate and parent. Chantal's latest book is titled Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More: 10 Essential Abilities Every Child Deserves and Needs to Learn (Penguin). She is the award-winning author of the books Adolecents on the Autism Spectrum and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Chantal hosts a radio show on Autism One, produces and moderates webinars on MomsFightingAutism.com, and writes an "Ask Chantal" column for The Autism File. Her family was highlighted on MTV's True Life " I Have Autism." For more information and to read her blog, visit www.chantalsicile-kira.com.
Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: Puberty, Hygiene and Sexuality

Adolescence is a difficult time for everyone, neurotypical or not, as a person transitions from being a child to a young adult. To become as independent in adulthood as possible, teenagers of all different ability levels must learn self-care, appropriate behaviors, modesty and sexuality. Areas to be covered include: explaining about puberty and changing bodies, hygiene and self-care and how to problem-solve difficulties in teaching self-care routines, the importance of modesty, and what to do about masturbation. For safety reasons and in preparation for adulthood, all teenagers need to learn about relationship boundaries and sexuality.

Presenter Presentation
Terrie Silverman, MS & Sally Brockett, MS

Terrie Silverman
holds a master's degree in speech pathology from Rutgers University. She has worked with individuals with autism and PDD since 1973. For 12 years, she was the director of a nonprofit parent support program, GRASP, Greater Richmond Autism Support Program. Terrie received her Berard Auditory Integration Training certification in 1992 and completed a second course of instruction in the Berard Method in 2001. She was member and on the Board of Directors of the Society for Auditory Intervention Techniques from its inception in 1993, and is on the Board of the newly formed BAITIS (Berard Auditory Integration Training International Society). Ms. Silverman has provided Berard AIT to over 2500 adults and children in many communities throughout the United States.

Sally Brockett, MS
is Director of IDEA Training Center in North Haven, Connecticut, and a certified International Berard AIT Instructor/Practitioner. With personal training from Dr. Guy Berard and 17 years experience with Berard AIT, Sally continues to provide his method to children and adults with various developmental delays.
Berard Auditory Integration Training: New perspectives from the international scene provide insight into functional outcomes

Berard practitioners around the world are finding remarkable results with the sensory based, noninvasive Berard Auditory Integration Training. How do you know what auditory program to choose for your son or daughter or to recommend to your clients? How do you decide what to spend your money on when there are so many different auditory therapies available? An important part of the decision should be based on documented results and considerations in regard to time/cost effectiveness. Results from international practitioners will be reviewed. Learn how this information leads to functional outcomes and improves the quality of life for the whole family.

Presenter Presentation
Allan Sosin, MD

is the founder and medical director of the Institute for Progressive Medicine. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and is board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology, the study of kidney disease. For thirteen years Dr. Sosin ran a private internal medicine practice in Philadelphia. During that time he became increasingly interested in alternative approaches to medical problems including nutrition, vitamin and mineral therapies, chelation therapy, acupuncture, natural hormone replacement therapy, exercise and stress management, chiropractic and massage. During his time in Philadelphia he organized and directed two drug detoxification centers. He also held the position of Assistant Medical Director at The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, a world-renowned facility for the treatment of brain injured children. In 1997 the Institutes for Human Potential awarded him the LEONARDO DAVINCI AWARD for his work.
MASKING FOR SEIZURES

Masking was developed by the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, 50 years ago, for the treatment of brain injury. It involves the inspiration of previously expired carbon dioxide from a mask held over the face. Carbon dioxide dilates the cerebral arteries and increases brain blood flow. It also drives respiration in a faster and deeper pattern. Masking has proved effective in reducing and preventing seizures. It allows children to eliminate or lessen the need for anticonvulsant medications. Dr. Sosin will explain the rationale and the method of masking.

Presenter Presentation
Cheryl Steinberg

is president of Spirit of Motherhood, LLC. She is an EFT Advanced practitioner, educator, wellness consultant and life coach. Cheryl is the author of Becoming Cinderella. As the Mother of 2 children with neurological and digestive issues, Cheryl is a dedicated teacher of today's breakthrough recoveries of chronic and neurological illnesses - utilizing scientifically-based dietary (SCD) and energy therapies (EFT). Cheryl served on the Board of Trustees at the Waldorf Kinder House and was a founding Mother of the Oakland County chapters of both birthNETWORK, and the Holistic Mom's Network. Cheryl can be reached at: Cheryl@spiritofmotherhood.net.
How to use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for reducing emotional stress in parenting a special needs child

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a powerful, fast and amazingly simple procedure for creating relief from many difficult emotional situations. EFT can be used for many problematic symptoms such as stress, anxiety, fear, hopelessness, and feeling overwhelmed. EFT is very easy to learn and use yet it has a history of producing astonishing results. Participants in this workshop will learn how to effectively apply the process of EFT to the myriad of ongoing emotional issues that come up when raising a special needs child. It is a simple technique that involves gentle tapping on specific points of the body that are energy meridians - similar to the way acupuncture works. Participants in this class will learn how to perform the simple EFT techniques on themselves so they will have a powerful tool they can use in almost any situation to bring their stress and anxiety level down. It is highly recommended by such well known authorities in the health and healing fields including Deepak Chopra, MD, Norm Shealy, MD, and Eric Robbins, MD.

Presenter Presentation
Carol Stott, PhD

is a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society. She has a postgraduate qualification in epidemiology and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Stott spent 13 years (1991-2004) in the University of Cambridge, Department of Psychiatry and Autism Research Centre (ARC) investigating the population frequency of specific language impairment (SLI) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). She now acts as an honorary senior research associate to Dr. Andrew Wakefield at Thoughtful House Center for Children in Austin, Texas. Dr. Stott's primary roles for Thoughtful House are to advise on research methodology, devise, and implement appropriate screening and diagnostic tools, and carry out statistical analysis of research and clinical outcomes. Dr. Stott also runs a private consultancy and has recently joined the Autism Clinic to provide diagnostic, psychometric, and assessment services as well as evaluation of nutritional and biomedical interventions for children with autism and related developmental disorders.
Historical Perspective on Conceptualizations of Autism and the Impact on Research

Dr. Carol Stott will present on the developing conceptualizations of autism and autism spectrum disorders from the 1940s to the present day. The presentation will provide illustrative accounts of how these views have influenced the research agenda and where they have led - the blind alleys and the promising horizons. Additional details will provide an overview of research published along the way together with a discussion of the current positions and a review of the evidence base for each.

Presenter Presentation
Rev. Lisa Sykes

currently serves as the associate pastor of Welborne United Methodist Church, Richmond, Virginia. Rev. Sykes graduated from the University of Virginia, where she was an Echols Scholar, in 1987, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1990. She was ordained in the Virginia Annual Conference in 1990 as a probationary deacon and in 1992 as an elder in full connection. She has served the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for almost twenty years. Lisa married her husband, Seth, in 1989, and they have three sons: Adam, Wesley and Joshua. Wesley was diagnosed with autism in 1998 and with mercury poisoning in 2000. Since that time, in addition to being a wife, mother, and minister, Lisa has become an advocate for safe, mercury-free vaccines and for children with disabilities. She is president of CoMeD, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to the elimination of mercury from medicine. Lisa is the author of the book Sacred Spark.
Of Evidence, Ethics, and Education

How does one spark the reforms necessary to protect minds from mercury? Why do the Hippocratic Oath and the Right of Informed Consent apply to all parts of medicine, except vaccination? How do we counter the argument that a mercury-containing vaccine is better than no vaccine at all? In answering these questions, if we limit ourselves to scientific studies or political debates, then we have missed one of our most commanding arguments: the teaching of faith and ethic. While Congress, the courts, oversight agencies, industry and academia have failed to dispatch a real and present danger to the public health, and especially to our children, the community of faith is moving forward at the global level. Learn how the passage of the historic United Methodist Resolution on "Protecting Children from Mercury-containing Drugs" provides parents with a basis for individual religious exemption to mercury-containing vaccines. Based on select federal documents to be discussed, Rev. Sykes argues that the federal government has forfeited its authority on the issue of vaccine safety and asserts that the cause of protecting the public has passed to a new community of advocates, of which you are a part. The story of her advocacy and her son's treatment is part biography, part medical case study, and yet essentially, a tale of empowerment, underscoring the fact that each of us has an enormous contribution to make toward ending the age of "mercurial medicine" and the denial of our constitutional right of informed consent.

Presenter Presentation
Theoharis Theoharides, MD, PhD

is a professor of pharmacology, Internal Medicine and Biochemistry, and the director of the Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine. He trained in allergy and clinical immunology at Yale and internal medicine at New England Medical Center. Dr. Theoharides was director of medical pharmacology at Tufts (1986-1993), and became full professor in 1995. He has 300 publications and 3 books, including a Textbook of Pharmacology. Dr. Theoharides was the first to show mast cells and acute stress promote inflammation in autism, cancer, interstitial cystitis, migraines and multiple sclerosis.
Mast cells disrupt the gut-blood-brain barriers and contribute to autism

Many autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients have a history of "allergic" symptoms and food intolerance, suggesting activation of mast cells, now recognized as master regulators of the immune system. Activation of intestinal and brain mast cells by immune, infectious, stress or toxic triggers could lead to gut-blood-brain-barrier disruption, permitting brain inflammation and autism. This is more likely to occur in children up to 3 years old, who are more susceptible to infections, and when their gut-blood-brain barriers are still developing. Moreover, perinatal stress has been associated with ASD development, and we have shown that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) secreted under stress and during premature labor can induce mast cells to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which increases blood-brain-barrier permeability. We have also shown that mercury causes release of VEGF from human mast cells. Mast cells are critical in the disease mastocytosis, characterized by an increased number of hypersensitive mast cells in many tissues. Children with mastocytosis also present with skin allergies, diarrhea, learning disabilities, hyperactivity and difficulty focusing, reminiscent of ASD. A survey of the Mastocytosis Society's members (www.tsmforacure.org) indicated that the rate of autism in children with mastocytosis is at least 10-fold higher than that reported for the general population. Mastocytosis patients also have high blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which has recently been implicated in an "animal model" of autism, and which we have shown derives entirely from mast cells. We have also shown that the naturally occurring flavonoids luteolin and quercetin can inhibit human mast cell release of IL-6 and other inflammatory molecules.

Presenter Presentation
Polly Tommey & Oliver Jones

Polly Tommey
is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Autism File magazine and has been Managing Director of its UK publisher, Sensinet Limited, since 1999. Polly is also the founder of The Autism Trust, a UK registered charity focused on building an inspiring and sustainable future for children with autism in the UK when they leave full time education. Polly is regarded as one of the leading figures in autism in the UK, renowned as a campaigning and influential journalist and is featured regularly as a sector expert in the national media. She has more recently been directing two investigative television documentaries to be broadcast in 2009 in partnership with the award winning producer, Michael Nunn. Polly presents a weekly radio program: Autism Issues From Around the Worldon Autism One Radio. She is married to Jonathan Tommey who runs The Autism Clinic.

Oliver Jones
is a professional business director whose experience includes working with large corporations and nonprofit organizations. Oliver is chairman of The Autism Trust - a fast growing, UK- headquartered charity focused on building inspiring, sustainable, and real futures for the many children with autism in the world today. He is the commercial and business advisor to The Autism File magazine and co-produces a regular radio program with Polly Tommey for Autism One Radio. Oliver is chairman and joint owner of Babel Language Consulting, an international training consultancy offering cultural, language, and global business support services. In sport, Oliver has been chairman of SnowsportGB, the British Ski and Snowboard Federation, since 2004 and sits as a member of the UK's National Olympic Committee. He has a thirteen-year-old daughter and a twelve-year-old godson who has autism.
Our Children's Future

Participant: Residential Think Tank
Throughout the world there is an inadequate provision of appropriate care and continuing personal development facilities for people with autism, which means many parents of children with autism face even greater challenges after school education ends. As a result, the impact on the lives and relationships of relatives and the wellbeing of the individual sufferer is huge today. However the impact on society if we fail to address this will be even greater tomorrow. In this presentation, the need is explored and a solution - The Autism Trust - is described.

Presenter Presentation
John Turner, DC, CCSP, DIBCN, Kathryne Pirtle & Sueson Vess

Dr. John D. Turner, DC, CCSP, DIBCN
is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist who has run a successful private practice in Glendale Heights, IL for more than 25 years. He has served on the medical staff at the World Gymnastics Championships and the United States and Big Ten Track and Field Championships, lectured at the National Athletic Trainers Association Annual Conference and served as nutrition consultant for the Chicago Sting Professional Soccer Team. He currently serves as a Preceptor for the National University of Health Sciences, helping train graduating Doctors of Chiropractic in their clinical expertise in physical examinations, diagnosis, and adjusting skills. Dr. Turner believes that health is not merely the absence of symptoms, but an optimal balance of our physical, biochemical and energetic selves.

Kathryne Pirtle
is a world-class clarinetist whose career nearly ended because of performance difficulties caused by acid reflux, celiac disease, chronic inflammation, and other health problems. Performance without Pain, written with Dr. Turner and Sally Fallon, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation, tells the story of her recovery. As a health educator, she has given more than 40 workshops around the country with Dr. Turner and appeared on numerous radio and television shows. Pirtle is executive director of the Orion Ensemble, presents a live internationally broadcast series on Chicago's WFMT-FM Fine Arts Radio Network and tours throughout North America. She is also is principal clarinetist of the Lake Forest Symphony and frequently performs with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Grant Park Music Festival, The Ravinia Festival Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Sueson Vess
is a chef, food writer, and food coach with 25 years experience. She is the author of Special Eats: Simple, Delicious Solutions for Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cooking and a contributing writer for Living Without magazine. She supports families adjusting to the demands of multiple food intolerances and children with special needs. Creatively adapting recipes to suit varied dietary limitations while making GFCF meals nutritious and delicious is her passion.
Beyond a Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diet: Harnessing the Power of Traditional, Nutrient-Dense Foods-the Keys to Maximizing Treatment Success for Autism and Chronic Health Problems

Dr. John Turner, Kathryne Pirtle, and Sueson Vess discuss the relationship between the principles of optimal nutrition for human health and an effective approach to the treatment of autism-that "All diseases begin in the gut"(Hippocrates (460-370 BC), and "All disease is caused from malnourishment," (Dr. Weston A. Price).

Discover why some common nutritional advice can perpetuate digestive problems, leaky-gut and malnourishment, which can deter health progress despite following a strict gluten-free/casein-free diet. Learn how focusing on a diet of nutrient-dense, enzyme-rich, traditional-foods is a superior approach to building optimal health.

Presenter Presentation
Lauren Underwood, PhD

received her PhD in biology from Tulane University. Following graduation, she was awarded an NIH Post-Doctoral Training Grant Fellowship in vision research. She is the parent of a child recovering from autism and a health educator/biomedical consultant for families of autistic children. Dr. Underwood is a Senior Staff Scientist for SSAI, Inc. supporting NASA. She is a Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) IRB board member and has appeared in many peer-reviewed journals.
A "Best Practices" Model for Treating Autism: Biomedical & ABA Therapies Put into Practice Together Improve Optimal Outcomes

Treatments grounded in applied behavior analysis (ABA) as well as biomedical approaches have individually helped provide effective treatment models for autism. However, in developing a "best practices" model, these interventions must work together to provide the best possibilities for optimal outcomes. Therefore, support for the "best practices" approach that incorporates a behavioral-biomedical treatment model for autism is defined.

Given the significant volume of research on the outcomes of treatments based on the principles of applied behavior analysis, it is clear that ABA is a necessary treatment for children with autism. Research also supports a biomedical etiology for autism. While studies are being conducted to identify exact biomedical pathways and their scientific basis, case studies based upon practical applications of this research suggest that the likelihood of successful outcomes improves when biomedical interventions are concurrently used to treat medical comorbid conditions present in individuals diagnosed with autism. The "best practices" model suggests that if indicated, biomedical interventions should be utilized in an attempt to stabilize the child's medical symptoms to achieve an improved state of health concurrently with implementing behavioral therapies. By doing so, the child's learning potential is maximized, thereby expediting acquisition of skills that can be taught using the methodology of ABA.

Presenter Presentation
Anju Usman, MD & Jane Casey

Anju Usman, MD
is the medical director of True Health Medical Center and Pure Compounding Pharmacy in Naperville, Illinois. She specializes in the biomedical treatment of children with Autism/ADD and developmental delays. She has been involved in researching copper/zinc imbalances, metallothionein dysfunction, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, nucca adjustments and chronic infections in ASD patients. She is actively involved in the Defeat Autism Now! movement as a speaker and advisor. She is also co-founder of ACE (Autism Center for Enlightenment), a non-profit dedicated to education, research, and support for families. Dr. Usman received her medical degree from Indiana University. She completed a residency in Family Practice at Cook County Hospital, in Chicago, Illinois and is board certified in Family Practice.

Jane Casey
is a determined and dedicated mother of 10-year-old twin boys who were diagnosed at age 2 with ASD. One of her children has fully recovered and one is following close behind. Through years of tireless research both on the Internet and in the kitchen, she has successfully combined several dietary techniques as well as created ﾓhealthy bacteriaﾔ out of many foods to help heal her boysﾒ digestive tracts and, ultimately, their brains. She is a maverick for finding inexpensive and delicious ways to implement minerals, vitamins, and good nutrition into the body with different foods. She will explain why a good diet is the core to recovery and how it has helped her family and many others.
Gut Recovery Program™: Symbiotics, Enzymes, Intestinal Biofilms, and Beyond

Treating digestive and gastrointestinal issues in patients with ASD is the mainstay of a good biomedical approach. Even with traditional tools in place, such as using special diets, probiotics, enzymes, antimicrobials, and anti-inflammatories, many patients are still plagued with chronic GI complaints. Newer, research points to the role that intestinal biofilms play in chronic infections and to the effectiveness of symbiotics, enzymatic degradation, and disodium EDTA in normalizing gut health. In addition, various innovative strategies have been implemented by parents in our practice to further aid gut recovery.

Presenter Presentation
Sueson Vess & Betsy Hicks

Sueson Vess
a leader in creating healthy and delicious foods free from gluten, dairy and more and is a chef, food writer, and food coach with over 25 years experience. She is the author of Special Eats: Simple, Delicious Solutions for Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cooking and a contributing writer for Living Without magazine. As a consultant Sueson supports families adjusting to the demands of multiple food intolerances and children with special needs. Creatively adapting recipes to suit varied dietary limitations that are nutritious and delicious is her passion. Sueson presents at autism and celiac conferences nationally and is Autism One's chef.

Betsy Hicks
is recognized as one of the most innovative teachers on achieving whole body wellness through diet and nutrition. Author, radio host and video anchor, she serves as Pathways diet counselor, public education coordinator and oversees the practices' day-to-day operations. As the mother of a son with autism, she also speaks nationally on holistic interventions for children with disabilities. Betsy specializes in overcoming "picky eating" and finding creative and practical techniques for inspiring children and adults to enjoy a variety of foods.
Implementing a GF/CF Diet

Parents who are new to the GF/CF diet or considering trying it will benefit from learning a step-by-step technique to ease into the diet and the potential benefits.
• Learn "how" and "why" the GF/CF diet can help heal the digestive tract and may also eliminate the "opioid effect".
• Understand gluten and casein, how to avoid it and GF/CF substitutions for baking and cooking.
• Discover how to plan balanced meals, equip your GF/CF kitchen with pantry suggestions as well as equipment and tools.
• Follow suggested steps to gradually implement the GF/CF diet and watch the transformation in your entire family.

Presenter Presentation
Aristo Vojdani, PhD

obtained his doctoral degree in the field of microbiology and clinical immunology with postdoctoral studies in tumor immunology. He is CEO and Technical Director of Immunosciences Lab., Inc. in Los Angeles, CA; member of the editorial board of three scientific journals; and has published more than 100 articles in scientific journals. He is noted for his papers on autoimmunity and neuroimmunological diseases. In 2006, Dr. Vojdani was presented with the prestigious Herbert J. Rinkel Award by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) for excellence in teaching the techniques of environmental medicine.
Immunology of Autism

Friday Morning Lecture
The pathophysiology of dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders can be simplified into four understandable steps. Step One, the environmental triggers, such as viral infection, toxicants and/or dietary proteins and peptides, which contribute to gut inflammation. Step Two, enhanced intestinal permeability, or "leaky gut" is the result. Step Three, immune dysregulation, which manifests itself in the nervous system. Step Four, the patient has neuroinflammation. Before an environmental factor triggers dysfunction in the body, it must first infiltrate a network of immune defenses. Mucosal, humoral and cell-mediated immunity each plays a role, whether defensive or dysregulated, in ASD. Finding a balance of the whole body in order to achieve optimal immune function is possible through understanding how to up- or down-regulate immune molecules.

Presenter Presentation
Aristo Vojdani, PhD

(see above)
The Role of Environmental Factors in Autism

Friday Afternoon Lecture
The genetic aspect of Autism is receiving a plethora of media attention in the US. Indeed, genetics play a role in determining an individual's susceptibility to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), celiac disease, cancer or other complex disorders, but it is the environment that triggers the genes, which culminates in the disorder. There are three sets of thoroughly studied ASD triggers: infections, dietary proteins and peptides, toxic chemicals. A single trigger, or a combination of triggers can set into motion a biomolecular destructive cascade that ends in gut, immune and neurological dysfunction.

Presenter Presentation
Andrew Wakefield, MB, BS, FRCS, FRCPath

is an academic gastroenterologist. He graduated in Medicine from St. Mary's Hospital (part of the University of London) in 1981, pursuing a career in gastrointestinal surgery with a particular interest in inflammatory bowel disease. He qualified as Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1985, and in 1996 was awarded a Wellcome Trust Traveling Fellowship to study small-intestine transplantation in Toronto, Canada. Discoveries made during his work in Canada led him on return to the UK to pursue the study of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In 1998, he and his colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital in London reported a novel inflammatory bowel disease in children with developmental disorders such as autism; the condition later became known as autistic enterocolitis. Dr. Wakefield resisted pressure to stop his research on the possible links between childhood immunizations, intestinal inflammation and autism, leaving the Royal Free School of Medicine in 2001. He is involved in many scientific research collaborations in the U.S and abroad, investigations centering on the immunologic, metabolic, and pathologic changes occurring in inflammatory bowel diseases such as autistic enterocolitis, links between intestinal disease and neurologic injury in children, and the possible relationship of these conditions to environmental causes, such as childhood vaccines. During the course of his work on childhood developmental disorders, Dr. Wakefield was increasingly convinced of the need for a research-oriented, integrated bio-medical and educational approach to these disorders, in order to translate clinical benefits for affected children into measurable developmental progress; this is the driving aim of Thoughtful House. As of the beginning of 2007, Dr. Wakefield has published one hundred thirty-four original scientific articles, book chapters, and invited scientific commentaries. He was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2001; he is medical advisor to the United Kingdom charity Visceral, and sits on the board of the U.S. charity Medical Interventions for Autism.
Resolving a chaotic paradox: autism as a disease of the developing immune system

This lecture provides an overview of the "new" autism as a primary disturbance of the immune system and critically, misprogramming of the infant immune system leading to autoimmunity and immunological intolerance. Central to immune system perturbation is an environmental exposure(s) that result in lymphopenia (reduction in the number of blood lymphocytes). This leads to homeostatic T cell expansion (HTE) in the peripheral lymphoid tissues such as the intestine, in an effort to restore the naive T cell pool. The consequences of HTE include lymphoid hyperplasia, bacterial translocation from the gut into the body, impaired regulatory T cells (Treg) function, colitis, and proinflammatory immune responses directed against intestinally-derived antigens (food and bacteria) and self i.e., autoimmunity. It is proposed that immune responses against intestinally-derived antigens cross-react with host antigens present in the brain, leading to neurological injury. Human and experimental models of immune encephalopathy and experience with HIV/AIDS are used to support this concept in the setting of autism.

Presenter Presentation
David Warner

is the president of the Autism Society of McLean County and the father of Emily (9) and Joseph (8). David's role with the autism society started when he became the program director for the Autism Athletic programs which include baseball, basketball, flag football, and soccer. David was elected as vice president in 2007 and president in 2008.
Autism and Athletics, if they want to play we find a way!

We will explore the use of athletics to teach children with autism life skills including turn taking, listening, teamwork, following directions, respect and the benefits of exercise. We also use this vehicle as a means to engage parents in the learning process. By asking the parents to coach and the children to learn sports we have been able to demonstrate what the child can do in an environment that is setup to ensure their success. Learn what it takes to setup a camp, and how to engage fathers and mothers in the process to provide a meaningful athletic experience for everyone.

Presenter Presentation
Robert Weiner, PhD, CST-D

received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Texas Tech University in 1983. He has maintained a private practice since 1987 and currently practices in Dallas, Texas. Before entering private practice, he served as the director of behavioral medicine psychology at the Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas. Dr. Weiner has been working with children with autism since 1996. He is diplomate certified in craniosacral therapy through the Upledger Institute and appeared in a 2008 Veria TV documentary, "The Genesis of Healing - Osteopathy and CranioSacral Therapy."
Rapid Clearing of Autism Symptoms with NeuroModulation Technique - A New Healing Modality

NeuroModulation Technique (NMT) is a new complementary and alternative medicine modality that is non-invasive, is easily administered, and has been used clinically to improve functioning in a wide range of conditions. Dr. Robert Weiner directed an international study to determine the effectiveness of NMT in improving the functioning of children with autism. The study ran for 12 sessions over 6 weeks. Statistically significant improvement was noted by the end of 6 sessions, with continued improvement occurring through the end of the study. Dr. Weiner will describe how NMT works and will present outcome data from the study including pre- and post-study video clips.

Presenter Presentation
Stacey Whetlow

is a certified Radical Forgiveness coach, massage practitioner, hypnotist, public speaker, and facilitator. She brings a wealth of personal experience and compassion to her work. Using her metaphysical approach, she offers holistic support for the mind, body, and spirit. Under Stacy's guidance, people create self-acceptance and easily achieve inner peace.
Let Go through Radical Self-Forgiveness

The Radical Forgiveness experience helps people to release self-destructive belief patterns such as "I am not good enough," and "No matter how hard I try, it's never enough." Beliefs like these keep people blocked from feeling joy, abundance, and inner peace. In this seminar, you will become aware of your core beliefs and see how they have been repeated throughout your life. The Radical Forgiveness process helps you to let go of anger, blame, resentment, and judgment that have kept your energy blocked. Take this opportunity to learn more about Radical Forgiveness and yourself. It can change your life.

Presenter Presentation
Amy Yasko, PhD

holds a doctorate in microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases with an award for outstanding academic excellence. She completed two research fellowships at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester NY; one as a member of the Dept. of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, the other as a member of the Wilmont Cancer Center. Dr. Yasko was also a fellow in the Department of Hematology at Yale Medical Center prior to joining a biotechnology company in Connecticut. She later co-founded a successful biotechnology company, where she was recognized as an expert in the field of DNA/RNA based diagnostics and therapeutics. Prior to shifting her focus to integrative healthcare she was consultant to the medical, pharmaceutical and research community for almost twenty years with an expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology. Dr. Yasko continued her education in the area of alternative healthcare to graduate with high honors from the Clayton College of Natural Health, receiving two additional degrees, a Doctor of Naturopathy and a Doctor of Natural Health.
Assessment of Metals and Microbes as a Function of Nutrigenomic Profiling

Dr. Yasko believes that autism is a multifactorial condition. Predisposing genetics along with infectious disease burden the body (virus/bacteria) and combined with environmental toxins (mercury, aluminum, lead) play a role in the development and the severity of autism. When these infectious microbes are addressed, Dr. Yasko is able to demonstrate the excretion of large amounts of toxic metals. The way in which these organisms are approached can vary, based on the type of organism (gram negative, gram positive or anaerobic bacteria or virus) as well as the genetic profile against which supplementation is being used. Differences in individual genetic profiles can influence the way in which supplementation is considered. Dr. Yasko will discuss the role of microbes, differences in approaches to microbes based on nutrigenomic profiles, and the excretion of metals as a function of addressing microbes in the body. Specifics will be discussed related to different types of bacteria as well as the presentation of data from fecal testing as well as toxic metal excretion.
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