

Saturday Schedule – October 23, 2010
7:30-8:30AM – Registration
8:30-8:45AM – Welcome
8:45-10:15AM – Keynote: Developing Talents at School and at Home – Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Temple Grandin will discuss strategies from her book on how to develop talents by focusing on the strengths of people with
autism instead of their weaknesses. Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is a highly successful adult with autism, and one of the leading
lecturers on how to help individuals with autism/Asperger’s. She has authored six books on her life experiences in dealing with
autism, and is a leading advocate for people with autism. She is an Associate Professor at Colorado State University.
10:15-10:45AM – Break/View Exhibits
10:45AM-12:15PM – Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships – Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Temple Grandin will discuss her latest book on the social rules that individuals on the spectrum need to learn to function in
society.
12:15-1:30PM – Lunch (On your own)
1:35-3:00PM – A Mother’s Story – Eustacia Cutler, Mother of Temple Grandin
Eustacia Cutler will describe raising her daughter Temple in the conservative “Leave-it-to-Beaver” world of the fifties, a time
when little was known about autism (then called “infant schizophrenia”) and children like Temple were banished to institutions.
She will cover some of her own life experiences, fighting to hang onto hope in the face of a complicated family battle. She will
also explore the main stumbling blocks of autism as she has learned them from doctors and how, to a minor degree, traces of its
characteristics are in us all. Eustacia Cutler is the author of “A Thorn in My Pocket” which describes the challenges raising a
child with autism. She has written school lessons for major TV networks, researched and scripted the TV documentary THE
DISQUIETED (on autism,) researched and contributed script to THE INNOCENTS, a documentary prize winning first on
retardation. She has 3 other children and 5 grandsons.
3:00-3:30PM – Break/View Exhibits
3:30pm – 5:00pm - Socially-Based Accommodations – Stephen Shore, Ph.D.
This presentation examines the development and use of educational accommodations as extensions of good teaching practice.
For example, a student with special needs in a regular education chorus class who is unable to stand still and sing can still be
afforded another way of meaningfully participating in the choir performance. Attendees will come away with easy to implement,
practical solutions for including children with autism and other special needs into the regular education experience. Diagnosed
with “Atypical Development with strong autistic tendencies” Dr. Shore was 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. Recently, Dr. Shore has 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.
5:00PM – End
Sunday Schedule – October 24, 2010
7:30-8:30AM – Registration
8:30-8:45AM – Welcome
8:45-10:15AM – Keynote: Shoring Up an Impaired Executive Function System: Educational and Organizational
Supports at the Elementary, Middle, and High School Levels – Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
This presentation will demystify one of the most misunderstood aspects of human functioning by defning the crucial role of
the executive function (EF) system in everyday life; outlining the specifc elements within it that are typically impaired in
ASD; and describing the behavioral manifestations that occur as a result of EF impairment. Specifc, easy-to-apply ways to
support the learner in the school setting will be given, along with the rationale for the use of these supports. While EF is
typically discussed with respect to older students, this presentation discusses important aspects of executive functioning at
all levels of education. Dr. Diane Twachtman-Cullen is a licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in autism and
related disorders. The editor-in-chief of Autism Spectrum Quarterly (www.ASQuarterly.com), Dr. Twachtman-Cullen is also
co-chair of the Autism Society of America’s Panel of Professional Advisors, and the author of numerous articles and
chapters. Her books include the following: How to be a Para Pro: A Comprehensive Training Manual for Paraprofessionals;
Trevor Trevor (a children’s book for peer training); and How Well Does Your IEP Measure: Quality Indicators for Ef ective
Service Delivery (co-authored with Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly). Dr. Twachtman-Cullen serves on several professional
advisory boards, and provides training seminars internationally, through ADDCON Center, LLC in Higganum, Connecticut.
10:15-10:45AM – Break/View Exhibits
10:45AM-12:15PM – Social And Pragmatic Communication Development For All Levels Of Functioning
– Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Pragmatic communication—the social element of language development—is always impaired to some degree in ASD. This
presentation will explain the diference between pragmatic and linguistic comprehension and its impact on behavior; outline
both the multi-faceted aspects of pragmatics and the types of defcits that afect more- and less-able individuals; and
describe the critical role of experience in pragmatic communication development. Specifc pragmatically-based intervention
ideas—all of which are evidence-based—will also be given.
12:15-1:30PM – Lunch (On your own)
1:30-3:30PM – Introduction to Biomedical Approaches for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
– Kenneth A. Bock, MD, FAAFP, FACN, CNS
The incidence of autism has skyrocketed in the last 20 years. There is much recent evidence to support the premise that
autism and related disorders arise at a nexus of environmental and genetic infuences. An individualized treatment
approach, including behavioral and educational interventions, along with nutritional and pharmacologic therapies, coupled
with limitation of environmental exposures and detoxifcation, can result in signifcant clinical improvements and in some
cases, even recovery. This lecture will address possible causes for the increase in autism, including proliferation of
environmental toxins; major systems involved, including GI, neurologic, metabolic, and immunologic; as well as multifactorial
strategies for treatment.
Kenneth A. Bock, MD, FAAFP, FACN, CNS, received his MD with Honor from the University of Rochester School of
Medicine in 1979. A pioneer and leader in the feld of integrative medicine for almost three 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. Over the past decade, he has become one of the world’s leading physicians utilizing
a biomedical approach in children with autism spectrum disorders. 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.
3:30-4:00PM – Break/View Exhibits
4:00-5:00PM – “Immune Dysfunction And Immune Therapies In Autism” – Marvin Boris, M.D.
Immune disorders are prevalent in the autistic population. Marked changes in immune modulators such as the shift from
Th1 to Th2 immunity and the elevation of cytokines have been well documented in the scientifc literature. Implementing
therapies targeting immune dysfunctions has shown to be an efective treatment in many individuals with autism.
Dr. Marvin Boris is Board Certifed in Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology, and Environmental Medicine. He is a member of
“Defeat Autism Now” and has a private practice; Autism Associates in Woodbury, New York.
5:00PM – End