Mother of ‘Rainman’ to Keynote Alabama Autism Conference Feb. 24

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Ruth Sullivan, the mother of Joseph Sullivan, who served as a model for the autistic character “Raymond” in the Academy-Award winning film “Rainman,” will be one of the guest speakers at the Alabama Autism Conference on Feb. 23-24 at the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama campus.

This year’s conference, “Best Practices in Autism Spectrum Disorders Intervention,” is designed for educators and other professionals who are involved in developing and implementing intervention programs for individuals with Autistic Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Sullivan, currently the executive director for the Autism Services Center in Huntington, W.Va., will discuss Joseph in her presentation, “Joseph: 45 Years and Still Under Construction,” on Friday Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m.

Sullivan’s son, Joseph, is one of the best documented individuals in the field of autism. Because of this, he was easily contacted when “Rain Man” was being formed into the character of “Raymond.” The film premiered in Huntington, W.Va., with Dustin Hoffman present, as a benefit for Autism Services Center.

Sullivan, a pioneer in the area of services for people with autism, is founder and executive director of the Autism Services Center in Huntington, W.Va. Founded in 1979, the Center offers community integrated, comprehensive developmental disability services with a specialty in autism.

She was the first elected president of the National Society for Autistic Children (now Autism Society of America), wrote the initial legislation and successfully lobbied for the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University, and has served or serves on numerous national, state and local boards, task forces, committees and commissions.

Other well-known experts who will speak at the conference include:

Dr. Tristram Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, who will discuss “Early Intervention Behavioral Intervention,” Friday, Feb. 24 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Smith will discuss recent findings from research studies on early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for children with autism.

Dr. Connie L. Kasari, professor of education and information studies, University of California, Los Angeles, will discuss “Intervention on Core Deficits in Young Children with Autism,” Friday Feb. 24 from 11 a.m.-12 noon. She will describe the significant challenges in developing joint attention and symbolic play skills in young children with autism. Discussion will include determining predictors for best outcome in these children.

Dr. Gary Mesibov, director of research for division TEACCH, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will make a presentation on “TEACCH, a Structured Teaching Educational Approach,” Friday, Feb. 24 from 1-2 p.m. Discussion will include physical organization (curriculum, teaching areas, visual barriers, distractions); schedules (routine, visual cues, individualization, work assignments); work system (types, individualization); and visual structure (instructions, organization, clarity).

Sheila J. Wagner, Emory Autism Center at Emory University in Atlanta, will discuss “Inclusive Programming for Students with ASD: Avoiding Pitfalls and Building Success,” Friday, Feb. 24 from 1-2 p.m., Discussion will include the current state of inclusive programming for students with ASD and components necessary for success. Examples from elementary age to high school will be used to describe methods.

The pre-conference workshops on Feb. 23 are designed to provide a more “hands-on” workshop to teach specific skills necessary to develop intervention programs in social and adult community settings:

“Teaching Social and Behavioral Skills to Young Children on the Autism Spectrum” by Dr. Cathy L. Pratt, director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Indiana University. Participants will learn how to assess for specific social difficulties, learn how to write IEP goals in the social domain, and gather information to both build social competence and to expand social connections.

“Total Supports for Adults in a Residential Setting: A Live, Working Model,” presented by Dr. Ruth Christ Sullivan, executive director of the Autism Services Center in Huntington, W.V. This session will describe a successful community-integrated setting for adults with autism and how this intensive program can foster acceptable social and work behaviors necessary for a job and living in a neighborhood.

The conference is jointly sponsored by The University of Alabama, the Autism Society of Alabama and numerous state agencies.

For more information, contact Amanda Al-Betar in the UA College of Continuing Studies at 348-9966 or go online to http://autism.ua.edu