Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) now affect about one in 68 children in the United States and can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Treatment options are diverse and vary from country to country. Is the treatment in the United States, which focuses mostly\u00a0on behavior rehabilitation techniques, the best option for individuals with ASD?\u00a0 Or would it be better to\u00a0integrate principles from\u00a0therapies\u00a0offered in Italy, which concentrate\u00a0on training individuals with ASD to effectively resonate emotionally with their peers and family members?\u00a0 Leading scholars from Italy and the United States will debate this topic and discuss best practices for speech and language impairments in children with autism\u00a0at the symposium “Autism Perception Through Different Cultures” on May 26 and 27. \u00a0The event will be held in Wilson Auditorium from 9 a.m. to Noon.<\/p>\n
“The goal of the symposium is to help improve evidence-based interventions for individuals with Autism spectrum disorders, provide tools to support those individuals and their families, and assist healthcare professionals and educators,” said \u00a0Symposium Facilitator\u00a0Patrizia Bonaventura, Ph.D., assistant professor of speech pathology at Monmouth University.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The symposium will include talks by Dr.\u00a0Federico Di Castelbianco, Ph.D., director of the SLP clinic Istituto di Ortofonologia, Rome, Italy, and his collaborator, Magda Di Renzo, Ph.D., about his new treatment and assessment test for children with autism, and about their implementation in Italian schools.\u00a0Stacy Lauderdale, Ph.D.,\u00a0assistant professor in special education at\u00a0Monmouth University,\u00a0will present on multicultural issues in treatment and assessment of children in the United States. \u00a0Workshops will follow, with\u00a0practical demonstrations of the treatment and the assessment test developed by Di Castelbianco.<\/p>\n
Registration fee is $25 per day ($40 for two days).\u00a0 Professional Development Hours are available for an additional fee of $30 per day.\u00a0<\/p>\n