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Annual PAN Conference 2006

1st Annual Penn Autism Network Conference
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Promoting Successful Outcomes Across the Life Cycle

The first annual Penn Autism Network Conference was held from March 15-17, 2006. Over 300 people attended the two day conference at the University of Pennsylvania.

We are extremely grateful to our friend and Penn alumnus, Edward Rimland, who, through his generous gift, helped make this first Penn Autism Network conference possible.

Highlights from the 1st Penn Autism Network Conference include:

• A joint University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia research retreat in which principal investigators discussed the latest developments in genetics, neuroscience, imaging, and behavior and therapy for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.
• A public keynote address - from her own personal perspective - by best-selling author, autism expert, and educator, Temple Grandin, Ph.D., as well as a panel discussion led by the Executive Director of the NYC-based Global & Regional Asperger Syndrome Parnership (GRASP), Michael John Carley .
• A luncheon address by the PA Department of Public Welfare’s Autism Affairs Director, Nina Wall-Cote, on the latest state legislative efforts in support of those affected by autism spectrum disorders.
• An afternoon plenary session led by the President of the Organization for Autism Research, Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D., that focused on job and life skill issues.
• A dozen faculty and expert-led workshops on topics ranging from how people with autism think, risk and safety management, helping students with Asperger Syndrome prepare for college, and helping adults with autism prepare for employment.