Anne Carlsen Center for Children Hosts Conference About Autism

Anne Carlsen Center for Children (ACCC) has invited a nationally-recognized expert on autism to Bismarck, N.D., to give professionals and parents the tools and techniques they need to prepare children with autism for a better quality of life.

Stacy Goresko, Ph.D., is an RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) Program Certified Consultant from Longmont, Colorado. RDI has often been called “The Missing Link” in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

The conference will be held April 14-15, 2008 at Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Workshop sessions run each day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Conference participants will learn about the fundamentals of RDI and how it helps children on the autism spectrum overcome relationship challenges and become engaged and connected to the world around them.

Research completed by The Connections Center in Houston and published by The National Autistic Society supports RDI as a promising program for helping children on the autism spectrum. Those who participated in RDI engaged in more communication and improved their social interaction. They also began to function better in the school setting. Parents observed more flexible, adaptive behaviors.

The parent of a child with autism, Dr. Goresko says RDI has made a major difference in her own family’s life. She conducts training and staff development for schools and has designed and implemented educational programs for children on the autism spectrum. You can find out more about Dr. Goresko and RDI at www.help-autism.com.

Anne Carlsen Center for Children (ACCC) offers a rich tradition of excellence in residential, therapeutic and educational services. The Center is honored to host this two-day conference in Bismarck, which is the first in a series of trainings focusing on autism and its common overlaps.

Roughly half of the students on our campus in Jamestown have been diagnosed with autism. We are constantly striving to find and implement the latest strategies to help these individuals develop meaningful skills and relationships.

Individualized services at ACCC also include care for children and young adults with medically fragile conditions, cerebral palsy, hearing and vision impairments, and behavior disorders. We embrace the values of compassion, holistic encouragement, acceptance, life-long learning, service above self, and teamwork.

“There’s a real need for additional training for those who care for individuals on the autism spectrum,” says Marcia Gums, ACCC Chief Operating Officer. “By providing these opportunities to hear from experts in the field, we can help empower individuals, families and professionals.”

For registration materials for the April 14-15 conference, contact Julie Hoeckle at 1-800-568-5175 or via . Graduate workshop credit and CEUs are pending.

Conference Brochure Conference Schedule