Research and Current Practice
AUTREAT 2009: An annual conference run by individuals on the Autistic Spectrum
This year's conference will take place during the week of June 29th at the Bradford campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Advance registration is required to attend and registration must be received by June 15th. For more information, please go to http://www.autreat.com
Here is some pertinent information from the website:
Things you will not find at Autreat:
Crowded, noisy hotel or conference center
Exhausting, intensive schedule
Inescapable sensory bombardment
Pressure to interact if you don't want to
Focus on "celebrities"
Focus on causes, cures, or ways to make us more normal
Things you will find at Autreat:
Small college campus with plenty of outdoor space to get away and be alone or with friends.
Smoke-free, perfume-free environment
Opportunity to explore autistic social contacts, if desired
Respect for the choice to be left alone, if preferred
Focus on positive aspects of autism
Child care for autistic and non-autistic children ages 4 and up
Three days of continuous immersion in an autistic-friendly environment
A special note about social interactions
For some ANI members, meeting other autistic people and having a chance to socialize with others like ourselves is an exciting and wonderful experience. Others are not interested in social contacts and may come to this event just for the workshops. Some of us are interested in socializing some, but need to be able to take time out from interacting. Autreat is meant to provide opportunity, but not pressure, for social interactions.
If you are coming to meet other autistic people, please understand that some people will also want to meet you, but some will not be into meeting people, and their own choice must also be respected.
If you want to come but do not want to meet or talk to people, you are still welcome to attend. You will be given a color-coded badge which you can use to indicate if you want to be approached only by people you already know, or don't want to be approached at all by anyone.
If you are a parent, a teacher, or other service provider, and are bringing an autistic child or student or client because you hope the person will make social connections with others, please adopt the same position of providing opportunity, but not pressure.
Here is some pertinent information from the website:
Things you will not find at Autreat:
Crowded, noisy hotel or conference center
Exhausting, intensive schedule
Inescapable sensory bombardment
Pressure to interact if you don't want to
Focus on "celebrities"
Focus on causes, cures, or ways to make us more normal
Things you will find at Autreat:
Small college campus with plenty of outdoor space to get away and be alone or with friends.
Smoke-free, perfume-free environment
Opportunity to explore autistic social contacts, if desired
Respect for the choice to be left alone, if preferred
Focus on positive aspects of autism
Child care for autistic and non-autistic children ages 4 and up
Three days of continuous immersion in an autistic-friendly environment
A special note about social interactions
For some ANI members, meeting other autistic people and having a chance to socialize with others like ourselves is an exciting and wonderful experience. Others are not interested in social contacts and may come to this event just for the workshops. Some of us are interested in socializing some, but need to be able to take time out from interacting. Autreat is meant to provide opportunity, but not pressure, for social interactions.
If you are coming to meet other autistic people, please understand that some people will also want to meet you, but some will not be into meeting people, and their own choice must also be respected.
If you want to come but do not want to meet or talk to people, you are still welcome to attend. You will be given a color-coded badge which you can use to indicate if you want to be approached only by people you already know, or don't want to be approached at all by anyone.
If you are a parent, a teacher, or other service provider, and are bringing an autistic child or student or client because you hope the person will make social connections with others, please adopt the same position of providing opportunity, but not pressure.
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