Jacksonville, Florida, February 13, 2009 -- Three national experts on autism will speak in Jacksonville at the Inaugural Autism Symposium: Current Medical Evidence and Interventions Regarding Autism. The public is invited to attend the symposium, set for Wednesday, March 11, 9 am to 4 pm, at the University Center at the University of North Florida.
The symposium will address medical evidence about the causes of autism as well as strategies in treating children with the disorder. Guest lecturers are:
Nancy Minshew, MD, professor of psychiatry and neurology and director of the Center for Excellence in Autism Research at the University of Pittsburgh. The center seeks to understand underlying causes of autism, improve practice standards and develop public policy.
Paul Offit, MD, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A vaccine researcher, Dr. Offit also has been a member of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He co-invented a vaccine for the rotavirus.
Serena Wieder, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author who co-developed the DIR and Floortime Approach for treating children with complex developmental problems. She is founder and associate chair of the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning Disorders, and is director of the DIR Institute.
Wolfson Children's Hospital and the University of Florida are presenting the symposium, with support from Nemours Children's Clinic.
Parents, caregivers, special needs teachers, social workers and medical professionals are encouraged to attend. Lunch is included in the $25 registration fee. Pre-registration is required and will be accepted through Wednesday, March 4.