Autism Social & Mental Health Conference

WE ARE SOLD OUT FOR THIS EVENT! San Diego Regional Center Funded Clients - Please be aware that you are not registered unless you have received confirmation from both your service coordinator AND registered at this site and received a confirmation email from Autism Society San Diego. Thank you.

The Autism Society San Diego invites you to join parents, ASD individuals and professionals at the state of the art Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center in San Diego to learn about the social and mental health needs of autistic children and adults, effective treatments and where to find resources. Whether you are new to the journey or have years of experience, you will walk away from the conference with information and resources to improve the quality of life for your loved ones, your clients and for yourselves.

Gain new information, strategies, and resources to help maximize how to effectively improve their quality of life at the conference.  

Speakers and Presenters Include:

• Autistic Adults
• Psychiatrists
• Licensed Therapists
• Licensed Psychologists
• Counselors
• Community Professionals
• Service Providers

The Conference Fee Includes:

• Conference Swag Bag
• Access to Resource Fair
• Lunch
• Complimentary Coffee and Snacks
• Parking
• Special Book Signing Event during the lunch break with keynote speaker, Sally J. Pla.

Cost:

• $100 ASD Individuals
• $200  General Registration  

This conference is vendored by the San Diego Regional Center.   Vendor number PY3056

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from The Grossmont Healthcare District, we have scholarship funding available for those living or working in their district. To find out if you qualify, click HERE for a map of the Grossmont Healthcare District. Please CLICK HERE to complete the online application.

8 - 9am  Registration and Check In, Resource Fair open

9 - 10am  Keynote -Sally J. Pla, Encinitas author

10 - 10:30am: Networking/Resource Fair

10:30 - Noon  

Breakout Session 1 (pick one)

• Relationships in Neurodiversity: Moderator - Mary Baker Ericzen, PhD.  This breakout will focus on the importance of relationships, how relationships are formed and maintained, and specific recommendations for how to help individuals with autism learn about and establish connections.  There will be a panel of autistic adults in this session discussing their perspectives and experiences.
• How and Where to Get Help with ASD Social and Emotional Challenges: Moderator - Alyssa Label, LMFT. This breakout will focus on the mental and behavioral health facing ASD individuals and their families.  Specific information about services and supports will be provided including representatives from the community, school based services, Regional Center and more.  

Noon - 1:30pm  

• Lunch: Box lunch provided
• Resource fair/networking
• Autism Society SD Spectrum Social hosted lunch for ASD individuals in attendance

• 12:30 - 1:30pm: Book Signing with keynote speaker Sally J. Pla.  Books will be available for purchase at the conference.

1:30 - 3:00pm  

Breakout Session 2 (pick one)

• Crisis Management: When Things Get Out of Control:  Moderators - Abbey Hye MA, BCBA and Themba Carr PhD Rady's Autism Discovery Institute. This breakout will focus on challenging behaviors including understanding why they occur, strategies for reducing them and therapeutic options that may be effective.   Overview of higher need behavioral services available in the community will be discussed.  Representatives from PERT and Regional Center providers will be included.
• Autism and Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions, Psychopharmacology: Presenters - Dr. Charmi Patel-Rao, MD and Dr. Mark Chenven MD. Board Certified Psychiatrists. This breakout will discuss the assessment for other co-occurring mental health conditions with ASD.  There will be information about therapeutic treatments for ASD and various mental health diagnoses including medication management.