ASMT Workshops (Dual Session) Presented This Thursday

In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, the Education Committee of ASMT has scheduled two workshops to run simultaneously during the regular Autism Education Series held at the Kennedy Center, 21st &Edgehill, Nashville, TN 37203. Both will take place this Thursday, April 26th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Following is a brief outline of both:

I. “Ordinary Families Doing Extraordinary Things” (ABA Program on a Budget)


Juli Liske, family consultant, author, and parent of a boy with autism, will discuss the whys and hows of setting up your own Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program in the home and, most importantly, how to do so on a budget! She’ll walk you through the most common pitfalls that occur and give you the knowledge and empowerment to make your plan a reality.

II. “Moral/Ethical/Social Sexuality Issues Facing Parents of and People with Autism.”

In this workshop the presenters will discuss the importance of sexuality issues such as the vulnerability of the disability population, sexual and social deficits, and puberty. They will cover in-depth critical issues of both male and female sexuality including sexual urges, masturbation, birth control methods (stopping/delaying periods, new hormone options, sterilization, etc.), self-determination, preventing and handling sexual assaults, and other relevant topics. This workshop is geared toward family members of individuals with autism (but is also relevant to the disability community). The panel will speak frankly about these issues and answer questions, while understanding that these are critical issues and difficult choices have to be made by families according to their own value systems.

Presenters for this workshop are Stephen Sloan, Ph.D., a Human Sexuality Specialist in private practice and Amy Weeks, M.D., Asst. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

There is still time to register for either of these presentations by contacting ASMT at 615-385-2077. Child care is available if you make your reservation by Tuesday. Both workshops are free to ASMT members; nonmembers pay only $5.00/family. Open to all in the community. For a detailed map, go to http://www.kc.vanderbilt.edu/kennedy/about/location.html