12/03/2008

Dublin To Host All-Ireland Autism Conference

A national one-day cross-border autism conference will be held at Croke Park in Dublin on April 15, Irish Education Minister Mary Hanafin has announced.

Announcing the conference, the Minister said: "This conference will bring together parents and professionals who are all at the heart of autism services on the island of Ireland. It will provide them with an opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed speakers address aspects of autism education, to gain knowledge of what works for autistic children as well as to celebrate what has been achieved to date on the whole island of Ireland. The conference will also allow participants to consider the next steps in providing for the special education of the needs of these children."

Northern Ireland's Education Minister Caitríona Ruane will also address the conference along with Ms Hanafin.

Dr Mitchell Fleming, President of the Psychological Society of Ireland, will chair the conference. There will be a number of key speakers including, including representatives from Irish Autism Action, who will discuss the role of Applied Behaviourial Analysis (ABA) in education of children with autism.

Representatives from school management bodies, teachers unions, politicians from education committees and health professionals from both sides of the border will also attend the event.

(KMcA)




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