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A fall autism conference is planned for September 27th and 28th on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. Dr. Temple Grandin will speak on Thursday, September 27th from 7:00 – 9:00pm, at Dvorak Concert Hall, on how she was diagnosed with autism in the 1950’s and developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling-equipment designer. Her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes, was featured in the recent award-winning HBO movie Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes. The $20 tickets are sold out but tickets can still be obtained in an overflow space for $10 at www.eiu.edu/doudna or call 217-581-3110.

On Friday, a full day presentation from 9:00am – 3:00pm at the Doudna Fine Arts Lecture Hall, from a nationally recognized child language specialist, Dr. Patricia Prelock, will focus on facilitating communication and social interaction in preschool/school-aged children in school and home environments. Dr. Prelock is currently the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders, and Professor of Pediatrics in the College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. She is also President-Elect of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This workshop is approved for 5 hours of continuing education credit from ASHA and 3.25 hours for Early Intervention. Registration is $50 for professionals and includes lunch. For registration information, go to www.eiu.edu/commdis/.

These events are both part of the EIU capital campaign to raise funds for an autism center on the EIU campus. Sponsors include the EIU Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, the EIU Center for the Humanities, and the Doudna Fine Arts Center. For more information, please contact Sandi Thiele at (217) 581-2712 in the Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences.