Conference To Feature Noted Autism Experts

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA —The Florida Institute of Technology School of Psychology and Scott Center for Autism Treatment will host their third annual Autism Conference, “The Power and Potential of Communication,” on Friday, Nov. 6, followed by a series of workshops on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The conference will present comprehensive, evidence-based information and feature noted autism experts speaking on a variety of related topics.  Educators, providers and families will find support in developing effective educational and therapeutic programs for all individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Dr. Sundberg

Dr. Carr

Featured speakers include Mark Sundberg, Ph.D., BCBA, James Carr, Ph.D., BCBA, Bridget A. Taylor, PsyD, BCBA and Rebecca Landa, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. The conference starts Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 a.m. with registration in the Gleason Performing Arts Center on the Florida Tech campus.

Dr. Sundberg will give the keynote address, “How to teach intraverbal behavior to children with autism.” He is a licensed psychologist in private practice who consults for programs and classrooms that serve children with autism in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has published more than 45 professional papers and is the founder and past editor of the journal The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.

Dr. Carr will present “Understudied intervention procedures in the early behavioral treatment of autism.” An associate professor of psychology at Auburn University, Carr is an associate editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. He has published more than 100 articles and chapters and received the 2002 B.F. Skinner New Researcher Award from Division 25 of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Taylor

Dr. Landra

Dr. Taylor’s presentation will be “Improving joint attention and reciprocal language skills in children with autism.” Co-founder and executive director of Alpine Learning Group, she has specialized in the education and treatment of children with autism for the past 24 years. She is also a member of the Autism Advisory Group for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies and a member of the expert panel of the National Autism Center’s national standards project.

Dr. Landa will discuss “New advances in autism research and innovative programming.” The director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Landa also is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She has published widely and is the lead investigator in several National Institutes of Health research studies and networks.

Conference pre-registration fees are $50 for parents and students and $150 for a professional; the fees for registration on-site are $75 for a parent or student and $175 for a professional.

Saturday Workshops

The Saturday, Nov. 7, workshops will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Skurla Hall (College of Aeronautics) auditorium on campus. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The costs for pre-registration are $150, full day and $100, half day; the costs are $175, full day and $125, half day for on-site registration.

Workshops will include “Conducting a VB-MAPP language assessment and designing an intervention program based on the results,” led by Sundberg;  “Transitioning to a successful life for adolescents and young adults: Post-secondary options,” led by Stephen Shore; and “Development of social communication skills in autism: Assessment and intervention,” led by Landa.

Shore

Stephen Shore also will lead a half-day workshop, titled, “Lifelong success with autism through improving communication, understanding the hidden curriculum and obtaining meaningful employment: An inside view.” In the afternoon session, Shore will conduct a workshop designed for individuals with autism. He will discuss self-advocacy and issues relevant to leading a fulfilled life.

Mr. Shore was diagnosed with atypical development with strong autistic tendencies and was nonverbal until age four. He is now a professor at Adelphi University. His books include Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum and the critically acclaimed Understanding Autism for Dummies.

The conference and workshop qualify for professional education hours for teachers and continuing education credit for psychologists, mental health workers and behavior analysts. For more information or to register online, send e-mail to Theresa Travis at (321) 674-8104 or ttravis@fit.edu, or send e-mail to Cynthia Smith at csmith01@fit.edu.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE.

About Florida Institute of Technology

Founded at the dawn of the Space Race 50 years ago, Florida Tech is the only independent, technological university in the Southeast. With approximately 8,000 students enrolled on main campus, extended campuses and online, Florida Tech has been named a Barron’s Guide “Best Buy” in College Education, listed among America’s best colleges in U.S. News & World Report, and ranked in 2009 as one of the nation’s top 18 engineering technical institutes by the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Fields of study include science, engineering, aeronautics, business, humanities, mathematics, psychology, communication and education.

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Scott Center To Host Autism-Related Workshops

THE FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’s School of Psychology offers free monthly workshops to parents, educators and professionals who deal with the issues of autism.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It’s the fastest growing disability in the United States, yet it’s one of the least understood. Although it’s more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined, the public is only now beginning to understand its true impact.

According to experts, autism is the most common of a range of developmental disorders known as the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This complicated condition, usually diagnosed in the first three years of life, appears as difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication and social interactions in repetitive or unusual behaviors.

Fran Warkomski

“Early, intense behavior therapy has shown the most significant results,” said Fran Warkomski, executive director of the new Scott Center for Autism Treatment at Florida Tech in Melbourne, Florida.

Under a mantra of “Service, Research and Training,” the Scott Center for Autism Treatment is probing the mysteries of autism and, most importantly, working with one child at a time to mitigate its effects.

“The stakes are high from a parent/family perspective,” said Ms. Warkomski. “They expect answers from experts in the field.”

Scott Center Funded by Edward Scott, Health Resources and Services Administration

Florida Tech is literally building its expertise in the area on a daily basis, with the completion of the Scott Center. Valued at approximately $5 million, the center was funded by several sources.

Edward Scott

Co-founder of the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C., and Florida Tech Trustee Edward Scott, initiated the support with a major donation.  Additionally, the Health Resources and Services Administration supported the new center with $2.4 million in federal funding.

Designed by Stottler Stagg & Associates of Cape Canaveral, Florida, the two-story building encompasses about 18,000 square feet. It allows for intense, individual treatment and features consultation areas and observation rooms to keep parents and family connected to the treatment process.

Dr. Chong

College of Psychology and Liberal Arts faculty and students are currently working with 36 children ages 2 to 13. Another 40 children are on a waiting list for services, according to Dr. Ivy Chong, program director. “Our clients represent all ranges of the spectrum, from those with destructive, self-injuring behaviors to those with milder forms of behavior problems,” Dr. Chong said.

CLICK HERE for a Q&A with Dr. Ivy M. Chong

Cases of autism are soaring at an alarming rate. Just here in Central Florida, about 20,000 residents are thought to have autism spectrum disorders, with more than 4,000 cases in Brevard County alone.

Ms. Warkomski believes that the future is promising for the field of autism research. “We have to collect more data, but we are learning new techniques every day,” she said. “I believe we are at a crossroads. We need to be clear about what works in helping these children. This is a very talented team here at Florida Tech, and we are excited about the opportunity to innovate.”

Florida Tech Presents Free Monthly Autism Workshops

The Florida Institute of Technology’s School of Psychology will present these free monthly workshops for parents, educators and psychologists who deal with the issues of autism:

• Aug. 26: “Autism in the Classroom from a Teacher’s Perspective,” presented by Susan Strahle, fifth-grade teacher at Dr. W.J. Creel School; at the Denius Student Center, second floor Hartley Room; 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Denius Student Center is located off Country Club Road, near University Boulevard.
• Sept. 23: “Early Steps Services: Birth to Three,” presented by Althea Puzio, program director, Early Steps, Florida Health Department; in the Scott Center for Autism Treatment seminar room; 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Oct. 28: “Understanding Asperger’s from a Clinical and Sensory Perspective,” presented by Debra Sloane, Psy.D., and Karen Rathgeber, College Internship Program; in the Scott Center for Autism Treatment seminar room; 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Nov. 18: “Video Self Modeling for Social Skills Development,” presented by Jordan Boudreau, Florida Tech doctoral program; in the Scott Center for Autism Treatment seminar room. Please call for times.

The Scott Center is accessible by turning into the campus off Babcock Street, one block south of University Boulevard at Panther Place. Take the first left turn to the Scott center.

The Scott Center for Autism Treatment, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing treatment, training and applied research to enhance the functioning and improve the quality of the lives of children with autism and related disabilities.

To make a donation, or for more information, call 321-674-8104 or e-mail thescottcenter@fit.edu.

CLICK HERE FOR RELATED STORY

A $50,000 grant was awarded to Florida Tech from the Community Foundation of Brevard’s Kenneth R. Finken and Dorothy Hallam Finken Endowment Fund for research into the cause and cure of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Dr. Paul Tebbe

The evidence is clear: Vaccinations do not cause or contribute to autism

THE TWO MOST common questions I am asked in my pediatric practice are: Do vaccines cause autism, and is autism on the rise?  The answers to these questions are no, and probably not.

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by delay in communication and language skills, poor social interaction, and a narrow range of interests and activities.  These patterns of difficulty usually start to appear around 18 months of age and it is generally diagnosed in children between 2 and 4 years of age.  I refer children to an experienced psychologist or pediatric neurologist for evaluation when I am concerned about the possibility of autism.  Usually the diagnosis is made clinically, but many times diagnostic testing is performed to rule out other disorders that can mimic autism.

THE ANALYSIS of volumes of data from legitimate researchers and statisticians disproves any link between autism and vaccines. However, mis-information and skewed statistics are rampant on the web and in the popular press.

Unknown Cause

The exact cause of autism is unknown, but a genetic component seems to be the most predominant factor.  We know this because the chances of autism in siblings of an autistic child are several-fold higher (up to 8 percent) than the general population.  Further supporting this conclusion is the fact that in the case of identical twins, 60 percent of the time both children are affected.  The exact gene or genes that contribute to autism are still unknown, but research is continuing.

There also seems to be an environmental factor or factors that trigger the disorder in genetically predisposed children.  This is clear because the rate of concordance (both children affected) in identical twins is high (60 percent), but it is not 100 percent as it would be if it were merely genetics at work. (They have the same exact genetic code.)   Theories of possible factors include viral infections, pollutants, food additives, hormones, and allergies, amongst other possibilities.  However, it remains clear that vaccinations do not cause or contribute to autism.  In addition, the trace amount of mercury (Thimerosal) used in the past as a vaccine preservative does not cause autism.

Research Disproves link

The research on vaccines and autism has been extensive over the last 30 years.  The analysis of volumes of data from legitimate researchers and statisticians disproves any link between autism and vaccines.  However, mis-information and skewed statistics are rampant on the web and in the popular press.

Media Hype & Misinformation

Over the past couple of years there has been a lot of hype in the media because it is a “hot” topic that sells magazines and newspapers. Don’t believe everything you read.  Without having to review any of the vast research data, let’s look at this practical example: if vaccines were the causative environmental trigger, then in the case of identical twins, both twins would always be affected. (Same genes, same vaccines.) This simply does not hold true.

CASES OF AUTISM are soaring at an alarming rate nationally, with more than 4,000 cases in Brevard County alone. Though much is being invested in finding a possible genetic link, the cause is unknown. Thus there is no cure, but early diagnosis and intervention are proving to help young people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

The question then remains: is autism on the rise?  In fact this is a very difficult question to answer.  If you look at the number of autism diagnoses for 1977 vs. 2007, you would see a significant increase over that 30 year period.  However, many experts feel that the increase has to do more with the classification of developmental disorders rather than a true increase.  For example, in 1977 a child might have been diagnosed as being mentally-retarded, emotionally disabled, or communication delayed rather than autistic.

Today, many types of developmental delay in children can be classified as a type of autism-spectrum disorder.  This can encompass everything from mild interpersonal communication difficulty (i.e. Asperger’s Syndrome) to a fully autistic and severely impaired child.

The full understanding of autism and the genetic and environmental factors is years away.  We as pediatricians understand parents’ concern about autism due to the profound effect it can have on children and their families.   Rest assured, we are not in the business of doing anything that would increase a child’s risk for the disorder.  If a vaccine was thought to cause autism, we simply wouldn’t give it and would find an alternative.

Vaccines do not cause autism.  Vaccines protect children from life-threatening and disabling illnesses that years ago caused the death of 1 in 5 children before they reached adulthood.  For more accurate information about vaccines, talk to your pediatrician and check out the following resources: American Academy of Pediatrics; www.AAP.org and the Centers for Disease Control; www.CDC.gov/od/science/iso/

HOW DO VACCINES HELP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DEFEND THE BODY?

• The immune system has cells, sometimes called memory cells, that remember diseases.If these cells meet a disease, they keep track of what it looks like so they can recognize it later.
• When the memory cells meet up with the disease again, they recognize it and know they need to get rid of it. They call in the other parts of the immune system to get rid of the disease. In some cases, memory cells can recognize a disease without ever having to meet up with it, which is called “natural” immunity. In other cases, the cells need some help to become familiar with a disease.

Dr. Tebbe has been a resident of Brevard County since 1982.  He attended the University of Florida for undergraduate studies and medical school, graduating in 1995.  Dr. Tebbe completed a Medicine-Pediatrics residency at Arnold Palmer Hospital and Orlando Regional and is currently a board-certified pediatrician and CEO at Pediatrics In Brevard.  He has worked for PIB since 1999, and his office is located in Viera, serving patients, ages newborn to 21.  Dr. Tebbe’s passion is primary care pediatrics, but  he also has an interest in immunology and infectious diseases.  He has been active in clinical pediatric research, including the evaluation of vaccines since 2002.

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DR. IVY M. CHONG has worked in the area of developmental disabilities and autism for the past 12 years. Her research interests focus on language acquisition, skill acquisition, and the assessment and treatment of problem behavior. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Dr. Chong is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Michigan where she spent the last four years supervising an outpatient treatment program for preschoolers diagnosed with ASDs in metro-Detroit. Dr. Chong has substantial clinical experience in supervising intensive treatment programs for children diagnosed with autism and related disabilities, and training students at the graduate and undergraduate level. Dr. Chong has taught courses in Applied Behavior Analysis at Oakland University, which prepares her well for similar teaching responsibilities at Florida Tech. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Dr. Chong was delighted to re-locate to sunny Florida to serve as the Program Director for the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, which will officially open its doors in a brand new 18,000 square foot building in this summer.

CASES OF AUTISM are soaring at an alarming rate. Just in Central Florida, about 20,000 residents are thought to have autism spectrum disorders, with more than 4,000 cases in Brevard County alone. Though much is being invested in finding a possible genetic link, the cause is unknown. Thus there is no cure, but early diagnosis and intervention are proving to help young people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

Psychologists at the Florida Tech School of Psychology offer assessment and treatment in their temporary center on Country Club Road.  Diagnostic services are available from birth to age 12 through Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), also located on campus and the university has broken ground for the Scott Center for Autism Treatment on Babcock Street.

To be finished this year, the center is part of a $5 million project that will serve children, adolescents and adults with these disorders in the counties of East Central Florida.  The location in East Central Florida is within a three-hour drive of all of Florida’s major population centers (e.g., Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami), helping to ensure access to state-of the-art services for thousands of families and individuals.

The university also offers free monthly workshops on campus for parents, educators and professionals who deal with autism. Last October, the School of Psychology held its second annual Autism Conference: The Many Faces of Autism.

At that conference, College of Psychology and Liberal Arts Dean Dr. Mary Beth Kenkel announced the results of a new survey commissioned by the school: First National Public Opinion Survey: Americans’ Knowledge and Understanding of Autism. The results provide a place to start in helping to educate and inform about the nature of the disorders, about interventions, and the likely and unlikely causes of autism.

Space Coast Medicine and Healthy Living is delighted to welcome Dr. Ivy Chong, (Ph.D., BCBA) Program Director of the Florida Tech Scott Center for Autism Treatment as she addresses frequently asked questions and misconceptions about autism.

SCM&HL: What is autism and what is meant by autism spectrum disorders?

Dr. Chong: Autism is a neurological disorder that is first diagnosed in early childhood and results in impairments across three core areas: social skills, communication skills, and a restricted repertoire of activities and interests. In addition, many individuals with autism have mental retardation and may exhibit self-injurious, stereotypical, and /or aggressive behaviors. Autism occurs on a spectrum, and related disabilities include Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Asperger’s Syndrome. Distinctive characteristics are associated with each disorder.

SCM&HL: How many babies born in the U.S. today are affected by autism? Are boys and girls affected equally?

Dr. Chong: Until recently, autism was thought to be rare. However, it is now thought to be much more common, and is currently diagnosed in about one in every 150 births. Autism is now the fastest growing developmental disability with a 10% to 17% annual growth rate.  Further, boys are more often affected than girls, with four boys diagnosed to every girl.

SCM&HL: What are some of the early behaviors to observe?

Dr. Chong: Early indicators of autism may include, but are not limited to: impaired nonverbal behaviors such as eye gaze and facial expression directed to others, lack of social/emotional mutual action and reaction, delayed language without attempt to compensate via gesture, impaired pragmatic language, stereotyped/repetitive or idiosyncratic language, lack of pretend play, repetitive motor mannerisms, inflexible adherence to routines/rituals, and preoccupation with parts of objects.

AUTISM IS A BRAIN DEVELOPMENT DISORDER that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child’s life. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills.

SCM&HL: What are some problem behaviors that may be observed?

Dr. Chong: Common problem behaviors may include: looking away, non-responding, non-compliance, self-stimulatory behaviors such as rocking, mouthing objects, falling to the floor, running from adults, climbing on tables, counters, bookcases, screaming, yelling, loud noises, crying, tantrums (combination of behaviors), property destruction, and self-injurious behaviors.

SCM&HL: How early should intervention take place and what should it consist of?

Dr. Chong: Intensive intervention should start as early as possible. Treatment should ideally start by age two to three and more recently there has been promising work done with infants. The best programs should involve at least 20 – 25 hours per week of one-on-one therapy with the therapists trained in Behavior Analysis (ABA) and overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Behavioral treatment focuses on language, self-help and appropriate social interaction. A large emphasis is also placed on reducing problem behaviors, such as those mentioned above.

SCM&HL: What is known about the cause of autism? What is the biological evidence that a child is autistic?

Dr. Chong: Unfortunately, the etiology of autism is still largely unknown.

SCM&HL: What is known about the connection between early vaccinations and autism?

Dr. Chong: Scientists say there is no evidence linking vaccines and autism.  More than a dozen studies have been conducted internationally indicating the lack of relation between autism and the vaccine, but the lingering apprehension is leading to fewer parents having their children vaccinated.  With fewer vaccinations, cases of the disease are increasing. The New York Times reported in August that measles cases in the first seven months of 2008 grew at the fastest rate in more than a decade. Cases in Britain, Switzerland, Israel and Italy are said to be soaring. Indeed, confusion may stem from the fact that the cause of autism is unknown.  The evidence does not support withholding necessary vaccines from infants and children based on a concern that vaccines cause autism.

There is no scientic evidence linking autism to childhood vaccines.

SCM&HL: What resources does Florida Tech offer in diagnosing and treating autism?

Dr. Chong: Florida Tech aims to be a comprehensive, multi-faceted, community based service providing high quality affordable services to children and their families in Central Florida and the state.  Currently, services include diagnosis for children birth through 12 years.  Intensive one-to-one treatment is provided for children aged 2 to 6.  Additionally, social skills training in the format of small group instruction is provided for children aged 2 to 12.  A new group will be developed for young adolescents aged 13 – 15 beginning in January of 2009.  Finally, counseling is also being provided individually and for families (through Counseling and Psychological Services or CPS).

CASES OF AUTISM are soaring at an alarming rate nationally, with more than 4,000 cases in Brevard County alone. Though much is being invested in finding a possible genetic link, the cause is unknown. Thus there is no cure, but early diagnosis and intervention are proving to help young people with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

SCM&HL: What are some of the highlights from the first national public opinion survey about Americans’ knowledge and understanding of autism, 2008?

Dr. Chong: Much information was generated from the survey.  A few key highlights are:

• More than 80 percent of survey respondents say every state should have an early intervention program for children from birth to age three. An even larger percentage (83%) thought that finding a cure for autism should be a national priority.
• Nearly one quarter (24%) of respondents said that because vaccines may cause autism it was safer not to have children vaccinated at all. Another 19% were not sure. The Centers for Disease Control says “evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association.”
• About eight of ten (82%) respondents know that autistic people of all ages can benefit from treatment and 77 percent say behavioral therapists are integral to the successful treatment of people with autism. An additional 73 percent believe behavior therapies are the most effective way to get autistic individuals to maximize their capabilities.
• About four of ten (39%) survey respondents know a person with autism. They had a better understanding of the disorder, except for its cause, than those who do not know someone with autism. Those who know someone with autism are more likely (21% vs. 17%) to believe the disorder was caused by a preservative once found in childhood vaccines.

Related posts:

1. Scott Center at Florida Tech Probing the Mysteries of Autism
2. Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
3. Florida Tech To Host Autism Conference