MAKING SENSE OF AUTISM: Workshop Logistics

BACKGROUND: Dr, Travis Thompson has conducted training throughout the US and in foreign countries for the past two decades. He is an acknowledged expert in autism from early childhood through adult services. He is the author of "Making Sense of Autism" (2007) and "Dr. Thompson's Straight Talk on Autism" (2008) a book for parents, teachers and therapists, and "Freedom from Meltdowns: Dr. Thompsons Solutions for Children with Autism", to be published by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company in early 2009. Dr. Thompson is available to provide intensive on-site workshops for staff, students, trainees of organizations and agencies, as well as parents of children with autism and related developmental disabilities affiliated with those agencies. While he may be able to tailor make a workshop for a specific occasion, that generally requires more planning and may involve additional cost. Two-day workshops may involve presentation of the same material to two different audiences on successive days, or presentation of different workshop content to a single audience. He currently provides three workshops: TOPICS: "Making Sense of Autism" Workshop topics include: 1. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Diagnosis and Intervention 2. Early Intervention and School Transition for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 3. Psychotropic Medications & Behavioral Interventions for Individuals with Autism and Related Disabilities PLANNING: Agencies wishing to schedule a workshop should contact Dr. Walt Antonow of Behavior Intervention Specialists, Inc. In order for workshops to be effective, careful planning by the host organizationa is required. That is the purpose of these Workshop Logistics. FORMAT: Lectures, PowerPoint slides and brief video clips will be used to present most of the material. Questions and discussion follow sections of the presentation. WORKSHOP SPONSORSHIP: Workshops are sponsored by an organization or agency that assumes responsibility for all on-site logistics and for paying the presenter's travel expenses and fee. The presenter does not collect registration fees from those in attendance. LOCATION: The workshop venue is provided by the sponsoring organization. Characteristics of a suitable venue are listed under LOGISTICS. DURATION: Workshops are for one day or two days in a single location. Workshops are from 8:30 to 3:30 unless arranged otherwise. LOGISTICS:: Room and Coordination: Local coordinators make arrangements for an appropriate size room with suitable comfortable seating, that can be darkened for showing PowerPoint slides. Seating must be adequate taking into consideration any posts or interferences in sight lines from the audience to the projection screen and the speaker's podium. If the room has windows, it must have heavy draperies or blinds to block out light. Doors that can be closed during the presentation are necessary to reduce competing sounds. Overhead lighting that falls on the projection screen must be dim-able. Generally classroom style seating is most effective. The following seating arrangements are NOT suitable: (1) round tables (2) benches (3) easy chairs/sofas (4) several long tables arranged in a rectangle or polygon (5) cafeteria or lunchroom tables and benches or chairs. AV Equipment: Dr. Thompson will bring his own laptop computer and LCD projector. A wireless lapel microphone with an extra battery will be provided by the host organization, with suitable loudspeakers for the room size. The room should be equipped with a square front projection screen and 4-foot long table parallel to the screen approximately 8 feet away, for the laptop and projector. Screen size should be 8 X 8 feet for audiences of 20-60 people, 10 XX 10 feet for 60-80 people, and 12 X 12 feet for 80-120 people. Most larger auditoriums are equipped with screens appropriate for the audience size. Electrical outlets: A electrical cable (110VAC) from an AC power source to the above table, provided with at least two outlets (sockets) for plugging in the laptop and projector is required. The cable should be taped to the floor with heavy 3-4 inch wide tape to prevent audience members from tripping over the wire. Registration: Local coordinators are responsible for handling registration of attendees and collection of any fees. On-site registration typically opens at 8:00am and the workshop begins at 8:30am. Breaks: are 10-15 minutes long at approximately 10:15am and 2:15pm with a one-hour lunch break. Refreshments: While refreshments are not mandatory, experience has shown attendees generally expect coffee, pastries and juice in the morning before beginning, and, during the morning break, and soft drinks or bottled water during the afternoon break. Refreshments are the responsibility of the local host organization. Lunch: Whether lunch is provided is at the discretion of the local host. Bear in mind that the lunch break is for one hour, so if lunch is provided on site, it would need to be provided in a different nearby room. Parking: The local host will assure that there is ample parking available for attendees. Accessibility: Mobility, hearing and visual supports for audience members will be provided by the host organization, as needed, in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act. HANDOUTS: The verbal content of all PPT slides will be provided as a printed black and white 8 X 11 inch stapled handout. Images of people shown during the presentation will not be included in the handout to protect their privacy. A list of key references will also be provided. The first 25 handouts will be provided at no additional charge. Additional copies of the handout will cost $1.50 per copy. Handouts will be shipped to the host organization via UPS several days before the workshop. CONTINUING EDUCATION: All people in attendance will receive a certificate of attendance. CE credits are provided for Psychologists and Behavior Analysts. TRANSPORTATION & LODGING: Dr. Thompson will make his own airline or other transportation arrangements, typically booking B, K, M or Y class airfares, depending on availability, which will be fully reimbursed by the host agency. If final workshops arrangements have not been confirmed in writing prior to 21 business days before the event, it is possible transportation costs may substantially increase, so advance planning is advisable. LODGING: If the host organization books the event hotel, it is recommended they follow the Northstar Travel Media hotel rating system for three star (full service hotel standard) or four star hotels (above average hotel). SCHEDULE: Dr. Thompson typically arrives in the afternoon or early evening the day before the workshop and departs on a 5:30-7:00pm flight on conclusion of the workshop. If the workshop is for two days, a dinner may be arranged with host organizers and their guests for the evening of the first day. CONSULTATION: In lieu of a second workshop day, Dr. Thompson is available for case consultation at the same daily fee. Dr. Thompson is unable to bill individual clients for his services. Fees and other details are available from Dr. Antonow at (662) 234-1640 or he can be contacted via the Behavior Intervention Specialists website http://bisoxford.com