By Doug Nadvornick, College of Medicine
SPOKANE, Wash. – A conference focused on supporting young adults with autism will be 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Center for Clinical Research and Simulation (formerly the South Campus Facility) at Washington State University Spokane.
The event costs $75, which includes lunch. Register at https://store.nwautism.org/?product=autism-all-grown-up.
“Much of the autism support in our country is focused on younger children and helping to meet their needs,” said Georgina Lynch, assistant professor in WSU speech and hearing sciences and one of the conference speakers.
“But as those children get older, there isn’t as much help available,” she said. “Many young adults struggle as they try to find jobs, navigate college and maintain adult relationships. Others struggle with accessing appropriate independent and supportive living resources.”
Intended for parents, social service providers and people in education, the conference will feature topics such as helping people with autism make the transition to adulthood, including how and where to find support as they go through college.
The keynote speaker will be Gary Stobbe, a Seattle neurologist and director of the Adult Transition Program at the University of Washington’s Seattle Children’s Autism Center. Speakers will include young adults, representing all levels of autism, sharing their personal experiences.
Sponsors include WSU Health Sciences Spokane and the Northwest Autism Center.
News media contacts:
Georgina Lynch, WSU Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, 509-358-7691, georgina.lynch@wsu.edu
Dawn Sidell, WSU and Northwest Autism Center, 509-328-1582, Dsidell@nwautism.org
