In this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Sameer Dahar, non-vocal autism expert and advisory board member of the US Autism Association discusses his unique insights and perspectives on sensory processing, language development, and learning for diagnosed individuals who are primarily non-vocal with his colleague and friend Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman.

In this session, Dr. Marlo Payne Thurman, President of the US Autism Association, Jeffrey Freed, author of the popular book Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World and autistic himself, and Dr. Richard Williams, autism expert, researcher, and parent of an adult daughter with autism discuss the complex topic of cognition and intellectual ability in autism.

Attorney Carol Weinman is a nationally recognized expert in autism spectrum disorders and criminal law. In this session, Ms. Weinman discusses the important topic of police encounters with individuals on the autism spectrum, as well as the importance of training and education for police, who may not realize they are dealing with a person who may not understand what they are even being asked to do.

Dr. Robin Brewer explains why it is crucial for students to be taught with the presumption that they can achieve. During the session she explains the important role classroom peers can have and discusses what the least restrictive environment means along with the current research on student outcomes in the classroom.

Vicki Clarke, Speech Language Pathologist and AAC Specialist, discusses communication, speech, and the tools we use to help individuals with Autism develop speech and language skills.

This session gives an in-depth discussion of how those with autism are affected by the criminal justice system. Carol Weinman, Esq. is both a parent of a child with autism and a defense attorney which has allowed her to have a unique expertise in this field.