I attended the AutismOne/Generation Rescue 2012 Conference over Memorial Day weekend, so I’ve been home for a full week now. Many people have asked me (in person and via private messages) how the event was…it was…in one word – INTENSE. With so many tremendous presenters, vendors, and opportunities to network and connect with other registrants; both years I have attended A1, I’ve left feeling completely exhausted. Good exhausted, though!
Traveling with a dear friend (made along this journey) made the time spent en-route and in the conference hotel that much sweeter. We found countless reasons to laugh, several reasons to cry and many reasons to celebrate as we reconnected with old friends and met new ones along the way. We arrived after the culinary day had already taken place, but dove in head first the next morning ready to learn, learn and learn some more!

Last year I attended my first AutismOne/Generation Rescue conference in Chicago. It. Was. Amazing. So much great information…so many amazing speakers…so many tremendous vendors – all in one place. That’s why I’m looking forward to attending this year’s AutismOne/Generation Rescue conference again this year being held May 23-27th.
The line up of speakers is nothing short of stellar. (Think: Jenny McCarthy, Virgina Breen, Dan Burns, Andrew Wakefiled, Jeff Bradstreet, Mayer Eisenstein, Martha Herbert, Kerri Rivera, Michael Linden, Mark Blaxill & Dan Olmstead and so, so many more.)
Now, if you’re unable to take off of work or leave your child(ren) at home with someone else, fear not – the entire conference will be streamed live HERE!

This is Adina Rich’s second guest blog for AutismSpot. Adina is a mother of three and is the Chief Education Officer at Rich Educational Consulting. You can read her first guest post HERE. We welcome your comments below. Also, we welcome your comments and thoughts on Facebook and Twitter.
HOW TO ENSUSRE THE NEEDS OF YOUR CHILD BE MET IN THE SCHOOL SETTING
By Adina Rich
“…People say believe half of what you see,
Son, and none of what you hear.
I can't help bein' confused
If it's true please tell me dear?... Cuz I heard it through the grapevine.”
These are the lines of a popular song from the 60’s sung by the late Marvin Gaye, but could just as easily have been written today about programming for kids with ASD. School districts often have difficulty recognizing what an individual child with ASD needs based upon their observations and parent feedback - not on what they’ve “heard” works with kids with ASD.

On Saturday I participated in an extremely helpful meeting with fellow moms and dads raising children with ASD involved in a support group aptly named: Warrior Parents of Dallas. The group, founded run by Jennifer Talley Keefe, offers excellent monthly meetings with guest speakers and ongoing support via email newsletters and an active Facebook presence. While the group is primarily made up of mothers, there are several active fathers and even a few dedicated therapists who attend on a regular basis. This past Saturday, Jennifer organized a post-conference “roundtable” where parents who attended the Autism One conference in Chicago last week reported our “Top 5 Take-Aways,” shared our impressions and answered questions. The room was packed and the response on Facebook from those who attended was extremely positive. As such, I decided to pass along this stellar idea so that interested parents, therapists and educators across the globe can consider adopting a similar model in the future!

I’ve just returned from an intense 5 days in Chicago at the Autism One 2011 conference. Let me just say: it was amazing. I learned so much in the tremendous sessions and connected with many of the phenomenal speakers. I can hardly wait to report on some new insights gained at A1 over the coming months. But today, I'm excited to share something that caught me by surprise; a blessing that blossomed at home in my absence…
Since we’ve worked so hard over the past four years utilizing special diets, biomedical interventions and traditional therapies to help Ethan heal and develop, he has made some excellent progress. Knowing that he’s in a good place made it easier to leave him for 5 days for a big event like A1. But, as Ethan’s primary caregiver, he and I spend a great deal of time together. We’re both accustomed to "our time" and he thrives on many of our set weekly routines. (Like most kids on the Autism Spectrum, Ethan relies on routines to feel safe and confident in his varied environments.) Ethan and my husband, Greg, have a very close relationship, but they just don’t get a bunch of one-on-one time without me around – especially for 5 days at a time.
While I was in Chicago, Greg worked to fill Ethan’s days with some pretty fun outings and events. They went bowling, played arcade games and spent an entire afternoon/evening with my in-laws. And, they attended a Texas Rangers game together on Friday night and had an outstanding time. When I called Saturday morning to check in, Greg shared a story that brought me to tears in Chicago (and then made me laugh out loud). I’ll paraphrase their conversation while driving home late at night:

Last October I wrote about connections with other parents on this journey HERE after Jenny McCarthy spent some time in Dallas with a group of Warrior Parents during a book tour for her most recent book: Love, Lust & Faking It. This week, as I prepare to travel to Chicago to attend the 2011 Autism One Conference with Jenny McCarthy keynoting with Byron Katie, I can’t help but recall that evening and get excited about making new connections and deepening existing connections in Chicago.

Over the past few months, I have been blessed to attend several conferences and workshops related to Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger’s Syndrome. I’m always eager to learn more, meet new people and return home with a renewed sense of encouragement, stamina and hope.
Late last fall, I attended a tremendous event hosted by the NAA (National Autism Association). Holly Robinson Peete keynoted the conference and there were countless amazing speakers on hand to discuss treatment options for our kids. On Monday, I helped to organize a presentation and book signing with Mark Blaxill and Dan Olmsted, authors of THE AGE OF AUTISM. This week I am attending a local conference hosted by the FEAT-NT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment – North Texas).