The inaugural South Texas Autism Symposium is set for Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Health Science Center’s Regional Academic Health Center Medical Education Division, 2102 Treasure Hills Blvd. in Harlingen.
Parents and health professionals throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley are invited. The distinguished speaker lineup includes the parent of an autistic child, a pediatric neurologist, a developmental pediatrician, an allergist, and researchers from the Health Science Center and U.T.-Pan American. The daylong symposium is $25 for the public (parents, students and other interested individuals) and $100 for professionals. Continuing education credits are available for physicians, educators, occupational therapists and social workers.
Autism is a developmental disability characterized by language impairment, deficits in communication and social interaction, and abnormal behavior, such as repetitive acts and excessive attachment to certain objects. Autism affects at least one in every 166 children nationally, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diagnostic rates are increasing 10 percent to 17 percent annually. The CDC estimates that every day, 66 children – nearly three per hour – are diagnosed with autism.
The South Texas Autism Symposium is jointly sponsored by the Valley Baptist Health System, the Autism Council for Educational Support and Scientific Studies (ACES), and the Health Science Center. The Valley Baptist Health System made available the continuing education units for physicians.
“ACES is a recently formed non-profit corporation that seeks grants and other donations to fund education and research on autism spectrum disorders here in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Dan Torres, registered occupational therapist and principal organizer of the symposium group. “The goal is to better serve the children and families affected by these disorders. One aim is to ensure improved early identification of children in the spectrum.”
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Carlos Cruz, D.D.S., who practices in Harlingen and McAllen, helped found ACES. He urged physicians and parents “not to waste time, or avoid” a diagnosis of autism. He notes that families can go to two psychology department faculty members at U.T.-Pan American, Cheryl Fielding, Ed.D., and Terry Overton, Ed.D., who evaluate children at an early age. “With good intentions, some parents may tend to hide or pamper these children,” Dr. Cruz said. He emphasized that education is key to the treatment of the autistic child.
Symposium sessions include “A Father’s Perspectives on Autism,” Jeff Sell; “Ask the Doctor, Ask the Parent,” Rodrigo Erana, M.D. and Marcos J. Valdez, M.D.; “The Pediatrician’s Role in Diagnosis and Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” C. Gladys Ajero, M.D.; “Adverse Reactions to Food/Additives That Are Involved in Autism and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder),” W. Ted Kniker, M.D.; “Environmental Exposures and Autism,” Ray Palmer, Ph.D., and Claudia Miller, M.D.; “Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule,” Drs. Overton and Fielding; and “Clinical Pharmacology for Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Alex Kudisch, M.D.
For more information or to register, contact Bertha Trevino at (956) 686-8485, fax 686-8489, or
berthat@buildingblocksrehab.com. Child care will not be available.
Contact:
Will SansomPhone: (210) 567-2579
E-mail:
Sansom@uthscsa.edu
