by Shawn Simpson
Staff Reporter
ssimps21@jccc.edu
The college is hosting the eighth annual Autism Conference this weekend for anyone affected by the disorder. The day-and-a-half-long event, in conjunction with the University of Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), will be held in the Regnier Center featuring plenary sessions with leading researchers and numerous smaller presentations throughout the event.
“We have a great, diverse group who come to this event each year, people who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the people who love and care for them,” said Christy McWard, director of marketing and event management for the college and co-chair of the Autism Conference. “We have two keynote speakers … in between are breakout sessions specialized to certain needs.”
The number of individuals with autism spectrum disorders have grown over the years, and the conference has worked to keep up with the most current research. Mary Jean Billingsley is another co-chair of the conference and has an adult son with Asperger’s Syndrome. She knows the importance of staying informed and engaged in the community.
“If I had access to this when my son was young or even in grade school or middle school, it would’ve been a tremendous help to me for many reasons,” Billingsley said. “One is finding out the most recent recommended assistance or support or programs that I could do to help him to connect and to learn at school, because social skills were a concern.”
This year’s conference is giving special attention to girls with ASD. “We will have special sessions regarding what it’s like to have this condition as a girl,” said Billingsley. “We will also have a sibling panel, which will include siblings of girls on the autism spectrum who will share their insights as to what they’ve done to help their sisters or to help a girl … to shed light on that is very appropriate because there’s not as much information.”
Emily McBride is receiving the Unsung Hero Award at the conference for her selfless support of her sister, Molly. Having been heralded in
her nomination for having “given her whole life to her sister” and that “her love for her sister is unconditional and obvious,” McBride points out more day-to-day challenges she faced with her sister.
“Sometimes [she] didn’t have a sense of possession. If I had a drink on the counter, I couldn’t just tell her it was mine. She might just come over and take it,” said McBride. “On the plus side, she laughed at all my jokes.”
For the caregivers of those with ASD, life can be a challenge, even if one that they embrace wholeheartedly. Conferences like this represent more than just a chance to get information on the latest trends in autism research.
“What I see every year … are the connections that form between the people who attend. There are people coming to this conference that don’t get a chance to get out and get this information because their whole lives are spent helping their son or daughter or a grandchild,” said Billingsley. “A day and a half to meet with other concerned people who are also concerned with helping their families be the best … they form these relationships. They come back to see each other! It’s a wonderful bond that forms and it’s amazing to see!”
The conference begins on Friday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. Registration is open at www.ksautismconference.org.