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Charities join forces to combat misdiagnosis and poor management of Autism and deafness
What: Autism and Deafness Conference presented by RNID and The National Autistic Society Where: Jury's Inn Nottingham, 46 London Road. Nottingham. NG2 3AB When: 9.00am - 16.00pm, Tuesday 21st October 2008 People with autism can find it incredibly hard to make sense of the world. Everyday life can be confusing or even frightening. Understanding and communicating with other people is particularly difficult - which can leave people very isolated. Life can be even more challenging if hearing loss is involved. There is currently very little information or support available to families or professionals around deaf autism. This is why RNID - the largest charity for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and The National Autistic Society (NAS) - the UK's leading charity for people affected by autism, have joined forces to present this conference raising awareness and knowledge of the issues. This joint event is an open invitation to all who would like to know more. It brings together leading practitioners in both fields and covers topics such as the support available, the difficulties that arise in issues such as diagnosis, assessment and communication as well as outlining practical strategies currently being developed. Approximately 550,000 people in the UK have some form of autism. While autism is a serious lifelong disorder, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people's lives. Research suggests that diagnosis is often later in people who are deaf due to the need for highly skilled communication and observation. Steve Carney, who works with people who are deaf and diagnosed with Autism and will be speaking at the conference, says: "Autistic spectrum disorders are often difficult to diagnose and manage and this is true for both hearing and deaf populations. As communication difficulty is a prominent feature, the added complication of deafness and the need to use the individual's own language can make for even greater difficulties. It is essential that people working in this field have the skills and knowledge of sign language and deaf awareness." The conference will also include ideas around best practice and some skills in working with people with complex needs. Mike Adamson, Executive Director of Individual Services at the RNID says: "Autism can be managed in most cases but early diagnosis is key. More awareness is needed around how best to ensure people with a hearing loss are diagnosed quickly and supported effectively. Both autism and deafness can be isolating. So once diagnosed we want individuals, families, care professionals and those in education and healthcare to be aware that effective ways of working do exist and support is available." Alan Bicknell, NAS Head of Support Programmes, said: "Autism can affect people's ability to communicate and make sense of the world around them. For deaf people with autism these issues are compounded. It is vital that professionals understand these issues so that they can effectively develop appropriate and timely strategies to allow these children and adults to reach their full potential. This conference will provide invaluable information for people working within this field." If you would like to attend contact The National Autistic Society Conferences and Events Department on 0115 911 3367 or email conference@nas.org.uk
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