Conferences on Autism and Learning Disabilities
Resources for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Oct 25, 2008
Often parents shy away from attending a conference that is focused on their child’s disability. There are several reasons that this happens.
- Parents may feel that conferences are primarily for professionals.
- They may feel that they already understand their child better than any of the professionals.
- Attending a conference may seem to be too expensive.
- Attending a conference may seem to be too hard to coordinate with home and work responsibilities.
Find the Right Conference
Every area of special need has conferences and workshops. Here are some ways to research which ones are a good match.
Bookmark sites that specialize in listing conferences for the specific disability. The Autism Conferences website allows visitors to search by state to find a conference that is nearby.
Bookmark the websites of specific organizations that will have conference listings. Many organizations have national can regional (or even local chapters). The Learning Disabilities Association of America has a national chapter as well as state chapters, many with conferences that offer important resource information for parents.
Look for the workshops and conferences that are advertised in magazines. If one is unfamiliar it is important to check with other parents are school personnel to make sure it the kind of conference that is desired.
Ask parents and professionals to recommend conferences that focus on needed information. Once a great conference is found, make sure to spread the word to other parents.
Type in a general search using the name of the disability and the name of the state. Often one link leads to another. The time spent searching on the computer can be well worth the information about which conference to attend.
Cut Conference Costs
There are many ways to cut the cost of a conference. Many conferences allow participants to sign up for a part of the conference. Lodging and meals may be optional, especially expensive conference banquets. Some conferences offer a reduced fee for members of their organization or for those who volunteer to work a part of the conference.
Make Home and Work Arrangements to Be Away
Parents of a child with special need often feel that there is little time to take care of the day to day needs of their child, home, and job. Conference attendance may seem completely out of the question. Look for childcare options (close friends, relatives) or have one spouse attend the conference while the other mans the fort at home.
Parents do have the inside track on their own children. No parent, however, can walk away from a conference without new insights and strategies to try. No one can walk away without making important connections with others. Consider the benefits of a conference and take some time to find a good match. Remember that the purpose of attending the conference is to help the child and the family.
 |
