CARDIFF, Wales: Autism Cymru is very pleased to bring Donna Williams and John Clements to South Wales in the autumn to focus on talks regarding Challenging behaviours and ASD and Positive behaviour support and ASD.

Places will be limited, so please contact Jennie Thomas on 02920 463263 or email Jennie@autismcymru.org to book on. Booking forms can also be found in the library section of www. awares.org

On September 12, 2008, Donna Williams will give a seminar on Understanding and working with challenging behaviours in people on the autism spectrum. The seminar will take place at the Conference Centre at Esis, Trefforest, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Cost: Practitioner £45,  Parent/ Person with ASD £10

Autism spectrum conditions can effect the way people use their bodies, how they see, hear, physically experience their world.

ASCs can effect the way people make sense of and communicate information, how they work with their own emotions and other people, how their motivations and fears will be expressed. A significant percentage will also have additional health issues or mood, anxiety, compulsive, attention or attachment disorders. Any of these things can up the tempo of a broad range of challenging behaviours not just for the family, school, community and workplace, but most centrally, for the person themselves. Drawing on over a decade of experience as an autism consultant and her own experience with challenging behaviours, Donna's lecture will identify these issues and explore simple straightforward strategies which can reduce trouble spots and address challenging behaviours in more autism-friendly and autism-informed styles.

Donna Williams is a person diagnosed with autism, a sociologist and qualified teacher and the author of nine published books including Autism; An Inside Out Approach and her international best-selling autobiography, Nobody Nowhere (all available from Jessica Kingsley Publishers www.jkp.com ).

Donna is an internationally renowned public speaker, a consultant, as well as a sculptor, painter, composer and screenwriter.

On November 25, 2008, John Clements will give a seminar on Positive Behavioural Support and ASD. This event will aso take place at the Conference Centre at Esis, Trefforest, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Cost: Professional £105, Parent of child with ASD £35

This inspirational seminar will examine current practice in relation to positive behavioural support and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), exploring approaches that are not only effective, but help the individual to move on from behavioural and emotional challenges. It introduces SUMS in this process: the development of skills, Understanding, motivation and Support.

The seminar also explores models of understanding behaviour and how these are linked to both ASD and the person.

Detailed case studies will be incorporated into the seminar, outlining processes of behavioural support for two individuals on the spectrum of autism with differing needs and abilities. The case studies will look at behaviour in terms of context, concerns, themes, interventions and outcomes. Topics on the seminar include:

- A SUMS approach to behaviour change

- Behaviour and autism spectrum disorders: concerns, themes and approaches

- Models of understanding and responding to behaviour

- Detailed case studies

- Addressing anxiety and anger

- Working towards effective interpersonal supports

- Incorporating assessment into behaviour work

- How relationship styles can influence behaviour

This seminar will promote an increased understanding of the links between ASD and behaviour. It will provide a toolbox of practical strategies to use in the school, home or workplace and offer approaches to manage mood, anxiety and anger. It will benefit practitioners working with individuals with ASD of all ages, who engage in behaviours regarded as challenging, irrespective of ability or specific diagnosis. It will also be of use to parents of individuals with ASD.

John Clements is a clinical psychologist now in private practice. John was co-founder of Applied Psychology Services, the first independent psychology practice in the UK specialising in developmental disabilities. He was the originator of the STAR Approach, a system of analysing behaviour used in many services in the UK. John is a prolific writer. His books include Problem Behaviour & People with Severe Learning Disabilities: The STAR approach (1994); Behavioural Concerns & Autistic Spectrum Disorders (2000); Assessing Behaviours Regarded as Problematic for People with Developmental Disabilities (2002); People with Autism Behaving Badly: Helping people with ASD move on from behavioural and emotional challenges (2005). In addition, John has contributed chapters in many books and published numerous papers in peer- reviewed journals.

Target audience for both seminars: professionals working in all disciplines at all levels as well as parents of children with ASD will benefit from this insightful course.

For more information, contact Jennie Thomas, Autism Cymru's Event Manager (telephone: 02920 463263 or e-mail: jennie@autismcymru.org).

(Source: Autism Cymru, July 7, 2008)