This summer’s 11th Annual
Southeastern Autism Symposium will feature keynote speakers Gina Gallagher and
Patricia Konjoian, sisters and authors of “Shut Up about your Perfect Kid: A
Survival Guide for Ordinary Parents of Special Children.”

The
symposium, titled “Lights, Camera, Autism!,” will be Friday, June 21, at Lee
University’s Helen DeVos College of Education.

Calling themselves
“imperfect parents” of “imperfect children,” Gallagher and Konjoian take a
comedic approach to the challenges faced by both parents and caregivers of
special needs kids and the children themselves.

Gallagher and
Konjoian were recipients of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Heroes in
the Fight Award in 2008 for their work in helping make life easier for those
with serious and persistent mental illness. They were also recognized as the
2011 award winners in the YWCA of Merrimack Valley’s Tribute to Women.

As part of their work in the special needs community, the sisters have written
and help produce The Imperfection Connection, a Web-TV program on Family Network
TV, a network dedicated to supporting and educating the special needs
community.

2013 marks the 70th year since autism was first described
as a developmental disorder by child psychiatrist Leo Kanner. Today, over 2
million Americans are living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder.
Geared toward parents, caregivers, medical professionals and educators of
individuals with autism, this year’s symposium hopes to provide attendees with
new tools to manage the complexities of autism.

Along with the
keynote addresses, there will be several breakout sessions including but not
limited to such topics as: Processing Difficulties of an Adult on the Spectrum,
Dealing with Tantrums, Video Modeling and the iPad, Keeping Your Marriage
Strong, Helping Individuals on the Spectrum Age Gracefully, and Meals for
Problem Eaters. Sessions begin at 8 a.m. on Friday. Participants will have the
option to attend sessions only, attend sessions and lunch only, or attend the
full event with lunch and dinner included.

During the week of the
symposium, Lee will host the 5th annual Camp Spectrum, a day camp for
individuals with autism ages 4 to adult. There will be activities on the Lee
University campus in addition to swimming at the YMCA and therapeutic horseback
riding. The camp runs Monday, June 17, through Thursday, June 20, 8
a.m.-noon.

The sponsors for the 2013 symposium include Elite
Behavior, Life Bridges, Orange Grove Center, and Signal Centers.

For
more information about the symposium visit http://autismsymposiumse.com  or
contact Karen Brown at 423-614-8192 or [email protected]. For
information on Camp Spectrum, please contact Dr. Kim Moffett at [email protected].