Autism-Europe aisbl is an international association whose main objective is to advance the rights of persons with autism and their families and to help them improve their quality of life. The association ensures effective liaison between approximately 85 member associations of parents of persons with autism in 31 European countries, including 20 Member States of the European Union, governments and European and international institutions.
With the support of ESCAP and IACAPAP, Autism Europe is now organising its 8th International Congress A World of Possibilities which will hosted by Autism Society Norway in Oslo on 31 August, 1 & 2 September 2007.
We believe that the flow of knowledge and interactions possible during this Congress will contribute to improving the everyday lives of persons with ASD and their prospects of leading a dignified life to the best of their potential.
Autism Europe’s congresses have always been highly valued as an important opportunity by scientific and clinical professionals, service providers, persons with autism and their parents. They provide an important opportunity to share knowledge and to raise awareness amongst everyone in the community involved with autism about state-of-the-art, evidence-based, practical solutions. The committed support and involvement of distinguished professionals in the field of autism has made the success of our events possible.
In Oslo we, as the Scientific Programme Committee, wish to focus on a broad exchange of knowledge, information, experience and ideas.
To achieve this goal the Scientific Programme committee has agreed upon the following three main focal points for the 8th International Congress Autism Europe.
State-of-the-art research will be presented by guest speakers, professionals of excellence in their disciplines, in a series of keynote lectures that will introduce and close the main symposia of each day.
In these symposia a case study, a diagnostic dilemma or a clinical treatment issue will be presented. This will be discussed and commented upon by experts from different disciplines, including parents. Renowned professionals and experienced parents will be invited to chair and monitor the symposia. The introductory statements will be the starting point of general discussions in which all will be asked to participate, regardless of their status or experience. The aim of the symposia will be to clarify the practical outcomes, values and implications of research in terms of its contribution to the quality of life and development of persons with ASD.
We all know from experience how important visualisation is. In Oslo, posters will be an important source of information and exchange of knowledge. We see them as a special opportunity for new generation researchers and operators in the field of Autism to present their work. For this reason, Posters will be organised to link in with the topics of the main sessions and participants will be given the opportunity to highlight the features of their posters in sessions chaired by eminent scientists and clinicians. This will serve as an introduction to the panel discussion on the central topic of the poster session.
Therefore we really hope that you will value the place we have reserved for posters in the Congress. In the Call for Papers and Posters we will put forward a list of topics that will be open to discussion in the symposia as described above and which are of significant current interest to both professionals and parents.
We look forward to receiving your papers and poster submissions, but especially to meeting you in Oslo and being able to share our knowledge in the certainty that your contributions will indeed open up a World of Possibilities in the lives of persons with ASD.
The Scientific Programme Committee
December 2005