MAAP Services Conference Oct 1-2, 2008- CANCELLED

[Jen]

Always one of my favorites! Great speakers including Brenda Smith Myles, Cathy Pratt, Stephen Shore- see the following for details!

www.maapservices.org
 
 
 2008 ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR

Wednesday, October 1st & Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Indianapolis, IN

MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome


PRESENTS ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

“Knowledge Is Power”



IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
INDIANA RESOURCE CENTER FOR AUTISM
INDIANA INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND COMMUNITY, INDIANA UNIVERSITY
At The
Sheraton Hotel, Keystone Crossing


Featured Presenters

Pam Anderson  Lara Blanchard Blackwell Family
Alyson Beytien Michael John Carley Sonia Chand
Catherine Davies Julie Donnelly Melissa Dubie
Teresa Grossi Brian Ketzner Brian King
Rick Kresse Dr. Bennett Leventhal Michael McManmon
Susan Moreno Brenda Smith Myles Stephen Shore
Cathy Pratt Marci Wheeler
 
 
    sadly, this conference has been cancelled due to low registration. Here's hoping its just a temporary setback- these guys do great work!

[KAT]

Hi Jen,

It seems as if this conference would be very beneficial for Aspergerger parents and my husband and I are interested in attending.  However, the fees for these can be a big budget buster for many families (ours included).  How do most families afford to attend?  If you are an educator or someone in the medical field and have your fees paid, that's one thing.  But for the average couple or family to attend, you're talking upwards of a thousand dollars once you factor in hotel, gas and conference fees.  Any suggestions?  Do you think these conferences are a good value?  Will we get enough out of them to justify the expense?  We've never been to one so we don't know what to expect.  Do children benefit from attending or are activities and speakers geared towards adults?

[Jen]

hey, kellee,
i emailed you privately, but thought i'd post some info here as well. MAAP is a wonderful conference for those on the high functioning end of the spectrum esp. i know what you mean about the cost- we speak at conferences and some of them are 'pay your own way', such as ASA next week- not terrible for single professionals with some program backing them, but trying to travel with all 6 of us and not so much backing... well, its a challenge- but we do enjoy going.
in the past my school district has been very helpful in sending me to conferences such as MAAP- but budget cuts (dont get me started on our school baoard) have dried up that help. there are a few resources on the state level. in indiana, there's in*source and the governor's council on disabilities that have funds available- you have to fill out paperwork - early- but i've used them both on a few occasions- and the folks at in*source are so helpful.
i'm sure other states have funds available as well- you just have to dig and ask around.
good luck!

ps- one other option i mentioned in my email to you, sometimes conferences offer free registration to folks who will volunteer to work a part of the conference- i know NATTAP in Nov in ohio is one of those- way worth it to attend, always ask. there are ways besides just paying out of pocket!