On July 5-6, 2010, major strides were made towards the autism epidemic, as the NY based, global non-profit, the International Center for Autism Research and Education (Icare4autism) hosted the 2010 International Autism Conference in Jerusalem, Israel. The grand event featured 30 speakers from around the globe and was held at the newly renovated Ramada- Renaissance.

Icare4autism’s 2010 International Autism Conference brought in over 500 attendees, to the Holy Land, from around the globe. Attendees included educators, researchers, and those touched by autism. This conference was Israel’s first major international autism conference.

The first-annual conference, aimed at connecting professionals from around the globe, to synchronize the research and various methods of successful autism treatment. At the conference, professionals discussed their latest research and findings in the medical and educational fields. Conference attendees glowed throughout the event as participants enjoyed connecting to better the lives of the 1 in 91 children diagnosed with autism.

Icare4autism’s Founder and President, Joshua Weinstein, made it a special point to speak with as many attendees as possible. Weinstein told me that he feels “fortunate to be able to provide this and educational event.”

In addition to the autism professionals, there were more special speakers. The event's opening address featured Yuri Geiron, the President of the Israel Bar Association. Geiron spoke about his own experience with having a child with autism.

Later, in the day, at a special afternoon award ceremony and address, Israel's Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Hershkowitz, spoke to the attendees. Hershkowitz, also took time to leave a video message for online viewers.

Video footage of the speakers presentations will be available online, at www.icare4autism.org, beginning within the next month. Some of these presentations will be available to view at no-cost, some will be for sale, at a small cost.

To view the entire gallery of conference photos, on Flickr, please CLICK HERE. Over 200 more photos, coming soon!

Sponsors, affiliates and partners for the event included UJA Federation of New York, Shema Kolainu- Hear Our Voices: School and Center for Children with Autism, Ben Gurion University, Bar Ilan University, Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, Assaf Harafeh Medical Center and more.

Speakers for the event, in alphabetical order, included: Kenneth J. Aitken, PhD. (Scotland), Dafna Ben Bashat, Ph.D. (Canada), Esther Ben Yitzchak, Ph.D. (Israel), Doreen Ben Shalom, Ph.D. (Israel), Agantino Battaglia, M.D, DNeurol (Italy), Yoram Bonneh, Ph.D. (Israel), W. Ted Brown, M.D, Ph.D. (USA), Eitan Eldar, Ph.D., BCBA-D (Israel), Kenneth D. Gadow, Ph.D (USA), Eynat Gal, Ph.D. (Israel), Doreen Granspeesheh, Ph.D., BCBA, Lior Greenbaum, MD (Israel), Tal Kenet, Ph.D. (USA), Yoav Kohn, M.D. (Israel), Dhavendra Kumar, M.D. (Wales, UK), Amos Rolidor, Ph.D., BCBA (Israel), Lauren Schreibman, Ph.D. (USA), Stephen von Tetzchner, Ph.D (Israel), Sigal Tidhar Paz, MA, BCBA (Israel), Tamar Weiss, Ph.D. (Israel), Ditza Zachor, M.D. (Israel), Gil Zalsman, M.D. (Israel), Ofer Zeevy (Israel), and Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, M.D. (Canada).