Where in the World is Dr. Stephen Shore?...Autism Society National conference, Dallas, Texas

Where in the World is Dr. Stephen Shore?...Well Dr. Stephen Shore is apt to be anywhere in the world, but almost always performing the same service:

“Improving life for people on the autism spectrum....

one trip at a time!”

This week Dr. Shore is at the Autism Society’s 41st National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders in Dallas Texas. On Friday Dr. Shore will be making a presentation called, ‘Including Children with Autism in the Music Curriculum: Playing Instruments and Beyond.’ He will be collaborating with Zosia Zaks on Saturday for the presentation, ‘Professionals on the Autism Spectrum: Insights From Our careers.’ Next week I have many questions regarding these two presentations for Dr. Shore, but there are lots of activities he has and will be participating in that are very interesting also.

The list of presenters this year is quite impressive...a veritable, “Who’s Who” in the autism world and this evening I would like to ask Stephen a few questions about the conference sessions he has attended so far.

Kathleen: Hello Stephen. I know there are all sorts of activities going on right now, and I really appreciate your taking the time to speak with me about the conference.

Stephen: Hi Kathleen. It’s a pleasure to report in from the conference and indeed there are many things going on. In addition to my schedule I gave you there are all sort of other events in conjunction with and in parallel with the event. For example, a number of autism-related organizations choose to have their own meetings at this conference because they know representations from all over the autism community are here. My work with the Autism Research Institute later today is one such example.

Kathleen: Oh, how exciting! From our earlier exchange I know that on Monday you arrived in Dallas and started your activities right away, planning with colleagues for the next day’s www.autism-society.org board meeting. On Tuesday (during said board meeting) you helped reviewed the budget, plan the transition to a new board structure and reorganization of the organization. So basically the first two days were spent in ‘housekeeping’ type affairs....that are very serious, and very necessary to the continuity of these autism organizations.

Stephen: That is partially correct. It was on Tuesday that the full-day “housekeeping” board meeting took place. Major topics covered included reviewing the budget and implementing the recent bylaws change transforming some of the major aspects of how the Autism Society is run.

Kathleen: Now yesterday, Wednesday, you made a presentation that I did not see on the conference schedule, and that was a co presentation with Dennis Debbaudt of www.autismriskmanagement.com, Bill Cannata, Kim Taylor, Jimmy Donahue, Dena Gassner, Sondra Williams, and Lars Perner training first responders (Police, EMS, Fire, etc) on safe encounters with people on the autism spectrum.

Did this presentation tie in with the safety in travel DVD that you are participating in and is due to be released in December? I believe I remember Dennis Debbaudt from the names of some people associated with that project.

Stephen: That is correct. The Safe Travel DVD is an extension of that work.

Kathleen: And today you were scheduled to Record video presentations with the Autism Research Institute (www.autism.com) on

- Issues and challenges related to safe encounters of people on the autism spectrum.

- Higher education and autism

- Autism and employment

How did the recording go? Were there any memorable moments from the experience?

Stephen: The recordings went great – at least that’s what the producers said :)

Kathleen: But of course :)....and I’m certain they did!

Stephen: They will be edited and become available on the website of the Autism Research Institute (www.autism.com). A lot of work goes on during these conferences. Today, I will wrap up the video recording with material on autism and safety.

Kathleen: That is so exciting. Also on today’s agenda was taking part in a panel of Professional Advisor Q and A from the audience, and your area of specialty was determining when it is appropriate to disclose to a person when they have autism. The question directed to you was the following:

My son "Tom" was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at approximately 2 years of age. He is now 8 years of age and doing very well. My question to the panel is this: When is the appropriate age to discuss your child's Autism with him? I appreciate any assistance that you can provide. Thank you, "Robert"

Can you share with us your response to this question, and the level of receptiveness to the response?

Stephen: Yes I can. Essentially I outlined a 4 step process for telling a person that they are on the autism spectrum emphasizing characteristics and strengths. Briefly, the protocol is...

1. Strengths and Challenges. Beginning with a discussion on the person’s strengths (such as computers, math or music). Then we start talking about challenges the person may have such as perhaps getting along with classmates, penmanship, or perhaps physical education. Once the person is comfortable talking about their own characteristic it’s time to get to stage two.

2. Line up Characteristics. Write these strengths and challenges in a two column list or other means of recording them. The goal, however, is to find at least one strength to accommodate for a challenge. An example might be to suggest that difficulties in penmanship can be adjusted for by typing papers instead of writing them by hand. Additionally, I avoid “weakness” because that there’s too much negativity associated with that word. Once there is a good “line-up” and understanding of characteristics, it is time to move on to step three.

3. Nonjudgemental Comparison is where we look at strengths and challenges of others that the child knows such as parents, other family members, and friends. This goal behind this step is to develop an awareness that different people have different strengths and challenges. No one is better than anyone else, but rather people use their strengths to lead fulfilling and productive lives. This can also be a time to discuss one or two potential well-known role models having – or that are believed to possibly have had – autism or Asperger Syndrome. For example, Stephen Spielberg may be brought up to a child having an interest in movies. However, it is important not to overdo this part of the discussion lest the child get discourage with the thought that they may not be able to obtain the successes of these well-known people.

4. Presenting the Label. I begin this stage by talking about scientists and doctors who study peoples’ characteristics – and it turns out that “your set of characteristics line up with what is known as autism or Asperger Syndrome.” That way the label becomes a why of explaining a condition rather than something that should be feared – perhaps like fitting in the last piece of a puzzle.

Kathleen: Very helpful steps Stephen. Here I am going to share the video you have posted on YouTube about this very issue.

Kathleen: There are once again, so many exciting things going on that I’m sure it is difficult for conference goers to decide which sessions to attend, because they don’t want to miss out on any of them....but your two presentations, one solo and one with in collaboration with Zosia Zaks, certainly seem the most entertaining of the offerings!

Particularly Including Children with Autism in the Music Curriculum: Playing Instruments and beyond , which you will be presenting on Friday, has to be one of the most popular sessions at the conference. Professionals on the Autism Spectrum: Insights From Our careers, on Saturday, with Zosia sounds intriguing as well.

I will check back with you after the conference to get a better feel for how these two presentations went and what some ‘take away moments’ were for you from the over all converence.

Thank you so much Stephen for your time during this extremely busy week.

Stephen: It was a pleasure sharing my experiences of the conference with you.

I’ll be updating as Stephen makes the rounds at various autism spectrum conferences, presentations and related functions. To catch our conversations, watch for the next:

Where in the World is Dr. Stephen Shore???