Autism & Employment - Conference 2012

Autism and Employment A one day conference in Birmingham • Thursday 8th November 2012

Key information Date: Thursday 8th November 2012 Location: The Paragon Hotel, 145 Alcester Road, Birmingham, B12 0PJ Time: 9.00am - 4.30pm Delegate rates: Professionals/standard delegate - £80 (£70 early bird*) Parents/guardians/students - £60 (£50 early bird*) People with autism - £30 (£20 early bird*) Group booking discount: 6 places for the price of 5 *Completed booking forms must be received by 31st August 2012 to qualify for the early bird discount

Parking The Paragon Hotel is near to the city centre and has free car parking available to conference delegates.

Refreshments A two-course lunch and refreshments throughout the day are included in the delegate rate.

Who should attend?

•• People with autism •• Parents and carers of people with autism •• Employers •• Disability employment advisors and other employment support staff •• School and college staff and leaders •• Local authority staff and leaders •• Advocates

Conference themes

•• The use of the latest technology to aid employment •• The transition from education to employment •• Employment training •• Personal experiences of employment •• The economic importance of employment •• Advice for people with autism about obtaining and keeping a job •• Advice for employers who employ people with autism

Schedule: 09.00 - 09.30

Arrival and registration.

Hot and cold drinks and snacks will be available

09.30 – 09.40

Welcome and introduction

09.40 - 09.50

Autism West Midlands Autism and Employment: An Introduction

09.50 - 10.50

Professor Martin Knapp Autism: Some Economic Challenges

10.50 - 11.15

Break and refreshments

11.15 - 12.15

Dr. Elisabeth Hill Asperger Syndrome and Mental Health: Guidance for Employers

12.15 - 12.35

Autism West Midlands Introduction to Aspire

12.35 - 13.10

Aaron Yorke Autism and teaching

13.10 - 13.40

Lunch

13.40 - 14.40

Specialisterne Passion for details

14.40 - 15.05

Break and refreshments

15.05 - 15.50

Duncan Honeybourne Autism and the Music Industry

15.50 - 16.30

Pete Stevens - iSpectrum Serious Games, Autism and Employment

16.30

Conference closes

Speaker information Professor Martin Knapp Martin Knapp is an experienced researcher working in health and social care policy and practice. He works at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and King’s College London (KCL).

At the LSE, Martin is Professor of Social Policy and directs two research centres: the Personal Social Services Research Unit (since 1996) and LSE Health (since 2011). At KCL, he is Professor of Health Economics in the Centre for the Economics of Mental and Physical Health, which he established in 1993.

Since 2009, Martin has been director of the School for Social Care Research which was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) in England.

Dr Elisabeth L. Hill, PhD, C.Psychol.

Elisabeth Hill studied Psychology at Lancaster University, where her longterm interest in individuals with developmental disorders was cemented academically.

From there, she undertook her PhD at the MRC’s Applied Psychology Unit at the University of Cambridge, investigating motor difficulties in developmental coordination disorder (DCD, often referred to as dyspraxia) and specific language impairment.

Since then, she has focused her work on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and DCD at the University of Cambridge, UCL and in her current post as a Reader in Psychology and Head of Department in the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths (University of London).

Although Elisabeth and her research team are involved in a wide variety of projects, these now focus mostly on ASD and DCD, their causes and consequences. One example of Elisabeth’s work is the Autism & Employment Study that she set up with Dr. Joanna Yarker at Goldsmiths.

This study evaluates the employment experiences of adults with ASD, as well as of parents of a child with ASD. Duncan Honeybourne Duncan Honeybourne enjoys a colourful and diverse career as solo pianist, chamber musician, educator and artistic director.

Since his acclaimed debut at Symphony Hall Birmingham and the

National Concert Hall in Dublin in 1998, Duncan has played concerts and given recitals across the United Kingdom at major venues. He has broadcast solo works on BBC and RTE Radio and has toured with many distinguished artists. Duncan has become closely identified with 20th Century English piano music and several leading composers have dedicated work to him.

Duncan is an inspiring communicator in his work as piano teacher, masterclass tutor, lecture recitalist and occasional writer. He has devised and written several recital programmes blending words and music, and has created and directed several series of piano and chamber concerts.

In 1999, Duncan was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. Since then, he has become well known as a thought-provoking lecturer on his experiences of life on the autistic spectrum.

Aaron Yorke Aaron is a qualified special needs teacher with a PGC in Asperger Syndrome (AS) and has worked with young people with autism for the past 11 years. At the age of 30, Aaron was diagnosed with AS and has now been employed as an adult with AS for 7 years.

Prior to his diagnosis, Aaron struggled in employment and left many jobs as a result of his anxiety but he never understood what was wrong. Now that he is diagnosed, he is determined to remain in employment despite the common desire to run home whenever his anxiety reappears.

Aaron says: “I accept I have limitations, but also that I have powerful strengths. The challenge I face is learning to believe in myself enough to share with others what it means to have AS and how work colleagues can help support me in the working environment. When I have been supported, my teaching has thrived. However, sadly, there have been many times I have not been understood in the workplace, leaving me wondering why I put myself through such high levels of stress.

As an adult with AS, I believe it is possible to be in employment and be happy. It is possible to find a job where I can feel supported and accepted, where my anxieties are understood, where it is fine to walk around without my shoes on, where my casual comments are not deemed inappropriate and a place of work where I know that I am accepted and respected. I believe this kind of work place exists.

I haven’t found one yet, but one day…fingers crossed.”

Specialisterne Specialisterne Scotland’s overall aim is to create up to 60 new jobs between 2010 and 2014. 45 of these will be for people with ASD. Specialisterne’s focus is providing sustainable employment for people on the Autistic Spectrum. Jobs on offer will include software testing, web development and data handling services to leading IT and telecommunications companies, corporate and public sector organisations across Scotland.

Their mission is to utilise the characteristics of autism in a positive way to provide valuable services for the corporate and public sectors on market terms.

Their visions for the future: •• To provide individuals with ASD the opportunity to use and develop their special skills based on their own qualifications, strengths and ambitions; •• Offer new special skills to the business community in niche areas which demand insight, precision and regularity; •• Prove that people with ASD can be equal contributors to the development of our society; •• Compete on market terms and open offices nationally and internationally so as many people as possible with ASD will have the opportunity to realise their professional ambitions.

Pete Stevens - iSpectrum iSpectrum works to improve the work-based social interaction skills of people with autism, Aspergers and other related special needs. Through a virtual work environment, iSpectrum aims to increase the chances of people living with autism gaining employment. iSpectrum is an exciting European-funded project, creating a serious game for people living on the Autism spectrum and related learning difficulties. Through a virtual work environment, players have the opportunity to experience three different jobs, and carry out a series of tasks to develop employability and social interaction skills.

To support the game, an eLearning course for ASD practitioners has been developed. The course covers the principles and benefits of using a virtual work environment with people on the Autism spectrum and an introduction explaining how to use the iSpectrum game.

There is a programme of live Training and Dissemination events across Europe covering innovative ways to deliver social communication and interaction skills and how to use the tools.

Aspire - Autism West Midlands Aspire is a specialist advice service to help people with Asperger syndrome into employment. It is part of Autism West Midlands. We have more than 10 years experience working with Job Centres, employers and people with Asperger syndrome. We adopt a person centred approach, embrace special interests and adapt to needs. We have supported people in work goals that have included everything from Administration to Zoo Keeping!

Booking To book a place please visit www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/conference to download a booking form.

If you would like more information please email us on training@autismwestmidlands.org.uk or call us on 0121 450 7582.

About Autism West Midlands

There are more than half a million people in the UK living with autism; an invisible, misunderstood and lonely disability. 60,000 live in the West Midlands.

We are the leading charity in the West Midlands for people affected by autism. We exist to enable all people with autism and those who love and care for them to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. Our passionate, expert staff and volunteers work across all age groups and abilities, providing direct support to people affected by autism.

Contact us

Autism West Midlands Regent Court George Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1NU Email: General enquiries: hello@autismwestmidlands.org.uk Telephone: Main reception: 0121 450 7582 • Information helpline: 0303 03 00 111 Website: www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk

Find us on Facebook: Search “Autism West Midlands”

Follow us on Twitter: @autismwestmids Our vision is a world where all people on the autism spectrum have the specialist care and support they need to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.

Registered Charity Number: 517077 Registered Company Number: 1953344 (England and Wales)