(The following information is a summary of the conference by an attendee.  We recommend purchasing the audio tapes.  As we have tried to be as accurate as possible, we make no guarantee of the following content.)

The weekend of June 2nd to the 4th of 2000, I attended the most comprehensive autism conference I have been to yet.  The scope of information provided was very broad, but much still focused on the biological and medical research being conducted.

The first day was devoted to therapeutic interventions and I stayed for the first two speakers.

Raun Kaufman is a remarkable young man.  A recent graduate of Brown with a degree in Biomedical Ethics and an extraordinary speaker gave no impression whatsoever of being autistic.  At 18 months of age he was diagnosed as severely and incurably autistic.  Although advised to ultimately institutionalize their child, the Kaufmans instead created a program that enabled Raun to emerge completely from autism.  He is absolutely incredible to hear and  watch!!!!!  The program is called the “Son Rise” program and anyone can learn to do it.  The Option Institute in Sheffield, Mass provides training and has been founded by the Kaufman family.  More information can be obtained from their website at www.optioninstitute.com.

Dr. Stephen  is the director of the Center for the Study of Autism in Salem, Oregon.  He gave a very informative talk on the use and efficacy of Auditory Integration Training.  It is a method used to assist autistics in the processing of sounds and increasing auditory abilities and awareness.  For more information, see his website at www.autism.com.

The rest of day included the following speakers, whom I am sorry to say, I missed.

Dr. Patricia Lemer of The Developemental Delay Registry
Dr. Margaret Creedon - Director, Project Smart

Workshops held that evening were given by:
Joanne Busillo - Cal State Northridge; Floortime
Dr. Roger Cox - TEACCH and ABA
Raun Kaufman - Option Institute
 

The 2nd and 3rd days were devoted to medical research and interventions.

Dr. William Shaw began by sharing work he has conducted over the years concerning the role of yeast and fungal metabolites found in a great number of autistic patients.  However, the new information he shared with the group, that caught everyone’s interest, was that both DPP4 (involved in enzymatic activity) and DHPPA (involved in fungal activity?) seemingly play a major role in the biochemical dysregulation of our kids.   While I am sorry to say that I was not able follow all that he covered too well, I can say that it is worth reading about.  In fact, that will be my next endeavor, to learn all I can about this added aspect.  The next edition of his book, Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD, will include this new information.  For more information about his work and laboratory, see his website at www.greatplainslaboratory.com.
 

Dr. Sudhir Gupta gave us all a quick lesson in Immunology 101 and proceeded to share with us when, how  and why high dose IVIG is most successful with the autistic population.  He commented that a subset of autistic patients clearly fit a profile that involves genetic, immune and environmental factors (vaccines).  It is this subset of patients that he has worked with primarily and it is these that have responded, in some cases very well, to high dose IVIG.   He is professor of Neurology,  Pathology,  Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Irvine.  He also direct the Clinical Laboratory Immunology Training Program.  He does, indeed, see patients however, this must be arranged through the university.

Dr. James Bradstreet  shared his recent success with high dose IVIG treatments.  He is very well known for his work in treating patients with autism worldwide.  He has an excellent webiste, www.gnd.org, that is well worth a look.  His approach is comprehensive from the testing of a patient, to the nutritional supplementation aspect and to the treatment method used.

Karyn Seroussi, mother and author, covered the benefits of the casein and gluten free diet.  Her son has only received dietary intervention and today functions in a typical school without an aide.  He is indistinguishable from his peers and Karyn has been very kind to share her story with us in her book-Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and PDD.  This is an outstanding book and worth reading.