The Autism Conference & Expo (ACE) of Georgia is an annual event that provides an unparalleled opportunity for sharing knowledge and resources about supports for individuals with autism and their families in Georgia. ACE represents the collaboration and contributions of an alliance of leading self-advocates family members, community partners, state agencies, and other stakeholders. This conference is an important component of the Autism Plan for Georgia.
ACE 2019, in its fifth year, focused on a theme of “Science, Research & Practice: From Innovation to Implementation”. There were 30 exhibitors, 10 featured sponsors, and over 260 attendees from all over the state. Keynote speaker Mark Durand gave a presentation on “An optimistic approach to helping individuals with challenging behaviors”, which highlighted the role of thoughts/beliefs in successful behavioral intervention, how they can impact challenging behavior, and techniques for creating more optimistic thinking when using behavioral interventions. Claire Dees, the Executive Director of Spectrum Autism Support Group (Spectrum) received the Outstanding Achievement award in recognition of her over 30 years’ experience and dedication to the field of disabilities, both as a parent and a professional.
The keynote and main presentations at ACE were simultaneously interpreted from English to Spanish on both days, in addition to a special Spanish-speaking track of sessions. There was also a Sensory Room, which was open to anyone who needed a safe space or “chill out zone” during the conference.
The 2020 Autism Conference & Expo will be held on May 13th and 14th at Georgia State University.