AUTISM NETWORK INTERNATIONAL
Presents
AUTREAT 2002: Exploring Our Paths
June 24-27, 2002, Brantingham, NY
(4 pm Monday to 1 pm Thursday)
What is Autreat?
Program
Continuing Education Units
A special note about social interactions
Registration fees
Registration form
Funding
Brochure in PDF format: Two legal-size pages Four letter-size pages
What is Autreat?
Autreat is a retreat-style conference run by autistic people, for autistic people and our friends. Family members and professionals are also welcome, but the structure and content of Autreat are determined by the interests of autistic people.Autreat focuses on positive living with autism, NOT on causes, cures, or ways to make us more normal.
Autreat is designed to be ‘autistic space.’ This is sometimes confusing or uncomfortable for non-autistic people attending. If you’re new to ANI and unfamiliar with Autreat protocol, please carefully review the information in this brochure and on the ANI web site, and contact ANI if you have questions. If you aren’t sure you’re ready for three days of total immersion, you might consider registering for days only and commuting from a local motel.
Things that will be different about Autreat this year
- Dates in late June instead of late August
- Monday through Thursday, instead of Sunday through Wednesday
- YET ANOTHER ALL NEW MENU :-)
- Upgraded children's program: more staff and choices of activities
- New location: Autreat 2002 will be held at a retreat center in the Adirondack State Park. The new location offers better accessibility for people with mobility impairments. Cabins have lights and electricity, and are a little bigger, warmer, and have better beds than the ones at our previous location. Cabins are shared with other attendees. Room dividers, or ceiling beams from which to hang blankets or curtains, can be used to create more private spaces.
Things that will be the same about Autreat
- Autreat is still FOR autistic people, not just ABOUT us.
- Open, outdoor camp setting with plenty of room to get away and be alone or with friends
- Smoke-free, perfume-free environment
- Opportunity to explore autistic social contacts, if desired
- Respect for the choice to be left alone, if preferred
- Focus on positive aspects of autism
- Hiking, swimming, ball courts, and campfires are available at the new location.
For Autreat information via Internet, check out our web page:
PROGRAM
WORKSHOPS
We have confirmed workshops on a variety of subjects of interest to the Autistic community, including autism and sociology, developing service plans around autistic strengths, getting along with NT family members, dietary concerns of autistic people, inertia, and consumer-directed personal assistance. Other workshops are still under development. Check our web site for ongoing updates.OPTIONAL CERTIFICATE TRACKS
You may earn a certificate by attending a group of seven workshops chosen to reflect a certain theme. Certificates will be offered this year in Advocacy and in Autistic Living.You do not need to be in a certificate track--this is purely optional.
You are free to attend any workshops you want, as many or as few as
you want, or not to attend any workshops at all.
SPECIAL INTENSIVE COURSESPeople in these courses will spend part of each day meeting together in special group sessions, and part of each day attending general Autreat workshops.Child Care Training (Director: Claire Waldron): For teens (minimum age 14) and adults interested in caring for autistic children. Includes workshop sessions, supervised practice, and a practical exam. People signing up for this course are assumed to already have training and experience in general child care. The Autreat course will cover special issues in caring for autistic children. If you want to sign up for the Autreat child care course, please send documentation of your training and experience in child care. Support Persons for Autistic People (Director: Jim Sinclair): For autistic people interested in employing support people, and for anyone interested in working as a support person for an autistic person. Previous experience using or being a support provider is not required. THERE IS NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR THESE COURSES, BUT ADVANCE REGISTRATION
IS REQUIRED.
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Continuing Education Units
Autreat has been approved for Continuing Education Units through the Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University.A special note about social interactions
For some ANI members, meeting other autistic people and having a chance to socialize with others like ourselves is an exciting and wonderful experience. Others are not interested in social contacts and may come to this event just for the workshops. Some of us are interested in socializing some, but need to be able to take time out from interacting. Autreat is meant to provide opportunity, but not pressure, for social interactions.If you are coming to meet other autistic people, please understand that some people will also want to meet you, but some will not be into meeting people, and their own choice must also be respected.
If you want to come but do not want to meet or talk to people, you are still welcome to attend. You will be given a color-coded badge which you can use to indicate if you want to be approached only by people you already know, or don't want to be approached at all by anyone.
If you are a parent, a teacher, or other service provider, and are bringing an autistic child or student or client because you hope the person will make social connections with others, please adopt the same position of providing opportunity, but not pressure.
If you need personal asistance
ANI is not able to provide personal assistance for people who need help caring for themselves or participating in this program. If you need help with self-care, communication, orientation, or behavior control, please make your own arrangements to have someone with you to assist you.Funding
In the past, people have successfully applied for funding from sources such as local autism societies, family support agencies, state commissions on developmental disabilities, Arc chapters, and public schools.Read A Short Course on Autreat Funding by Jim Sinclair, for more information.
