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Tourette Syndrome Foundation 2009 Conference

The TSFC annual conference is rotated among cities across Canada to provide accessibility to our members and the public in the various regions. The annual conference includes meet and greet sessions, workshops, presentations, the educator track, and a closing banquet. It is a great opportunity for those with TS or those affiliated with someone with TS to interact, discuss, laugh and cry, and to learn new techniques for coping with this disorder. The TSFC Annual General Meeting is held in conjunction with the annual conference to conduct the business of the foundation in accordance with our bylaws.

2009 National Conference "Through Ages & Stages"

Dates:

Location:

Autism Canada 2009 Conference

AutismOne and Autism Canada are proud to present the inaugural AutismOne/Autism Canada Conference.

The 2-day main conference will be held Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, preceded by a 1-day training program for practitioners, on Friday, October 30.

Featuring over 20 of the most highly respected names in the autism community the conference provides the most up to date information to help your child. From implementing the best biomedical treatments to realizing the benefits of educational therapies to adolescence and adulthood issues the conference brings you the answers to be your child’s most effective healer and powerful advocate.

Changing the course of autism will take cooperation and communication. We believe the conference is a most needed step in the international effort to end the epidemic. Join us to learn how it begins with one mother and one child recovering and then another and another and another and in our common future of care, treatment, recovery and prevention that includes you.

Saturday, October 31
Track 1 - Room 2158: JJR MacLeod Auditorium : Biomedical Treatments
8:00-8:30	Welcome
8:30-10:00	Keynote: Dr. Martha Herbert
10:00-10:30	break
10:30-11:30	Dr. Rossignol: Biomedical Model of Autism
11:30-12:30	Dr. Jon Pangborn: Dysbiosis and Metabolic Dysfunctions in Autism
12:30-1:45	Lunch
1:45-2:45	Dr. Bill Walsh: Oxidative Stress in ASD
2:45-3:45	Dr. Wendy Edwards: Biomedical Treatments for Autism - an Overview
3:45-4:00	break
4:00-5:00	Dr. Derrick MacFabe: What Novel Research Is Telling Us
5:00-6:00	Rudi Verspoor, DMH: A Comprehensive Homeopathic Approach to ASD

Track 2 - Room 3153: Behavior/Education/Communication Therapies
8:00-8:30	Welcome
8:30-10:00	Keynote: Dr. Martha Herbert
10:00-10:30	break
10:30-11:30	Dr. Marianna Ofner & Manon Noiseux: The
	Epidemic of Autism in Canada
11:30-12:30	Pam Ferro, RN: GI Issues and Autism
12:30-1:45	Lunch
1:45-2:45	Dr. Lauren Underwood: Best practices model- integrate ABA and biomed
2:45-3:45	Sueson Vess: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind - Special Diets
3:45-4:00	break
4:00-5:00	John DeMarco: Understanding Relationship Development Intervention
5:00-6:00	Dr. Stephen Shore - Successful Transition to Adulthood
Sunday, November 1
Track 1 - Room 3154: Biomedical Treatments
8:00-9:00	Dr. Bryan Jepson: Understanding Biomedical Treatment Options
9:00-10:00	Sonja Hintz, RN: Understanding Laboratory Testing for Parents
10:00-10:30	break
10:30-11:30	Dr. Paul Hardy: Epilepsy in Autism - An Overview
11:30-12:30	Dr. Richard Frye: Abnormal Energy Metabolism in Children with Autism
12:30-1:45	Lunch
1:45-2:45	Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou: Oxytocin and Autism
2:45-3:45	Jonathan Alderson: Practical Education Strategies

Track 2 - Room 3153: Behavior/Education/Communication Therapies
8:00-9:00	Dr. James Partington: Interventions for the Acquisition of Verbal Behavior
9:00-10:00	Valerie MacLean: HANDLE Helping
	Extraordinary People Do Ordinary Things
10:00-10:30	break
10:30-11:30	Dr. Amy Yasko: tba
11:30-12:30	Dr. Amy Yasko: tba
12:30-1:45	Lunch
1:45-2:45	Chantal Sicile-Kira: ASD Adolescents - Puberty, Hygiene and Sexuality
2:45-3:45	Lindsay Moir: School Meeting Management Tips

Welcome to Awareness - Action - Interaction

"You must be the change you want to see in the world"

Mahatma Ghandi

Welcome to the Blue Marigold BLOG; Awareness, Action, Interaction and the first of many posts you’ll find here. Your visit here tells me that you, in some way, have a connection to one of the many charities we work with. The purpose of having a blog is to share information, create a space where people can voice opinions, learn new things and offer their own wisdom. I don’t for even a minute profess to be a specialist in any way. I’m really a concerned individual who has seen so many people live with adversity and in some way, I’m hopeful that you will keep coming back to either learn something new, find people who share community with you or just get information about events, research or however the path of this journal goes.

My interest in working with charities was born of my own life circumstance. Let me share some of how I got here.

In June, 2001 my life changed forever. That was when I was diagnosed with kidney failure. At the time I didn’t appreciate just how dramatic that change would be or the many roads I would have to take to understand and cope with what was about to happen to my body, my spirit, and my way of life.

My first thought upon hearing the doctor tell me that I had kidney failure was simply, “okay, so how do we fix this?” And seconds later – as I tried to absorb the reality of my diagnosis – thoughts of disbelief. My whole world was turned upside down.

In the months that followed I thought about the many things in my life I had taken for granted; the strength each day to do the things that I loved, the luxury of an open schedule, and the belief that time was on my side to ponder and plan the many options that lay ahead.

After a long struggle, I found my strength, as well as my inner resourcefulness. I also realized that my diagnosis wasn’t a deterrent – it allowed me the opportunity to try and make a difference in the lives of thousands by supporting the needs of a charity near and dear to me – The Kidney Foundation. The unique way in which I reach out is by creating awareness jewellery while donating back 50% of the profits to the charity.

As time progressed, people who were near to me shared some of their stories with me; their stories of disease and personal struggle. Some have conquered their illness, others have succumbed. Over time, I’ve added many of these charities to the Blue Marigold “family” of charities. Helping to create awareness and in my way, making donations to these charities makes me believe that we can all do something…however large or small it is … we CAN make a difference.

I had very good fortune – in January 2007 I was the recipient of a donor kidney that gave me a second chance at life. Not everyone is so fortunate.

This blog will be a work in progress and I encourage readers to participate. Future blog posts will continue to demonstrate ways in which you can get involved.