Invitation

Welcome to APAC 2013

Following the great success of the first two Asia Pacific Conferences, held in Sydney and Perth, Autism SA is proud to announce that we will be hosting the next Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC) in conjunction with the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adelaide, August 2013.

Autism SA is the oldest organisation of its kind in Australia, founded in 1964, just one year after the National Autistic Society in the UK. So, for us, 2013 will also mean that we will be celebrating our 50th year of providing services to the autism community.

True Colours has been adopted as the conference theme. The letters overlap to represent the connectedness of the autism community and the range of colours represent the diversity of the autism spectrum. The theme motivates us all to reveal, encourage and support the collective skills, talents and abilities of all of us that are part of the autism community.

The conference theme inspires us to be bold, be brave and be brilliant as we collectively create a good life for people with an autism spectrum disorder.

So, we have set ourselves a bit of a challenge – we don’t just want to host a conference, we want to create a movement. A movement that encourages the acceptance of difference and that celebration of diversity.

People with an autism spectrum disorder can achieve great things but hopes, dreams and desires need encouraging, nurturing and vision.

Be bold, be brave, be brilliant – Be there.

Future Leaders Program Update

A big thank you to the nearly 100 respondents who have replied to our survey asking what it is that will help people with an ASD get more out of our conference. There has been some terrific feedback and you will see that we have acted on your suggestions in our desire to create a gathering of the broader autism community inclusive of people on the spectrum. Our aim for APAC 2013 is to see that people on the autism spectrum are at the centre of everything we do. As part of this, we are bringing some of the best ASD speakers and advocates in the world to participate in APAC 2013 and to share their skills with our ASD Young Future Leaders. 

Media Alerts

Conference Ambassadors 

	Amanda Blair
	Amanda Blair is a broadcaster, columnist a Board member of The Independent Gambling Authority, previously on the Social Inclusion Board and spent six years on the Board of the Adelaide Festival. She won a MO Award for Best Live Show in Australia in 2003, in 2011 she won the St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Award for outstanding contribution to the Media from Archbishop Philip Wilson. This year she was named by the Australian Newspaper as one of the 5 most influential people in the media in South Australia. Her individual fundraising efforts have raised over 1 million dollars. In June she threw in the radio towel to spend more time with her kids and to concentrate on her great passion - competitive baking. This year she won a Blue Ribbon at the Royal Adelaide Show for her Marble cake – round or square, 2nd place for her Pavlova and also a 2nd for slices - three varieties - 2 of each unbaked. The judges said they had never seen such precision in slice cutting……She also writes a monthly column for the Australian Women’s Weekly.
	Judy Brewer
	Judy Brewer is well known ASD parent advocate, and a speaker and writer on autism related issues. Judy is married to Tim Fischer and they have two sons, 19 year old Harrison (who has autism) and 16 year old Dominic. They live in a farm in rural Victoria where Judy work in project consultancy and manages “Grossotto” Poll Herefords. Judy was the founder and initial convenor of Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4), a Board member of OAKS and Wild OATS, a Director of the Australian Autism Council, and co-Patron and Life Member of Autism Spectrum Australia. In addition to this Judy has been involved in many government disability committees including as Chair of National Family Carers Voice, member of the Carer Allowance Review Panel, the Special Disability Trusts and the Autism State Plan Advisory Board.  Judy is currently on the Alpha Autism Employment Advisory Board and is the Proposed Chair of the Living with Autism Cooperative Research Centre. Judy is an Ambassador for APAC13 and convenes the ASD Future Leaders program.

Latest News 

Webhot Registrations are now closed. Earlybird Registration is open and will close at 5:00pm on 14 June 2013. Visit the registration page for more information.