ICT & AUTISM – POSSIBILITIES, OPPORTUITIES, CHANCES

12 - 13 March 2012, Hilton-Sofia, Bulgaria

ESI Center Eastern Europe in partnership with Autism Association and BASSCOM is organizing a conference: ICT TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.

The forum will address the socio-economic aspects of everyday life of people with ASD. The main goal of the conference is to open a discussion on:

• how ICT could help people with autism and Asperger ‘s syndrome to work and progress in a social environment;
• which are the success factors in the process of integrating people with ASD in a real economic environment;
• which are the successful models in practical training and employment of people with ASD in the world, why and how these models can succeed.

The conference will be held on the 12th and 13th of March 2012 in Sofia, hotel Hilton. Keynote speakers are Dirk Rombaut (co-founder of Passwerk, IT company specialized in employment of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in software testing activities), Gerardo Herrera (a scientist in the Robotics Institute to University of Valencia, specialized in supporting systems for education and social inclusion, transportation, household automation and robotics for people with autism spectrum disorders) and Mirena Velkova (chairwoman of Autism Association, parental and social services organization which supports people with ASD and their families). The conference will end with round table discussion on how the good examples around the world could turn into a national policy, social culture and behavior.

Autism is much more widespread  than we often think. During the last 20 years the number of affected people is increased 10 times even in the countries which aren’t in the red list – USA, Canada, UK. And the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) does not affect only children. Children grow up and become adults with Autism. The causes and treatment of ASD are complicated and ambiguous questions, which are objects of medical science. But the effective integration of people with ASD in social and economic life – qualitative education and vocational training, equal opportunities in the labor market, qualitative social services, social support - these topics should be part of the society agenda.

This event is organized with the financial support of the EC.