Minister for Health Speaks at Conference on Autism in NUI Galway

The Minister for Health James Reilly spoke at Ireland's inaugural international conference on Autism last week, 12 - 13 January. The conference was entitled: ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder: from Clinical Practice to Educational Provision.' It was organised by the Irish Centre for Autism and the Neurodevelopment research at the school of Psychology at NUI Galway and was sponsored by Autism Speaks, which is the largest autism-based charity in the world and the American Ireland Fund. It proved to be the largest autism-related conference ever to be held in Ireland.

The Minister's son is on the spectrum and has received an honours degree in genetics from Trinity College Dublin. Other speakers included Dr Geraldine Leader from the Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research in NUI Galway.

The international conference took place in The Bailey Allen Hall in NUI Galway last week. The overall aim of the conference was to heighten awareness of autism as well as increase available support for families in Ireland who have a family member with autism. It also strived to strengthen the international co-operation between Ireland and the US on these issues in addition to presenting research on autism carried out in the US.

The event convened researchers, health care professionals and parents to review the best possible practices and examine recent developments in autism research. It also exhibited the most recent advances in diagnosis, education, clinical management as well as adult service provision.

American studies have shown that the number of children being diagnosed with autism in America has doubled over the last decade. An estimated 600 children are born with the condition in Ireland every year. The reason for this increase is still unclear but it is believed that better diagnosis is one of the main causal factors.

The conference revealed the latest research on the early diagnosis of autism and parents of autistic children were also invited to attend. Additionally there was a workshop provided for parents guiding them on how to identify early signs of autism to ensure an early diagnosis and secure a better prognosis for children.

The Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research at NUI Galway is due to be officially launched by President Michael D. Higgins next month.

16 Jan 2012

by Martina Maughan