Talk About Curing Autism

What: TACA provides support for families living with autism, as well as connecting parents with professionals.

Local chapter: The first meeting of the Western Washington chapter will be at 10 a.m. March 15 in Building E auditorium, at the south campus of Bates Technical College, 2201 South 78th St., Tacoma

Online: www.tacanow.org

Information: denise_fulton@talkaboutcuringautism.com

More local support groups:
• A local autism support group meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Parent to Parent,1012 Homann Dr. SE, Lacey. Information: 360-352-1126.
• Exceptional Families Network – Therese Holliday – 360-507-0944, www.ExceptionalFamilies.Net (Family member discounts for Brighter Tomorrows Conference)
• South Sound Parent To Parent – Chris Morris - 360-352-0115 (Groups for moms of kids with autism, spina bifida)
• South Sound Up with Downs – Becka Brandt - 360-915-6276, beccabrandt@msn.com (meets at Parent to Parent)
• Cerebral Palsy Network – Dena Kirchoff, www.thecpnetwork.org - thecpnet@thecpnetwork.org
• Autism Support Group – Patty Gee, 360-556-8151, pattyjgee@comcast.net
• Spina Bifida Support Group – Heather Logan, heather_logan@juno.com

Brighter Tomorrows Northwest Special Needs Conference

What: Information about autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and more will be available. The annual conference focuses on educational, health and legal issues surrounding families of children with special needs.

When: 7:50 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7 and 8 at the Worthington Center at Saint Martin's University, 5300 Pacific Ave. S.E., Lacey.

Cost: Exhibits are open to the public for $5, while those wishing to attend the entire conference must pay between $149-$249. Scholarships and discounts are available; check the Web site for information.

The event is sponsored by the Wyatt Holliday Foundation, which helps families of children with special needs through advocacy, education and support.

Speakers: The event features talks by 28 nationally and internationally known speakers and exhibits on the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center of Seattle, the Autism Research Institute, Talk About Curing Autism, Washington Virtual Academy and other agencies.

Vaccines and autism: Three speakers will address the topic of vaccines and their link to autism. Speakers include a geneticist and the former editor for United Press International, who has researched autism since 2004 and authored the series "The Age of Autism," which included interviews with Olympia families who link their children's regression into autism to vaccines.

Special education and parents' rights: Several speakers will address special education laws and advocacy, and how parents can get their children's needs met in their school district.

IEP Workshop: A workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday to help parents formulate the Individualized Education Program — a contract between parents and the school that determines services to be provided to the child during the school year, including a specialized curriculum, therapies and dietary needs.

Teachers and the public can attend the IEP workshop for $35 without paying the entire fee.

Film: There also will be a Friday evening film screening of "Finding the Words," addressing recovered autistic children, and "The Sandwich Kid," which interviews siblings of kids with special needs. Filmmakers will lead a discussion after the screenings. Entry is $7 per person; conference attendees can attend for free.

Information and registration: www.WyattsHouse.org/2008conference.htm or 360-507-0944