Asian Autism Conference 2007 held in Hong Kong on September 1 and 2

Asian Autism Conference 2007 held in Hong Kong on September 1 and 2

August 15, 2007

    HONG KONG, Aug. 15 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Autism
Parents Network Foundation (APNF), a Hong Kong-based
parents support group, is hosting the Second Asian Autism
Conference 2007 following the success of last summer's
inaugural conference.  Once again the conference this year
will be held in Hong Kong Academy of Medicine on September
1 and 2, 2007.  

    Last summer the inaugural conference attracted over 300
participants from Asian countries, including Japan, South
Korea, Philippines, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau,
Taiwan, and The People's Republic of China.  One third of
the participants are medical practitioners.  Parents and
other related professionals including paramedical
personnel, therapist, clinical psychologists, academics
& special school teachers occupy the other two third. 
This attendance is testament to the demand for updated
strategies in Autism treatment.  Fees are HKD1200 for the
two-day conference.  

    At a rate of about 1:150 children affected with this
developmental disorder, Autism is all around us, so
creating awareness for the condition is already being done
by various groups all the time.  What is needed is to
bridge the gap in resources available for autism treatment
across Asia. In the process of achieving this, the parents
are working towards removing barriers that impede this. 
They hope to improve understanding of advances in treatment
methods overseas, correct misconceptions, and strengthen
frameworks for managing treatment strategies, so that all
dimensions are addressed, and informed decisions can be
made.  

    Addressing all relevant caregivers of children with
autism, will be some of the best minds in Autism treatment
and research in the U.S., who will share their insights and
work on improving treatment methods.  The Conference brings
in 11 distinguished specialists and researchers, including
those from Harvard Medical School and other prestigious
institutions.  Key speakers include:

    -- Dr. Ken Bock's expertise lies in bringing a
comprehensive integrative 
       medicine approach to complex medical problems. 
Utilizing this 
       patient-centered approach he has helped thousands of
children on the 
       road to recovery.  He is interested in explaining
why the gut and diet 
       are the first step on this road to recovery.  

    -- Dr. Bradstreet is the founder of the International
Child Development 
       Resource Center in Florida.  He is an Adjunct
Professor of 
       Neurosciences at Stetso University, Florida and the
Southwest College 
       of Naturopathic Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona.  Dr.
Bradstreet serves as 
       an active collaborator on research projects at
numerous medical 
       schools.  His interests in autism include metal
detoxification, 
       hyperbarics and immunological management of
gastrointestinal problems.    
       Dr Bradstreet will review the favorable clinical
observations and 
       research outcomes regarding the use of Hyperbaric
Oxygen in autism 
       spectrum disorders and outline common protocols.

    -- Dr Martha Herbert is a Pediatric Neurologist at
Massachusetts General 
       Hospital (Harvard Medical School) and is on the
faculty of Harvard 
       Medical School.  She specializes in children with
learning and 
       developmental disorders.  

    -- Dr. James Neubrander is board-certified in
Environmental Medicine with 
       special interests in heavy metals and folate/B12
chemistry.  He has 
       pioneered the use of Vitamin Methyl B12 in the
treatment of Autism 
       and evaluated over 75,000 injections of Methyl B12. 


    Overwhelming support from many local and foreign
corporations and individuals have resulted in generous
donations and commercial sponsorship for this event.  HK
Disneyland, for example, is doing a special sponsorship
offering complimentary tickets to any family attending the
conference who has a child affected with autism.   The U.S.
Consul General James B. Cunningham, on the other hand, is
showing his support, as he did last year, by offering
opening remarks at the conference.  Impressed by the
efforts of the Autism Parents Network Foundation (APNF) to
channel treatment resources to the autism community in Hong
Kong, the Autism Society of America and Easter Seals , (a
major parent support group and charity in the U.S.), will
form an alliance to extend financial and organizational
support to APNF activities.  

    Details of the Asian Autism Conference 2007 are
available from the website at
http://www.conference.autismpnhk.org or from the Conference
Secretariat, Miss K.K. Chan at (852)2660-2872 or
[e-mail].

    About Autism Parents Network Foundation:
http://www.autismpnhk.org . 

    APNF is a non-profit making organization formed by a
group of parents with autistic children in Hong Kong.  It
functions as a parental support group and shares
information on the latest advances in research and
treatment.  This information is intended to be
comprehensive, channeling parents towards resources in
biomedical intervention, nutrition and diets, and
behavioral therapy services (e.g. Autism Recovery Network,
which employs Applied Behavioral Analysis).  Ultimately,
APNF seeks to empower parents and families with the
knowledge and training to play a key role in tackling and
managing a complex and debilitating disorder. The group
advocates early intervention as an effective strategy
towards eventual recovery.


    Press Contact: 

     Darryl Tang
     Autism Parents Network Foundation
     Tel:   [phone] 
     Email: [e-mail]

     Eva To
     Autism Parents Network Foundation
     Tel:   [phone] 
     Email: [e-mail]