AASCEND.net is maintained by James Ullrey, who has Asperger Syndrome. His website is
The AASCEND logo was designed by painter-photographer Sharron Loree, who has Asperger Syndrome. Online gallery at www.loree.org
AASCEND held annual conferences in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Our conferences have always given equal emphasis to nationally prominent figures, adults with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome in our own community speaking on their challenges and successes living with autism, and breakout sessions for participants to meet and discuss specific areas of interest. To date, AASCEND has been able to offer conferences AT NO CHARGE to adults on the autism spectrum, and these conferences have featured low sensory stimulation rooms and group activities that don't require verbal interactions.
April 24, 2004
Fourth AASCEND Conference:
“
Works in Progress - Creating Jobs, Housing, & Social Opportunities for
Adults With Autism & Asperger Syndrome in the San Francisco Bay Area”
Keynote speakers: Roger N. Meyer, author of the Asperger Syndrome Employment
Workbook; John Clay, co-founder and Executive Director of the California Autism
Foundation (CAF); and Kari Dunn Buron, author and lecturer on autism, and director
of Camp Discovery in Lake George, MN, which she founded in 1995 for youth between
ages 10 and 21 with Asperger Syndrome. AASCEND member, Gregory Yates, reported
on an article in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (Vol. 18, No. 3): “Vocational
Supports for Individuals With Asperger Syndrome” in which he and several
other members participated, including James Ullrey and Paul Nussbaum, who joined
Greg in discussing employment challenges they’ve experienced. Breakout
groups included: “Dating & Relationships for Adults on the Autism
Spectrum” and “Employment Challenges & Resources for Adults
on the Autism Spectrum”. Held at The Arc of San Francisco, 1500 Howard
Street, San Francisco
.April 26, 2003
Third AASCEND Conference:
“ Our Paths Converging: Bringing Together the Autism/Asperger Syndrome
Community”
Keynote speaker: Val Paradiz, author of “Elijah’s Cup: A Family’s
Journey into the Community and Culture of High-Functioning Autism and Asperger
Syndrome”. Everyone agreed that one of the highlights this year was the
afternoon breakout sessions and plenary discussion that followed. Held at Seven
Hills Conference Center at San Francisco State University. Attendance was around
100.
February 9,2002
Second AASCEND Conference:
“ Sharing the Journey: A Lifelong Passage”
Keynote Speaker: Jerry Newport, author, founder of AGUA
Keynote Speakers: Mother/Son Duo, Julie Donnelly, Ph.D. & Jean-Paul Bovee,
M.A. shared their own story, titled “Old Roles/New Roles”. AUTASTICS Panel: “Awesome Twosomes” with Moderator – Adam Pollack,
Panelists – James Ullrey & Martha Booze, Greg Yates and Christina,
Vicky Smith & her husband, Paul & Harris Nussbaum. Held at Seven
Hills Conference Center at San Francisco State University.
February 10, 2001
First AASCEND Conference:
“ Share the Journey”
Keynote Speaker: David Amaral, Director of Research, University of California
MIND Institute, Professor Adriana Schuler, Ph.D., San Francisco State University,
Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D., Founder/Director, Autism Institute for Peer Relations
and Play
Gregory Yates. AUTASTICS Panel Presentation on “Living With Asperger
Syndrome” by members of AUTASTICS: Faith Lichy, Vicky Smith, James
Ullrey, Stuart Anthony, Paul Nussbaum, and Greg Yates, moderated by AUTASTICS Founder,
Adam Pollack. Held at Seven Hills Conference Center at San Francisco State
University.
October 23, 1999
The Conference That Started It All:
San Francisco State University and AUTASTICS Conference on Adults Living
With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome
We count this date as the anniversary of our founding. SFSU & AUTASTICS hold conference; planners include Adriana Schuler, Eve Muller, Deborah
Karres, and Pamela Wolfberg of San Francisco State, Adam Pollack, Gregory
Yates,
and Stuart Anthony of AUTASTICS, and parents, Malcolm McAfee, David Van
Etten, and Ron and Camilla Bixler; several participants decide to form
group of
AS/HFA
and neurotypical adults collaborating as peers and focused on issues
for adults on the autism spectrum. Held at Seven Hills Conference Center
at
San Francisco
State University.