The sixth annual Topics in Child Development Conference will address assessment-driven interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders June 28 29 on the Kent State University Kent Campus.

Regional, state and national leaders in the study and treatment of autism spectrum disorders will provide strategies, insights and research-based information valuable to implementing assessment-driven models of intervention for schools, health practitioners and families.

Families of children with autism spectrum disorders are invited to attend a special session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 28, in Kent Student Center (KSC), Kent Campus, featuring Dr. Brenda Smith-Myles, from the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incident Disorders, in a discussion of the hidden curriculum.

Conference activities on June 29 will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in KSC and include a discussion on brain differences in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and related implications for learning with Dr. Nancy Minshew, University of Pittsburg.

Additionally, 20 breakout sessions on topics including assistive technology, communication assessment, data system development, family participation, functional behavior analysis, medical intervention, music therapy and occupational therapy intervention, play-based assessments, social-emotional assessment, and social skill instruction will take place June 29. A resource room featuring information from vendors and service agencies also will be open both days to provide materials to participants.