Conference Connect - The Event
Conference: ASD and Employment (7th April)
How can we make the workplace more accessible for people diagnosed with ASD? And how can we assure a better transition from education to employment? This conference will aim to answer these questions with its mix of expert speakers. 
Our diverse agenda will look at the issues with employment and how best to overcome its barriers for people diagnosed with ASD. Furthermore we hope to offer a unique opportunity to discuss and ask questions, within discussion sessions or direct questions to our professional speakers.
Together this agenda will aim to address the problems within this area and provide solutions, overall delivering an opportunity of support for those concerned. If you work with anybody diagnosed with ASD, this is undoubtedly an event not to be missed.
The Agenda; Wednesday 7th April
09:00 – Registration
10:00 – Opening
10:15 – Leader of Hull City Council, Cllr. Carl Minns
10:30 – NAS, Don’t Write Me Off - Lisa Pitkeathly
11:30 – Break
11:45 – Dean Worton
12:15 – Autism Plus/Jobsteps – Suzanne Lees
13:00 – Lunch
13:45 – SACAR Trust – David Newell & Chris Bennett
14:45 – Break
15:00 – Matthew Hesmondhalgh
15:45 – Closing
Price
£22.00 - Single booking
£20.00 - Multiple bookings
The Speakers
National Autistic Society – Don’t Write Me Off
Lisa Pitkeathly
Lisa Pitkeathly is the Regional Officer for the NAS in Yorkshire & the Humber. Lisa joined The National Autistic Society as Regional Officer for the North East in June 2006 and moved to cover Yorkshire and Humber Region in October 2009. Lisa is currently based at The Robert Ogden School in Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire. Lisa gained an honours degree in Psychology from the University of Abertay, Dundee in 2002. Since graduating Lisa has worked in the field of autism initially as a Development Worker for a local Voluntary Organisation in Perth developing playschemes, respite and social opportunities for children and Young people on the spectrum then as a Teaching Assistant in an autism specific residential school in Aberdeen.
Matthew Hesmondhalgh
Matthew Hesmondhalgh is teacher in charge at The Resource at King Ecgbert School. It is a 32 place Resource for students aged 11-18 in a busy mainstream secondary school where all 32 students have a statement of Special Education need relating to ASD. Matthew gained an MBE for his work in 2002 when in the same year he produced a short film about the work placement and supported employment scheme, entitled, 'Building Bridges - Autism at Work'. The objective of the session is to gain a greater understanding of the barriers people with autism face in the employment market and how some of these can be overcome.
Dean Worton
Dean Worton is an individual with Asperger Syndrome who after graduating from Leeds Metropolitan University with a degree in European Languages and Business struggled to find and maintain employment. He did voluntary work for many years prior to gaining his current full-time role as a Technical administrator for Lancashire County Council in 2005. Dean has also co-written the Asperger Love Guide, Asperger Social Guide and Asperger Personal Guide and has contributed an article to Asperger Syndrome and Employment, a book in which adults with Asperger Syndrome share their employment-related experiences. He also runs www.aspievillage.org.uk, a well-established Internet community exclusively for adults with Aspergers' syndrome living in the UK and Ireland which offers discussion, support and real life meet-ups across the UK.
Autism Plus/Jobsteps Employment Service
Suzanne Lees
Suzanne Lees is Head of Development at Jobsteps Employment Services, which following huge success in the past 3 years has developed from a small employment service within Autism Plus to a medium sized employment service. With a post-graduate certificate in supporting adults with Autism and 10 years of experience of supporting customers on the autistic spectrum improve their employability. Suzanne will be giving an insight into Jobsteps success, as well as looking at some of the barriers she has helped customers successfully overcome. Jobsteps success has allowed us to develop from a small service in Sheffield 3 years ago supporting 30 customers a year to open up new services, now covering South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and Humber, Derbyshire and Manchester in the past year supporting over 600 customers on the autistic spectrum move closer towards employment.
SACAR Trust
David Newell & Chris Bennett
David Newell is the employment officer at the SACAR Trust and is from the development office of Sacar. Chris Bennett is a 48 year old resident of West Yorkshire. In late 2006, Chris was formally diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. As with most adults receiving a late diagnosis, Chris was left on his own to come to terms with what this meant to him and how the world might now view him. Chris has carefully selected a career path into the arena of active social care. He is now one of the prime components of the Get Out There scheme - which enables adults with learning/physical disabilities to engage their local areas through carefully devised walks. SACAR is a charity dedicated to support people with Asperger Syndrome and Autism.(SACAR in the Sanskrit language means Positive Creation). Sacar's main office is in Bradford but recently it has opened a new branch in Leeds.
The Venue
“The ethical business choice without compromise” – The Octagon Conference Centre, Walker Street, Hull, HU3 2RA
The Octagon is an award-winning purpose built conference facility that has been set up as a part of the Goodwin Development Trust Limited.
The Octagon also plays a vital role in investing in the community since all profits from the venue are used by Goodwin to help to fund projects that are aimed at improving the quality of life for local residents.
