Autistic Days in Eilat, Israel

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Organised and presented by autistics, for the benefit of humanity:

Autistics, parents and family members, carers, therapists, educators and the general public are invited to:

A Meeting with ACI - The Autistic Community of Israel



Eilat, Israel, Wednesday-Friday, 13-15 October, 2010

Lectures, workshops and general activities with members of ACI, in the spirit of understanding, tolerance and acceptance of autism and autistics.

Wednesday, 13 October, Shahamon Community Centre
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18:30-20:30 Lecture and meeting: Autism According to the Autistic Community. Ronen Gil and Sola Shelly.
Over the last two decades, a community of Autistic Spectrum people is developing around the world. This community, which is operated by spectrum people themselves (not by parents nor professionals) has unique characteristics and ways of expression which are suited to the autistic nature. This lecture will describe the autistic community and culture and its place and importance in the lives of members of the community. The community sees autism as a difference and as a legitimate lifestyle, and not as an impairment which requires fixing. We will bring a summary of insights which were accumulated in the community about the nature and characteristics of autism.

Thursday, 14 October, Field School, Southern Beach
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Lectures and conversations on advancing the inclusion of Autism Spectrum people in the circles of life, and on aiding young autistics to develop and fulfill their potentials.

15:30-17:30 Workshop: Crossing the Bridge
Host: Ronen Gil

Sola Shelly and Dr. Amit Fliess: Everyday Functioning
Among professionals and the general public, autism is characterised mainly by social-communicative difficulties. But the autistic difference, as described by spectrum people themselves, encompasses all areas of being: sensory reception, thinking and processing styles, pace of living, motoric and communicative functioning. Because of the autistic difference, imitating normal functioning is unsuitable for spectrum people. In this lecture, we will show how to live with this difference, through examples of methods for accomplishing daily and academic tasks. These methods are based on suiting the unique characteristics of the unique person and using advantages to compensate for limitations.

Sola Shelly and Dr. Amit Fliess: Accessibility to Occupation
Many Autistic Spectrum people are unemployed, or employed in jobs that are unconnected to their skills and education. Since the reason for this is related to the functional-social difference of spectrum people, professionals tend to emphasise social skills and non-professional training. In this lecture, we will show why learning a profession and finding a professional job is especially important to spectrum people. In addition, we will describe what changes need to be made in workplaces in order to include spectrum people with their differences and allow them to contribute according to their advantages.

Short break

Conversation with the audience and members of ACI

18:00-20:00 Workshop: Schooldays
Host: Sola Shelly

Ronen Gil: Social Skills!?
One of the first actions for Autistic Spectrum people of all ages, which is encouraged by professionals and parents is 'teaching social skills'. Many and various actions are being taken in order to achieve this goal. We, members of the Autistic Community are bringing a different view on this subject and are claiming: "We do not lack social skills! Our social skills are different from the general population's and are indeed worth learning and strengthening...". What does "different social skills" mean? What is wrong with aiming for sameness in social skills and how can we encourage social skills with this approach? I will try to answer all this and related questions while bringing knowledge that has been accumulated over the past few years among members of
the Autistic Community in Israel and abroad.

Anat Djerassi: Adaptations in School
Commentator: Dror
What is the education system's role in the life of young autistics? to educate? to care for? to teach? to babysit while the parents are working? to expose to normal society and perhaps to peer society? The answer includes all, but when you try to do all you end up with a mess. My lecture tries to put some order into what and about how, but especially to say that the
answers to these questions vary greatly among various kids.

Short break

Conversation with the audience and members of ACI

Friday, 15 October
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9:00-12:00 Shahamon Community Centre
Workshop: Understanding Us
Host: Sola Shelly

Ronen Gil: Mute Spot - Thinking and "translation" in the Autistic Spectrum. "To think without using language". Because of a different structure of the central nervous system, sons and daughters of the Autistic Spectrum tend to operate thought processes which are substantially different from the ways we are used to think. Why does it happen? How is it possible? I will try to clarify a little on this subject and to bring some examples of the influence of different thought processes on other areas in the lives of members of the Autistic Community.

Anat Noy: Self Portrait - On the nature of autism, the roots of social difficulties and the way for building bridges of inter-cultural
communication.

Chen Gershuni: Songs I Especially Like - An autistic interpretation of the lyrics of some pop songs I especially like. A review of the autistic structures and of the autistic contents which are revealed in songs of bands like the Beatles, King Crimson and Tractor's Revenge, by analysing them with an autistic approach.

Short break

Conversation with the audience and members of ACI

13:00-17:00 Northern Beach, by Dag Soof fish ranch
An open meeting with members of ACI

ACI - The Autistic Community of Israel is an organisation by and for
Israelis of the Autistic Spectrum, for self, independent and mutual help and
support
www.acisrael.org

Sounds wonderful; wish I could be there for it.

I hope you all have a great time.

If you want to get here (relatively) cheaply, then take either Arkia, Sun d'Or, Israir, Europe Airpost, or Corsairfly from Paris/Nice to Tel Aviv. We'll give you a lift between Tel Aviv and Eilat
(We will be going in about four cars. I'm going with those who offer artistic/spiritual atmosphere and good music)
Ten of us are planning to be there. So I hope we will be taking the city by storm.

I want to attend so bad!

Is there RSVP required? How long a bus ride is it from Jerusalem to Eilat? Where are people staying who are attending?

I am just so bummed that my classes are starting around these dates, but I'm still hoping I'll be able to find some way to attend.

Keep this stuff coming.

Off topic (sorry) do you have a link to Greentea's blog?

Yes:
http://www.acisrael.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1922
Around 5 hours. (Egged bus line 444).
Mostly in Eilat's Field School:
http://teva.org.il/english/?CategoryID= ... icleID=103

But of course:
http://awaisrael.blogspot.com/
http://goldenaspies.proboards.com/

Thanks. I miss her.

It looks interesting.

Too bad I'm in י"א (junior class in Israel) and live in Yavne.

Oh well, we get yearly lectures from a teacher who has an autistic son, anyway...

We can give you a lift from Rehovot/Gedera, if you want. Our youngest member is eleven years old, so you will surely not be the youngest of us.

Ronen Gil sounds very interesting. I would like to see film or a transcription of her talk. Chen's is amazing! Decyphering music for our perspective.

I would like to see or hear all three in English if possible? Good luck with the event.

It needs to exist, it needs to happen. I hope it brings people together.

X

terrorist state................................f**k zionism

This thread has nothing to do with zionism. Stay on topic.