Chattanooga
Autism Center
9th Annual Chattanooga Autism Conference
21 different presentations! Over 70 exhibitors! 6hrs of CEUs! Lunch included! TASL Approved!
When: Friday April 20, 2018
Where: Chattanooga Convention Center, located at 1150 Carter Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Agenda: Click here for the latest draft
Registration: Click here for rates and to register now! You must register by April 2 for early bird rates. Registration deadline is Sunday April 15th. You cannot register at event.
Registration form/poster: Help us spread the word! Click here to download full-page conference posters, and here to download half-page flyers.
TASL credit! This conference has been approved for 6 TASL credits! That means these workshops can count towards the professional development requirements of education leaders and administrators in Tennessee.
Lots of exhibitor time! Attendees will have 30 extra minutes during the lunch time to visit and talk to exhibitors.
Fee Waivers: There are fee waivers for individuals and families experiencing economic hardships. To inquire, email Dave Buck at dave@chattanoogaautismcenter.org or call 423-531-6961 opt 4. Those who receive the waiver will be asked to provide some demographic data and complete a survey after the conference. The fee waiver is made possible by a grant from Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Exhibitors:
We will have over 70 exhibitors this year. They include many autism-related resource providers or advocacy organizations from Chattanooga, Knoxville, North Georgia, and surrounding region. Organizations who wish to exhibit must complete an online exhibitor application. We have some slots still open. Exhibitors can click here to apply.
Sponsors:
Without our tremendous sponsors, our conference registration fees would be have to be tripled. Their support allows this event to be accessible to hundreds of parents, adults with autism, and professionals who would not be able to afford regular conference prices. Make sure you visit their tables in the exhibitor room and tell them Thank You! If you would like to be a sponsor this year, or learn about the perks for being a sponsor, click here for the online sponsor application.
CEUs:
Clinicians and certain professionals like Social Workers, Nurses, PTs, OTs, COTAs can register to receive official CEUs supplied from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. The cost is $70 if you register early or $100 if you register after April 2.
Those who register for CEUs must go to a special check-in table at the event. You'll receive a special CEU survey along with your name badge and program. You'll be marked off on the CEU list confirming that you arrived at the conference. At the end of the conference, you must turn in your completed survey and bring it to the check-in table. A dedicated staff person from UTC will take your survey and give you your official CEU certificates with your names on them.
Certificates of Attendance:
We will provide free "certificates of attendance" to attendees at the end of the conference. These certificates are often used by teachers and other educator staff in our region when they file for 6 Continued Education hours. Check with your schools to see if this type of certificate is sufficient to count for your credits. These certificates can also be used to turn in for 6 hours of TASL credits.
Etiquette:
We respectfully ask attendees to not talk with each other during presentations. These are very important sessions for many parents, teachers, and other people who are very eager to be attending and learning. Phones should be turned to vibrate and people should leave the room to use phones or talk. Noises and side conversations are especially distracting to people with ASD who may be in the audience. We’ve also been asked by some adults with ASD to request that attendees not wear too much perfume. Strong perfume can often be very aversive to some people with sensory issues.
Check in:
Check-in table opens at 7:15am at the Chattanooga Convention Center. You’ll receive your name badge, program, and sign up for door prizes. Exhibitors will be set up at this time so you can visit them and we’ll have coffee and tea in the exhibitor room. We strongly encourage you to arrive early to avoid lines, parking issues, to visit exhibitors, get some coffee or tea, and to make connections with other parents, teachers, adults, and service providers. The first presentations start promptly at rooms and presentations start at 8:15am.
Parking:
1) The garage at the Marriott and convention center is the closest but fills up early. Cost is ~$8 per day. Address: 2 Carter Plaza, Chattanooga, TN
2) The Republic lot at 11th and Carter Street is the next closest parking area. It is outdoors but close. Cost is likely $6 or for the day.
3) AAA parking garage behind the convention center. Entrance is 1201 Broad Street. Cost is $5 per day. Walk is a block or two.
4) Streets around the convention center have metered parking. If you have a smart phone, you can download the app called ParkMobile. Once you install ParkMobile and set it up one time your vehicle and credit card information, you can use it to pay for metered spots. It alerts you when your time is almost up and gives you the option to extend your parking time by just using your phone!
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Lunch (included with registration):
Lunch is a salad bar with toppings, rolls, grilled chicken, soda, and water in ballroom C. Our keynote speakers will start about 30 minutes into the lunch. Please try to go through the lines and find a seat before it starts.
Silent Auction:
Dozens of fun items are being donated by vendors and available for all to bid and win. Bring your credit card or cash and get some great deals on gift cards and other fun items.
Door prizes:
Names will be drawn before lunch and announced during lunch time. The names of winners will also be displayed at the check-in table which is where winners can also pick up their prizes.