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www.awares.org/conferences We are delighted to welcome two of the world's leading autism authorities, Theo Peeters and Hilde De Clercq, all day from 9am (UK time) on December 17, 2012 - as the latest presenters in our exciting series of monthly online conferences here on the Awares Conference Centre. Theo and Hilde's papers are available to read immediately at www.awares.org/conferences once you have registered and they themselves will be online all day on December 17 to answer your questions. Please let your friends, colleagues and networks know about this exciting event. Register right now at www.awares.org/conferences and do not miss out on this unique opportunity. Theo Peeters graduated in Philosophy and Literature from the University of Louvain and gained his Masters in Neurolinguistics from the University of Brussels. He acquired a second Masters in Human Communication. from the University of London. He studied the psycho-educational approach to autism at the TEACCH headquarters, University of North Carolina, in the USA. In 1981, he founded the Opleidingscentrum Autisme (Centre for Training) in Antwerp. He was asked by the Belgium Ministry of Education to offer training to teachers and para-medical staff for the first official 'Experiment in Autism in Special Education' in 1985. He has been responsible with his colleagues for autism training in most European countries and also outside Europe (Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina etc). He has published many articles and six books on autism in Dutch. A few have been translated into many different languages. The special focus of the Opleidingscentrum is on 'understanding autism from within' emphasising meaning and trying to understand autism through the eyes of people with autism. This ethical point of departure is symbolized by the iceberg philosophy'. After Hilde De Clercq had her son with autism, Thomas, she started work at the parents' society in Flanders as a trainer for parents. In 1994, she began work as a Parent-Professional (and Professional Parent) at the Opleidingscentrum (Centre for Training in Autism in Antwerp. She has been jointly responsible for practical and theoretical training in autism. She has worked at the Opleidingscentrum Autisme for almost 20 years and has both national and international experience as a speaker and trainer in autism. She gives conferences on several subjects, but mostly on 'Autism from Within', explaining the specific cognitive style of people with autism and its influence on all aspects of daily life. Other topics are communication, high-functioning people with autism and individuals with Asperger's syndrome, relationships and sexuality, autism as a specific culture, parent-professional collaboration, parent training, developing a 'plan for life' for people with autism, sensibilisation of society, etc. She has experience in including people with autism in her training. She has been involved in training and seminars in most European countries as well as outside Europe. Her book on detailed thinking ('lack of Central Coherence') in autism, Mum, is that a human being or an animal?, has been translated into English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, Russian, Hungarian, Greek and Czech. Another book, Autism from Within: A Handbook, has been published in Dutch, English, Swedish , Spanish, Polish and Italian. A French version is expected by the beginning of 2013. This book describes the 'pervasive' characteristics of autism in all kinds of daily life situations: development of play, eating and sleeping problems, tidiness, self -help skills, development of communication, emotional development, sexuality and relationships. The book contains many practical tips for professionals and parents. She is an international Associate Editor of Good Autism Practice, edited by Glenys Jones and Hugh Morgan in partnership with the University of Birmingham (UK) and Wales's pioneering National Charity for Autism, Autism Cymru. For further details about this and all other Awares online autism conferences, please contact myself, Adam Feinstein, at: adam@autismcymru.org Best wishes, Adam Feinstein