NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Pam Buchanan receives 2012 Tower Award
The Tower Awards are presented annually by the Volunteer and Service Learning Center to honor excellence in volunteerism among the students, faculty, and staff at The University of Texas at Austin. Ms Buchanan is being recognized at the May 2 ceremony for her work with The Autism Project at the University of Texas. Ms Buchanan coordinates as many as 2000 hrs of academic service learning and organizes more than a dozen programs, per semester, providing recreation and social skills services for children on the autism spectrum. All of her programs are built on a model of one·to·one pairing of an UT student with a child on the spectrum, taking learning from the textbook to the community. Ms Buchanan has led The Autism Project's programs for more than a dozen years, with the program receiving formal recognition in 2006 when it became an approved initiative of the Department of Kinesiology & Health Education. This is the second time that Ms Buchanan has been acknowledged for her service to the University and the community. The Volunteer and Service Learning Center awarded Ms Buchanan the Outstanding Faculty Service Award in 2005.
PAST EVENTS
2011 Texas Autism Research Conference
The Texas Autism Research & Resource Center (TARRC) announces its 2011 Texas Autism Research Conference. Join TARRC for this exciting opportunity to learn about cutting edge research and evidence-based practices related to the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Targeted to academics, researchers and licensed professionals, the conference will highlight the work of Texas researchers who are respected experts in the field of ASD. The conference will be held Saturday, July 30, 2011 in Austin, Texas at the Commons Learning Center, located on the University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Campus. To learn more and sign up for conference updates, visit the TARRC website.
Dr. Jody Jensen and Pamela Buchanan to present at the AAASLP 2009 conference on Autism on June 19
The topic for this conference is "Best practices related to working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)." The participants will have opportunities for hands on learning strategies that they can transfer directly to the classroom, home, or clinic. They will gain indispensible knowledge of Autism and will be introduced to community resources and programs on autism during this conference.
Dr. Greg Allen featured in the lead story of University of Texas website
April 13, 2009. The article titled Autism on the Mind featured on the University of Texas homepage, talks in depth about research carried out by Dr. Greg Allen, a neuroscientist College of Education.
"Horse Boy," family find respite from autism in Mongolia
TAP featured in lead story on University of Texas website
September 17, 2007 - TAP is featured as the subject of the leadoff article on the University of Texas site, "Ain't Misbehavin'." The article states, "[Jody] Jensen and [Pamela] Buchanan, as well as many occupational therapists and medical professionals, assert that daily, appropriate play intervention can help children with autism more easily focus on tasks and input. It also can help them control inappropriate physical movement, such as wrist flapping, and allow them to remain comfortable in environments filled with a variety of sensory stimuli. Ultimately, it has the potential to make daily life more harmonious at home and in the classroom and perhaps equip the child with basic skills to lead a more independent life. "
