The Help Group is pleased to announce that Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor of Developmental Psychopathalogy at Cambridge University, a Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge and Director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge will be the first speaker in its 2008 Distinguished Lecturer Series. Dr. Baron-Cohen is scheduled to present, Empathy and Systemizing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Relevance for Education on Monday, January 14 from 2:00 to 4:00pm at The Help Group's Sherman Oaks Campus.
Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen is widely recognized for his early theory that autism involves degrees of 'mindblindness' (or delays in the development of theory of mind) and his current research involves testing the 'extreme male brain' theory of autism. Dr. Baron-Cohen is an extensively published author, and has received awards from the American Psychological Association, the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and the British Psychology Society for his research in autism. He is also Director of CLASS (Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service), a clinic for adults with suspected Asperger Syndrome. Dr. Baron-Cohen holds degrees in Human Sciences from New College, Oxford, a PhD in Psychology from UCL, and an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry.
According to Dr. Barbara Firestone, President and CEO of The Help Group and author of the recently released Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge, "It will be my privilege and pleasure to introduce Dr. Baron Cohen, a leader in our field who has made major contributions to our body of knowledge. We are delighted that he accepted our invitation to present during this visit to the United States from Cambridge. Our attendees can look forward to a most informative and thought provoking lecture."
The Help Group's Distinguished Lecturer Series features experts in the areas of autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and learning disabilities. For information, registration and CEU information, please visit http://www.thehelpgroup.org
ABOUT THE HELP GROUP
Founded in 1975, The Help Group serves children with a wide range of special needs and is the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States. Recognized as a leader in the field of autism, it offers extensive special education, therapy and assessment services. The Help Group educates over 750 students on a daily basis in its four innovative autism day schools. Through its public awareness and outreach programs, graduate and postgraduate professional training, parent education programs and efforts at the state and national levels, The Help Group touches the lives of children with special needs across the United States and in other parts of the world.