The Governor's Commission on Autism will meet on Thursday, August 28, on the campus of Emporia State University in Emporia. The meeting, which will be from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., will be in the Hubbard Board Room in Sauder Alumni Center, 1500 High Street.

The meeting will begin with a public forum at 9:30 a.m. Anyone requesting information about Autism may ask questions during the public forum.

A neurological disorder that interfere with communications skills, Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that makes learning difficult and can lead to serious behavior problems.

The guest speaker during the public meeting will be Dr. Gary Daniels, superintendent of Parsons State Hospital and Training Center (PSH&TC). Dr. Daniels will discuss a new community support team operating out of the PSH&TC called Dual Diagnosis and Training Service (DDTTS). DDTTS has recently become the primary referral point in Kansas for persons with a developmental disability and mental illness or other severe behavior problems whose needs are not being met be existing community resources.

The commission will also spend time during the meeting studying the level of services available to people with Autism in Kansas.

For more information, please contact Cindy Capellari at (785) 368-6616 or send a note to Cindy at SRS Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities, Docking State Office Building, 5th floor north, 915 SW Harrison, Topeka, Kansas 66612.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001