Vallejo's Touro University hosts World Autism Awareness Lunch

Times-Herald - 3/20/2019

March 20-- Mar. 20--Touro University California hosts its first-ever free World Autism Awareness Lunch at the campus's Farragut Inn Ballroom on April 2, university officials announced. The event is open to the public.

Autism, which is usually a life-long condition, affects an estimated 1 in 59 children in the U.S. and can be reliably diagnosed around age 2 to 4, Touro spokesman John Promani said. "As such, parents of young children, family and friends of those diagnosed with autism, medical professionals, and others interested in knowing more about autism, would be interested and benefit from attending" the Touro event.

Autism affects more than 70 million people worldwide, he said.

Touro's Graduate School of Education offers a master's degree in special education, which trains local school leadership and experts in evidence-based practices to aid in the development and support of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The upcoming event will feature autism experts from the Graduate School of Education and College of Osteopathic Medicine, who actively present at events like the California Association for Behavior Analysis Western Regional Conference, Promani said. Faculty in Touro's College of Osteopathic Medicine are running a trial to treat children who have ASD with Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, and "We also have pediatricians in the college who are well experienced in providing treatment to those with ASD," Promani said.

"Learn from your community and have your voice heard in the open mic," he said.

Event organizers urge attendees to wear blue in solidarity, "and join the Touro University California community over lunch for awareness and understanding and hear from expert speakers, take advantage of an open mic and participate in a campus photo," organizers said.

The event is being held in the Farragut Inn Ballroom, 1750 Club Drive, on Vallejo's Mare Island, from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2.

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