Services

On-Site Workshop: This workshop can be scheduled at your agency, school, or
program. Behavior Intervention Specialists, Inc can represent Dr. Thompson in making
contractual agreements, scheduling, and travel. The following information should
answer most of your questions regarding the content and Dr. Thompson's credentials.
Information about Behavior Intervention Specialists, Inc is at the bottom of this page, as
is our contact information.

Background and Rationale:   The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), as amended
by Public Law 101-476 in 1990, expanded the definition of “disabilities” to include
children with autism. This legislation identified autism as a unique disability, which led
to renewed emphasis and interest in studying the causes, prevalence and treatment
options of people with autism. A 1995 National Institutes of Health (NIH) conference on
the state of scientific knowledge in autism brought together the foremost authorities on
autism in the nation. The current presenter, Travis Thompson, was a participant in the
conference. This workshop is based on Dr. Thompson’s many years of experience with
people with autism and the most current knowledge concerning cause of and
interventions for autism.

TRAVIS THOMPSON, Ph.D.
Dr. Travis Thompson is Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of
Minnesota (Minneapolis) where he is affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics Autism
Clinic and the Center for Neurobehavioral Development. He received his doctorate in
Psychology at the University of Minnesota and did postdoctoral training at the University
of Maryland and advanced behavioral science training at Cambridge University (UK).
He spent several years as the Executive Program Director of a community-based
behavior therapy program for young children with autism spectrum disorders in
Minneapolis, MN where he directly supervised services to a large number of children
with ASD. He has served as a consultant to public school autism programs in
Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN and Nashville TN. He is a licensed psychologist
(Minnesota).

Travis Thompson has worked in the field of developmental disabilities as a researcher,
teacher and clinician for over 35 years. He was previously Director of the John F.
Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development at Vanderbilt University, and the
Institute for Child Development (University of Kansas Medical Center). He was co-editor
of one of the first books concerned with behavior therapy methods for individuals with
developmental disabilities. He has published over 240 articles and chapters and 27
books, including Self-Injurious Behavior: Genes-Brain and Behavior (with Schroeder
and Oster-Granite) published in 2001 and International Handbook of Applied Research
in Intellectual Disability (with Emerson, Hatton and Parmenter, 2004). He has been an
invited speaker in 13 countries and 40 states within the U.S.   He has held numerous
offices and received awards for his work in developmental disabilities including serving
as President of the Division on Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (33) of
the American Psychological Association. He was recipient of the Don Hake Award of
Division 25 of the American Psychological Association for "Exceptional Contributions to
Basic Behavioral Research and its Applications”. Thompson was recipient of the
American Association for Mental Retardation Research Award (1995), the Arc USA
Distinguished Research Award (1996), and the Academy on Mental Retardation Career
Research Award (1998). He has served on numerous national committees, including
the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Committee of the
National Institute of Child Health & Human Development as well as other federal
agencies and the American Psychological Association. He has previously served as a
member of professional advisory committees to autism parent advocacy organizations
in Minnesota and Kansas.

Workshop Objectives: After the workshop, the participants will be able to discuss the
following:
•        Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome & PDD: Prevalence and differential diagnosis
•        Critical features of autism
•        Genetics and brain abnormalities associated with autism: Implications for
    understanding communication deficits and other behavior problems
•        Behavioral supports in educational and habilitative services for people with autism
    and PDD
•        Communication training in autism
•        Pharmacological management of anxiety problems, sleep disorder and tantrums
    in autism

Who Should Attend:   This workshop will provide essential information for autism
program staff, behavior analysts, psychologists, special educators, speech and
language staff, and school administrators

Workshop Format: The format of the workshop will include lecture, graphics,
videotape, and discussion of specific concerns shared by the audience.

                       WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
              8:00 to   8:30    Registration & Coffee
              8:30 to 11:30    Morning Session
            11:30 to 12:30    Lunch
             12:30 to 3:30    Workshop Continues

About Behavior Intervention Specialists, Inc
Since 1985, we have sponsored over 850 training workshops in 44 states and two
Canadian provinces, with total attendance of over 38,000. Workshop topics have
included -- active treatment, aggression, autism, behavioral diagnostics, dual diagnosis,
functional analysis, medication, self-injurious behavior, sexuality, social skills training,
and traumatic head injury.

Additional Information: Please call Dr. Walt Antonow at 662-234-1640 for any
additional information regarding the workshop, or if you have questions about the cost
of the workshop and/or Dr. Thompson's availability..