SFASA16 Attendee Testimonials:
“Fabulous conference. I had a great time and am always astonished by how much I learn at these gatherings.”
“The contents of the conference were most relevant for parents like me with a non-verbal 22-year old child with many challenges. I was enlightened and scared at different times throughout the day but I also felt the sense of hope and belonging that I had not felt in any other Autism conference I attended in the past.”
“This was an amazing event. I hope there will be more events like this one to empower us parents to get more involved to change the hard reality that is facing us and our children.”
“Kudos to Jill and this amazing group to put together such an excellent conference. The topics are exactly what the families want and need, and the presentations are addressing the demands.”
“This was an amazing event. I hope there will be more events like this one to empower us parents to get more involved to change the hard reality that is facing us and our children. Thank you again, Jill and the team!”
“What a group! What an event! Thank you for the opportunities you provide and for elevating the dialogue on all these important topics.”
“Another amazing event! Each year gets deeper and richer.”
“Loved the conference. All the presenters I went to was awesome but I was most intrigued by Cuong Do's presentation and Jill laying clearly the problems our community is facing right at the beginning. Thanks for bringing in all the wonderful presenters and volunteers.”
“What an amazing conference.”
“Wonderful day - so much great info all day long!”
“Bravo on a terrific event! It should be heralded as a must-have event in all areas.”
“We had the best time at the conference this past Saturday. Thank you so very much for putting it on – it is truly and dearly appreciated!”
“Thank you Jill, it was really fabulous. Loved the break out groups especially!”
“Another sensational conference. Wish I could have been in eight places at the same time to see and hear it all.”
"Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to participate! You put on an amazing conference with really the cream of the crop in their areas! Equally insightful we're questions from the audience!"
"I was so impressed with the participants, presenters, and the organization of it all. Our exhibit and the breakout session I led elicited quite a response from those in attendance, and we were so pleased to offer a perspective of hope for parents who rightfully worry about what will happen when someday they are gone or incapable of being there for their children."
What attendees said they liked most:
"How well organized it was."
"Opportunities to learn and connect with participants."
"So many wonderful speakers. Difficult to decide which breakout session to go to."
"Variety of different topics available no matter the support level of the child."
"Seeing all of the parents and experts sharing and caring."
"It was very practical information and the experts were amazing."
"I liked the focus on practical information, especially on trusts and finances. I learned more than I expected to."
"The venue, the variety of sessions, nice to have drinks and lunch provided, well organized."
"The quality of content of speakers. Well organized, beautiful facility, easy to get to."
"Content was extremely valuable!"
"Connecting with other people problem solving same thing and learning from others."
"Excellent sessions on Regional Centers, (and) identifor.com."
"The first session was excellent and I wish we could have had double the time for the speakers."
"Those of us with kids with the most extreme behavior often don't have a home, even within the autism community, to share stories and find resources. I left this conference with connections to families and professionals I never even knew existed. That is a gift."
"Presenters had real life experience and were generally family members of special needs kids."
"Variety of speakers and topics pertinent to our situation."
"Liked the variety of presenters and options for break-outs."
"The break-out sections were great!"
"Well organized; lots of good information; information that was new, for example ABLE accounts."
"Practical topics."
"The presentations were mostly concise and informative and the pacing was excellent (nothing ran late)."
"I was very interested in the topic. I liked the setup (3 screens) it was very easy to get there, park, and see the speakers. I like that it was videotaped."
"Good speakers. Jill kept workshop on timetable. Enjoyed short lunch break and having speakers during lunch."
"Organized, low cost."
"I liked the topics covered."
"I liked hearing from various experts about things to consider about the future."
"Subjects were relevant and speakers knowledgeable."
"Multiple sources of information/perspective on housing and care options for adults with autism/DD."
"Many informative panelists."
"Well-run, informative."
"The event was excellent and I was so impressed. I am grateful to those who organized the event which was so helpful. Relevant topics with quality speakers. Ability to meet other parents. Ability to access slides online because so many great topics and couldn't go to all."
"Great speakers."
"There were so many wonderful resources for parents. I appreciated that it was a general conference where people could get various things that they need and make connections with leaders in the community."
"Topic was relevant as my child is 17; facilities and services (food) were very good; some speakers were excellent."
"Variety of offerings respecting variety of neurodiversity."
"Everything was well done, relevant, and important! Only wish I could have been in two places at one time for some of the breakout sessions! Keep up the great work! Thanks so much!!!"
"I really liked the speakers. I also enjoyed purchasing products from young adults with autism."
"It was well planned and very informative. The lunch and coffee were well done. Events were kept on schedule."
"Session on IPP and regional centers."
"Variety. I could find topics directly related to my needs. Not a lot of dead time. Fast pace. I love Desiree Kameka. Love hearing of groups that are succeeding in building places."
"Adult focused."
"The legal experts, benefit experts and trustees were very accessible and answered so many questions I had."
"Great knowledge by the speakers and great content."
"Topics were great. Facilities nice."
"Clarity, Connections, networking exposure to new ideas, HOPE."
"The venue, the speakers, the topics, live stream, the Spanish translation, the resource fair and the different topics in the classrooms."
"Location, diversity of speakers, quality of presentations."
"Well organized, great speakers."
"Info about jobs for people with autism."
"Focus on Adults and Transition from school based to State funded programs."
"In depth discussion on very practical topics."
"Well organized and a wide array of relevant topics."
"The breadth of topics and the orderliness."
"The content and venue."
"Hearing about what other families are going thru and how they are coping."
"Professionally produced. Some good speakers."
"The networking. The information. The hope and the true explanation of the dire problems."
"Opportunity to think about important upcoming issues for my sons."
"The in-depth relevance of the Breakout Sessions."
"This was incredibly valuable. Very concrete, very practical. Started and stayed at a high level- avoided survey-intro stuff. Lots of direct access and Q&A. I feel extremely grateful."
"How well organized it was."
"Opportunities to learn and connect with participants."
"So many wonderful speakers. Difficult to decide which breakout session to go to."
"Variety of different topics available no matter the support level of the child."
"Seeing all of the parents and experts sharing and caring."
"It was very practical information and the experts were amazing."
"I liked the focus on practical information, especially on trusts and finances. I learned more than I expected to."
"The venue, the variety of sessions, nice to have drinks and lunch provided, well organized."
"The quality of content of speakers. Well organized, beautiful facility, easy to get to."
"Content was extremely valuable!"
"Connecting with other people problem solving same thing and learning from others."
"Excellent sessions on Regional Centers, (and) identifor.com."
"The first session was excellent and I wish we could have had double the time for the speakers."
"Those of us with kids with the most extreme behavior often don't have a home, even within the autism community, to share stories and find resources. I left this conference with connections to families and professionals I never even knew existed. That is a gift."
"Presenters had real life experience and were generally family members of special needs kids."
"Variety of speakers and topics pertinent to our situation."
"Liked the variety of presenters and options for break-outs."
"The break-out sections were great!"
"Well organized; lots of good information; information that was new, for example ABLE accounts."
"Practical topics."
"The presentations were mostly concise and informative and the pacing was excellent (nothing ran late)."
"I was very interested in the topic. I liked the setup (3 screens) it was very easy to get there, park, and see the speakers. I like that it was videotaped."
"Good speakers. Jill kept workshop on timetable. Enjoyed short lunch break and having speakers during lunch."
"Organized, low cost."
"I liked the topics covered."
"I liked hearing from various experts about things to consider about the future."
"Subjects were relevant and speakers knowledgeable."
"Multiple sources of information/perspective on housing and care options for adults with autism/DD."
"Many informative panelists."
"Well-run, informative."
"The event was excellent and I was so impressed. I am grateful to those who organized the event which was so helpful. Relevant topics with quality speakers. Ability to meet other parents. Ability to access slides online because so many great topics and couldn't go to all."
"Great speakers."
"There were so many wonderful resources for parents. I appreciated that it was a general conference where people could get various things that they need and make connections with leaders in the community."
"Topic was relevant as my child is 17; facilities and services (food) were very good; some speakers were excellent."
"Variety of offerings respecting variety of neurodiversity."
"Everything was well done, relevant, and important! Only wish I could have been in two places at one time for some of the breakout sessions! Keep up the great work! Thanks so much!!!"
"I really liked the speakers. I also enjoyed purchasing products from young adults with autism."
"It was well planned and very informative. The lunch and coffee were well done. Events were kept on schedule."
"Session on IPP and regional centers."
"Variety. I could find topics directly related to my needs. Not a lot of dead time. Fast pace. I love Desiree Kameka. Love hearing of groups that are succeeding in building places."
"Adult focused."
"The legal experts, benefit experts and trustees were very accessible and answered so many questions I had."
"Great knowledge by the speakers and great content."
"Topics were great. Facilities nice."
"Clarity, Connections, networking exposure to new ideas, HOPE."
"The venue, the speakers, the topics, live stream, the Spanish translation, the resource fair and the different topics in the classrooms."
"Location, diversity of speakers, quality of presentations."
"Well organized, great speakers."
"Info about jobs for people with autism."
"Focus on Adults and Transition from school based to State funded programs."
"In depth discussion on very practical topics."
"Well organized and a wide array of relevant topics."
"The breadth of topics and the orderliness."
"The content and venue."
"Hearing about what other families are going thru and how they are coping."
"Professionally produced. Some good speakers."
"The networking. The information. The hope and the true explanation of the dire problems."
"Opportunity to think about important upcoming issues for my sons."
"The in-depth relevance of the Breakout Sessions."
"This was incredibly valuable. Very concrete, very practical. Started and stayed at a high level- avoided survey-intro stuff. Lots of direct access and Q&A. I feel extremely grateful."
You are visiting the SFASA16 conference website.
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area main website: sfautismsociety.org
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area main website: sfautismsociety.org