The Help Group's Advance LA to Host Second Annual Transition Conference for Parents, Professionals, and Young Adults

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Mar 25, 2013, 01:22 ET

LOS ANGELES, March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As young adults with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, Asperger's Disorder, executive functioning challenges, and other social or emotional issues prepare to transition to college, the workforce, and beyond, they often experience a lack of resources and guidance to help them along the way. Advance LA is a program of The Help Group that specializes in preparing these young people for a successful future. This year, Advance LA will host the Innovate Conference for parents, professionals, and young adults to collaborate and explore ways to successfully navigate the transition process. Registration is now open for the conference, which will be held in Los Angeles on Friday, April 26 for parents and professionals and Saturday, April 27 for teens and young adults.

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Day one of the conference will bring together a community of professionals and parents who will explore innovative and viable strategies to ease the transition between high school and the next step. Notable conference presenters for day one include Keynote Address speaker Erik Carter, PhD, Associate Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University; David Finch, author of The New York Times Best Seller, The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger's Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to be a Better Husband; and Douglas Gentile, PhD, author of Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy.

Day two, the first conference of its kind designed specifically for teens and young adults, will feature a number of hands-on interactive workshops that provide attendees with the opportunity to learn new skills and interact with peers. Workshops will be conducted on topics such as searching for a job, exploring creative arts, managing stress, healthy living, college exploration and success, and building relationships with others.

"We are so excited to offer our transition conference for a second year," said Diane Flannery, PhD, Director of Design and Strategy at The Help Group. "There are very few resources available that specifically address the needs of these young people and their families, and our conference aims to provide parents, professionals, and young adults themselves with the opportunity to work together in a supportive setting and brainstorm ways to tackle the transition process."

For more information and to register, please visit www.advancela.org/conference. For more information about The Help Group, visit www.thehelpgroup.org.

SOURCE The Help Group