Olympia, WA (PRWEB) February 23, 2007 -- It's been more than three years since Olympia mother, Therese Holliday, lost her nine-year-old son, Wyatt, in a horrible car accident on Interstate 5, but she continues to honor his memory through her work to support families with special needs children.

Wyatt had Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), giving Holliday nine years of experience with a special needs child. Now, through The Wyatt Holliday Foundation, she is giving back by using that experience to help other parents with special needs children.

According to a December 2006 Department of Health report on ASD, the disorder affects as many as 1 in 166 children nationally. Other reports claim 1 in 133. In Washington, the rate is estimated to be between 2-6 children per 1,000. According to the report, ASD is as common as juvenile diabetes, and more common than childhood cancer, Down Syndrome, deafness, or cystic fibrosis.

To help families, educators, care providers, policymakers, legislators and other professionals understand the variety of special needs diagnoses, including their treatments, therapies, health impacts as well as legal and legislative impacts from childhood through adulthood, Holliday has joined forces with the Autism Society of Washington to co-host the Brighter Tomorrows: Best in the Northwest Special Needs Conference.

What: The Brighter Tomorrows: Best in the Northwest Special Needs Conference is a collaboration between The Autism Society of Washington (ASW) & The Wyatt Holliday Foundation.

When: March 9-10, 2007 at Saint Martin's University, Norman Worthington Conference Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE in Lacey.

Who: The expert line-up features 40 guest speakers, including special guests:
- Felice Orlich, the Assistant Director of the UW Tacoma Autism Center, who will keynote the Friday session; and
- Longtime Seattle sportscaster and motivational speaker Tony Ventrella, who will keynote the Saturday session.

Cost: Early-bird prices range from $135 for an ASW member for one day to $565 for a group of three for the full two-day session. Prices increase at the door.

Web site/registration: http://www.wyattshouse.org/2007conference.htm

For More Information Contact:
Therese Holliday, (360) 507-0944

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