4th Annual Advance LA Conference
The Science of Happiness: Purpose. Connection. Optimism. Grit.
Presenting cutting-edge research and best practices for young adults with autism, learning differences and ADHD.
Advance LA is thrilled to announce our 2015 Conference theme, The Science of Happiness: Purpose. Connection. Optimism. Grit. The Advance LA Conference presents cutting-edge research and best practices for young adults with autism, learning differences and ADHD. This year’s theme strives to answer the question of how we create and maintain happiness through four building blocks of happiness: purpose, connection, optimism and grit.
“The enthusiasm expressed by our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for this unique conference has been overwhelming. We look forward to bringing parents and experts together to discuss practical applications of the latest happiness research” said Jill Rosenberg, Advance LA Director.
“The study of happiness is important,” says Keynote Speaker, Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD., “because happiness is one of the most salient and significant dimensions of human experience and emotional life, because happiness yields numerous rewards for the individual, and because it makes for a better, healthier, stronger society.”
Registration is now open for the conference, which will be hosted at the American Jewish University on Friday, May 1, 2015. This one-of-a-kind conference offers sessions focusing on the needs of transitional age young adults with autism, Asperger’s disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), executive functioning difficulties, learning disabilities, and mental health issues including dual diagnosis. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at the University of California – Riverside, will be the Keynote Speaker. Presenters include Dr. Andrew Shatte, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Anthony Rostain, Dr. Brian Galla, Dr. Liz Laugeson, Dr. Jenni Mariano, Dr. Shauna Shapiro, Dr. Bonnie Aurbach and Lisa King.
The Advance LA Conference is open to parents, educators, clinicians, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students. Continuing education credits will be available. An early bird rate of $65 for students, $90 for parents and $135 for professionals seeking CEUs will be available through Friday, March 13, 2015.
About Advance LA
Advance LA, an innovative program of The Help Group, provides individualized transition support, training, and resources to teens and young adults with a wide range of needs including learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, executive functioning difficulties, ADHD, and other social or emotional issues.
About the Help Group
Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children with special needs related to autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems.
The Help Group’s seven specialized day schools offer pre-K through high school programs for more than 1,400 students. The Help Group’s broad range of mental health and therapy services, child abuse and residential programs extends its reach to more than 6,000 children and their families each year. With more than 900 staff members, The Help Group’s state-of-the-art schools and programs are located on six campuses in the Los Angeles area.
The Help Group is widely regarded for its high standards of excellence, unique scope and breadth of services. Through its public awareness, professional training and parent education programs and efforts at the state and national levels, The Help Group touches the lives of children with special needs across the country and in other parts of the world.
At the heart of its effort is the commitment to helping young people fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives.