At a press conference hosted by Heidelberg University Hospital on March 7, 2025, representatives from the fields of clinical practice, science, school and a self-help association at a press conference held by Heidelberg University Hospital on March 7, 2025. The press conference is part of the scientific conference Autism Spectrum (WTAS), which brings together about 300 participants for the first time in Heidelberg from March 6 to 8, 2025.
Autism is a complex developmental disorder with many faces. It takes a great deal of clinical experience to diagnose and effectively treat autism spectrum disorders. In recent years, however, knowledge about diagnostics, possible causes, individual courses, and therapies has grown considerably, and a wide range of support is now available.
We cordially invite you to the:
Press conference “Autismus weiterdenken!” on March 7, 2025 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Neue Universität Heidelberg, ground floor lecture hall 03, Universitätsplatz 1, 69117 Heidelberg.
Registration at presse@med.uni-heidelberg.de is requested
Experts and topics:
Perspectives for good care – Prof. Dr. Luise Poustka, Medical Director of the Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie (Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy) at the Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg (Heidelberg University Hospital), Conference President of the 16th WTAS, and Board Member of the Scientific Society for Autism Spectrum Disorders, will speak about diagnostic and therapeutic care and the interplay between clinical practice and research in Heidelberg.
School and autism – Caroline Perotto and Gerald Brandt, autism advisors at the Mannheim State Education Authority, talk about counseling services and how parents are supported at schools.
Lovable and different – Tanja Holeczek, deputy chair of the Autismus Nordbaden-Pfalz e.V. self-help association, provides insights into the everyday lives of people with autism and their families.
Research with children for children – Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Marschik, head of the Systemic Ethology and Developmental Sciences work group at the Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital in Heidelberg, presents the Phenomobile. This mobile research laboratory can be used to monitor the neurobiological development of babies in detail. After the press conference, there will be an opportunity to experience the examination of a (healthy) baby in the Phenomobile on site.
How body language and eye contact can be decoded – Dr. rer. nat. Martin Schulte-Rüther, research associate at the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Heidelberg University Hospital, will present how social behavior can be measured.
The press conference will be moderated by Dr. Stefanie Seltmann, spokesperson of the University Hospital Heidelberg and the Medical Faculty Heidelberg of the University of Heidelberg.
The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Heidelberg University Hospital is hosting the 16th Scientific Conference on the Autism Spectrum (WTAS) this year. Together with the Scientific Society on the Autism Spectrum (WGAS), it is organizing the WTAS from March 6-8, 2025, for the first time in Heidelberg. In recent years, WTAS has established itself as the most important gathering of German-speaking autism researchers, where scientific findings are presented and discussed, including with people with autism and their families. Prof. Dr. Michele Noterdaeme is the chair of the Scientific Society for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Prof. Dr. Luise Poustka is the conference president of the 16th WTAS.
Further information on the conference and the lectures and workshops can be found at https://wgas-autismus.org/tagung-wtas/.
Please let us know if you will be attending the press conference and/or the conference at:
presse@med.uni-heidelberg.de
We look forward to seeing you.
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists
Medicine, Psychology
transregional, national
Press events
English
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