Regional IMFAR 2017, September 7-9, South Africa

Africa Regional INSAR, Stellenbosch, South Africa, September 2017

The first regional meeting of INSAR took place in Stellenbosch, South Africa in September 2017. INSAR and Autism Speaks teamed up with the South African Association for Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists and Allied Professions (SA-ACAPAP) and the African Association for Child & Adolescent Mental Health (AACAMH) to bring together over 300 professionals from more than 25 countries for this event.

• For a 7-minute short film about the Africa Regional IMFAR, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTsww9DcyLE
  
• For a 20-minute film about the Africa Regional IMFAR, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Ei7eKmjdI
  
• Additional Presentation Links:  https://easternsun.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/saacapap-congress-2017/saacapap-2017/ExtraContent/ContentPage?page=9

• Spectrum News Articles:
  • September 8, 2017:  South African children with autism may lack access to schools
    
  • September 11, 2017: Studies highlight need to adapt autism tests for African cultures
    
  • December 13, 2017:  Why autism remains hidden in Africa
    

Regional IMFAR 2015, Shanghai, China (see link below for session recordings)

Aim: INSAR wishes to broaden its global reach by co-hosting Regional IMFAR Meetings in locations where our members may be less able to attend IMFAR annual meetings, and/or where local organizers are interested in building a stronger autism research community. Periodically the Board will issue a Call for Proposals for Regional IMFAR Meetings outside North America and Europe.

Scope: INSAR Regional IMFAR Meetings are held in partnership with local research, clinical, and stakeholder groups.

Timing: We held the first Regional IMFAR in 2015 (in Shanghai).  The second Regional IMFAR will be held September 2017 (in South Africa). The frequency of such meetings is to be decided,  but INSAR will not hold a Regional IMFAR in the same year that the main IMFAR meeting takes place outside North America (currently scheduled for 2018, 2023, etc).

How to Make a Proposal:  Current INSAR Members will receive email announcements when the next Call for Proposals opens.  If you know of an ideal location outside North America/Europe, where there are local groups eager to partner with INSAR to hold a Regional IMFAR Meeting, we would be pleased to have you participate in the next proposal process.

Session Recordings:   Below are links to view the Master Course presentation videos from Regional IMFAR 2015.