Autism discussion set at Vanderbilt

May 11, 2009 Tennessean DAVIDSON COUNTY There will be a panel discussion on autism spectrum disorders beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, in the MRL Building at the intersection of 21st and Edgehill avenues. The event is free. Topics for discussion will include sleep, psychiatry, gastroenterology, neurology and epilepsy, genetics, and metabolics in treating autism. Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships. It is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. An information session on the Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Family First program, a series of free workshops serving families of children ages 2-5 with autism spectrum disorder, will be included. Limited free child care is available. Reservations are required by today. For more information or to pre-register, visit http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/registration, or call 322-8240.