DETROIT, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Metro Parent Magazine and Henry Ford Health System welcome you to the fourth annual "Living with Autism Workshop," April 28, 2011 at the Somerset Inn in Troy. Join author Eileen Garvin, along with author John Shouse, as they share their stories, struggles and amazing moments coping with autism.

Eileen Garvin, keynote speaker and author of How to Be a Sister: A Love Story with a Twist of Autism, explores the simultaneously awkward, hilarious, and heartbreaking situations she experienced as a younger sister to Margaret, diagnosed with severe autism at age 3. A deeply felt, impeccably written memoir, How to Be a Sister will speak to siblings, parents, friends, and teachers of people with autism--and to anyone who sometimes struggles to connect with someone difficult or different.

John Shouse, co-author of The Autism Checklist: A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers, has served as the president of the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee for six years and four years as a vice chair of the national board of the Autism Society of America. Shouse will share the victories and challenges of raising an autistic child from a father's perspective.

Many parents with children affected with autism are faced with the questions, "What's next?" "What other obstacles will I have to overcome as my child grows?" "What challenges will I be approaching in their teens and adulthood?" With a focus on transition issues, attendees will have the opportunity to choose from 15 breakout sessions offered by autism specialists. They may also visit a variety of vendor booths to help further their knowledge on autism. The fourth annual "Living with Autism Workshop" is ideal for parents, family members, educators, counselors and health professionals, giving them the opportunity to connect with those who are also working and dealing with autism.

Metro Parent Magazine and Henry Ford Health System's fourth annual "Living With Autism Workshop" will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Somerset Inn in Troy. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8 a.m. Sponsors include Hantz Group, Madonna University, Building Bridges Therapy Center, Shea, Aiello, Doxsie, Coraci & Grusel Law Firm, Easter Seals of Southeast Michigan and Kaufman Children's Center.  Tickets are $75 if purchased before April 6, $95 if purchased after April 6 and $20 additional for CEU credits. To purchase tickets and for additional information on this event, please visit metroparent.com or contact Lisa Grace at 248-398-3400, ext. 128.

SOURCE Metro Parent Magazine