Seminar to offer professional, personal and spiritual resources for families dealing with autism on Nov. 5

“Faith Renewed: Studying Autism, Finding Humility” with autism expert Prof. Sandra Burkhardt

Chicago (Oct. 26, 2011) Autism expert and Saint Xavier University Professor of Psychology Sandra Burkhardt, Ph.D., ABPP, will lead a seminar geared toward families of people with autism from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Sat., Nov. 5 at the Mercy Convent/Cramer Room at 3659 W. 99th St., just east of Mother McAuley High School. The event is free and open to the public.

Burkhardt will lead the discussion titled “Faith Renewed: Studying Autism, Finding Humility." The event will give an overview of “Project Respect,” a Mercy-inspired community outreach program for families of persons with autism spectrum disorders, as well as professional, personal and spiritual resources to help families address the condition.

Burkhardt is a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology and was the first woman in Illinois to receive national specialty board certification in clinical child and adolescent psychology. Burkhardt received the Mary Pottery Humanitarian Award in 2007 for her work on behalf of families of persons with autism spectrum disorders.

This event is part of the "Growing in Wisdom, Age and Grace: Monthly Experiences in Spiritual Growth" spiritual ministry outreach series, put forth by the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Associates. The program is motivated by the desire to seek fullness of life at every age, to develop a wide and spiritually grounded perspective animated by the Gospel of Jesus and the passionate, practical spirituality of Sisters of Mercy founder Catherine McAuley. The next event is "Catherine McAuley's Christian Beliefs and Motivations" with Sr. Mary C. Sullivan, dean emerita of the College of Liberal Arts at the Rochester Institute of Technology on Sat., Dec. 3.

For more information, please contact Avis Clendenen at clendenen@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu