NORWICH – Heavy national media attention focused on autism this month is perhaps responsible for the strong number of registrations coming in for an educational conference to be held May 4 in Norwich.

The Family Resource Network Inc., which serves six upstate counties (including Chenango) from offices in Oneonta, sponsors the day-long event. It is scheduled to take place in the ballroom at Howard Johnson’s Hotel, 75 N. Broad St.

Network Director Pam Larsen said she has welcomed the myriad of news stories and advertisements in newspapers and on television. She has received word from many teachers, physicians, counselors and parents from Broome, Chemung, Delaware and Chenango counties that they will be attending.

“There’s certainly a lot of attention on autism and we are looking forward to helping people better understand it and teach them how to take better care of the growing number of autistic children that we have,” she said.

The conference is a first for the Family Resource Network. Larsen said her board chose to hold the event in Norwich because of the higher incidences of autism locally and the active support groups located here.

“There’s a lot of interest there amongst families,” she said.