NORWICH – The safety risks associated with autism and how care providers and emergency responders should treat individuals with the disorder will be subjects of a conference held in Norwich this weekend.

Family Resource Network, based in Oneonta, offers a conference for parents, educators, human service and autism professionals from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and training sessions for law enforcement professionals and emergency management responders from 12:30 to 4 p.m., both on June 13 and 14 at the Canasawacta Country Club, 261 County Road 44 (Country Club Road) in Norwich.

Professional investigator and law enforcement trainer Dennis Debbaudt is the featured speaker. A proud father of Brad, a young man who has autism, Debbaudt is also an author and autism advocate. He has authored or co-authored over 30 articles, chapters, reports and books, including: Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals: Recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and articles for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.

“I’ve had the pleasure of attending one of Mr. Debbaudt’s sessions in the past, and they are entertaining, funny and bring the point home in a real way,” said Shelley Hubal, autism conference coordinator for Family Resource Network.