Autism Research UK

from diagnosis to intervention

National Conference 11-12 May 2007, The Open University

General Information for Delegates

Transport and travel arrangements
The Open University central campus is located at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes, midway between London and Birmingham, and Oxford and Cambridge. The OU is sited on the South East side of Milton Keynes, close to junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

By Car
From M1, Junction 14: Follow signs for Milton Keynes, taking A509 to first roundabout (Northfield roundabout). Take first left A5130 signposted to Woburn Sands for two miles. At next roundabout (Kingston roundabout) with BP garage on left, take third exit signposted A5/ Aylesbury/ Dunstable/ Walnut Tree/ Universities. Go straight over the next roundabout (Walnut Tree). At the following roundabout (Walton), turn right, the first left for the East entrance to the campus. The main reception is located in the Berrill Building.
From M1, Junction 13: Follow signs for Milton Keynes, taking A421 for 3 1/2 miles to the Kingston roundabout. Take second exit onto Groveway (H9), signposted A5/Aylesbury/Dunstable/Walnut Tree/Universities. Go straight over the next roundabout (Walnut Tree).At the following roundabout (Walton), turn right, then first left for the East entrance to the campus. The main reception is located in the Berrill Building. By Train: The University is about four miles from Milton Keynes Central station, on the London (Euston) to Birmingham line. MK Central is an Intercity stop. Trains are frequent and the journey time from Euston varies between 35-60 minutes.

An OU minibus service will operate outside the Berrill building (reception) to transfer delegates between the OU and Accenture at the following specified times:

Friday 11 May, 7.30am - 9.30am
Friday 11 May, 5.00pm - 7.45pm (last service will depart the OU at 7.30pm)
Saturday 12 May, 8.30am - 9.30am
Saturday 12 May, 5.00 - 6.30pm

Coach services: A coach service will be provided to transport delegates from the OU (Berrill building) to Accenture on Friday 11 May (this will leave the OU at 7.00pm). Transportation will also be provided between Accenture and Bletchley Park for the conference dinner on May 11th. Coaches will depart promptly at 7.45pm from Accenture (outside main entrance), and will return at the end of the evening. Delegates who have registered for the dinner will receive a ticket at registration – please ensure that you wear your conference badges and have your ticket to hand, to pass to an administrator at the time of boarding. Please also let us know if you have registered for the Conference dinner and are intending to make your own way to the venue independently.

Taxi companies: Skyline taxis 01908 222111; MK Taxis 01908 585656

Bus services: 10, 11, 20 and 22 services pass within the OU (bus stops located on St.Michael’s drive) Monday to Friday. There are limited services available on Saturdays (on Brickhill, and Groveway, outside the OU campus). Services 10 and 20 operate between the Central Railway Station, Central Milton Keynes (shopping area) and the OU, half hourly. For further information or to refer to a timetable, please enquire at the registration desk. A member of the administrative staff will be pleased to assist with any further transport and travel enquiries - please ask at the registration desk.

Accommodation
Pre-booked accommodation for the conference has been provided at special discounted rates for delegates by Accenture at Kents Hill Park, located on Timbold Drive (opposite the OU), which is a few minutes walk from the campus. Booking information was issued at the time of registration, and is also available online at http://www.open.ac.uk/ARUK2007/accom.htm. Please contact Accenture directly with respect to any booking or accommodation enquiries. We regret that we are unable to provide delegates with details of additional accommodation, and cannot take responsibility for ensuring availability of accommodation at short notice.

Accenture Main Reception: 01908 358000; Reference: Autism Conference (OU).
Contact person: Juna Davis, Telephone:01908358055;
E-mail: juna.l.davis@accenture.com;
Website: www.accenturehotelandconferencing.com.

Should you require alternative accommodation, please call the MK Accommodation line on
0844 8009694.

Meeting locations
All scientific sessions will take place in the Berrill building. Keynote presentations will be held in the main Berrill lecture theatre/auditorium. Poster displays will be available on the foyer/mezzanine and ground floors. Exhibits are located in the foyer/mezzanine outside the entrance to the auditorium. Mid-morning and afternoon refreshments will be available on the ground floor of the Berrill building. Lunch will be provided in the Old Lecture Theatre on day 1 (Friday 11 May) and on the ground floor of the Berrill building on day 2 (Saturday 12 May). The reception will also be held in the Berrill building. The conference dinner is to be held at Bletchley Park, centre of Britain’s war-time code-breaking operations, with an optional tour of the ‘Colossus’, the forerunner of modern-day computers. A minibus service will operate between the conference venue (Open University) and Accenture in Kents Hill during set times of the day on both days of the meeting. A coach service will be provided to transport delegates from the Reception to Accenture (for those staying at this accommodation) and for the journeys from Accenture/OU to Bletchley Park, and back, for the conference dinner on Friday 11th. For further details, refer to transport and travel arrangements below, and to the social events pages.

Registration and enquiries
The registration desk is located in the entrance foyer on the first floor of the Berrill building. Registration will be open from 8.00am until 5.30pm on Friday 11 May and 9.00am until 1pm on Saturday 12 May. The telephone number for main OU visitor’s reception is 01908 653000 and the main OU switchboard is 01908 274066 (available during normal office hours, 9am-5pm). For urgent calls outside normal hours and on Saturday, please contact the Security Office at the OU on 01908 653666. Delegates are requested to register on arrival, and to collect their conference materials, and badge. Conference badges must be worn for the duration of the meeting, and for the reception and conference dinner. Pre-booked tickets for the conference dinner will be issued at registration, and transportation will be provided to and from the conference dinner venue at Bletchley Park. If you have registered for the Conference dinner, and are intending to make your own way to the venue, please do let us know in advance.

Refreshments and lunch venues
Mid-morning and afternoon refreshments on both days of the meeting will be available on the ground floor of the Berrill building. Lunch will be provided in the Old Lecture Theatre on day 1 (Friday 11 May) and on the ground floor of the Berrill building on day 2 (Saturday 12 May). Please refer to the map of the OU campus, on the inside back cover of this booklet, or ask a member of the administrative staff who will be happy to offer guidance. The route to the Old Lecture Theatre will also be signposted.

Audiovisual arrangements
Please note that the majority of keynote presenters have given permission for their presentation to be audio and video-recorded, as part of a resource that will be associated with this conference. Additionally, questions from the floor and general discussions may also be audio (but not video) recorded as part of the conference proceedings, with anonymity ensured. Please contact a member of the administration team should you have any specific queries.

Media coverage
There will be limited press coverage at the meeting (the Psychologist, Autism Connect/AWARES confirmed).

Photography and filming
Photography and filming during any of the scientific sessions are prohibited, unless specific permission has been sought in advance from the conference organisers.

Mobile phones
Please ensure that your mobile phone is switched off (this also includes vibration and silent modes) whilst in the Berrill auditorium, as reception will cause interference with electronic audio-visual equipment.

Storage of luggage and cloakroom
Light luggage and coats may be left in a designated area located on the third floor (room 1) of the Berrill building, accessible by a member of the administrative staff. Please notify the registration desk if you need to store luggage, and a member of the administration team will be happy to assist you. A ticket will be issued for each item requiring storage. Coat racks are also provided outside the auditorium for standard Items of clothing (coats/jackets). These are left at the owner’s risk. Please do not bring large items of luggage into the auditorium.

Disabled access and elevators
All venues at the Open University have disabled access. Elevators are in operation between the foyer/mezzanine, upper and ground floors of the Berrill building, and access to the auditorium is ramped. Please see a member of the conference administrative team if you need assistance. If you are attending the conference dinner, please do also let us know of any specific mobility problems so that transportation can be arranged.

Parking at the OU
Parking spaces are very limited at the University and are not guaranteed during normal working hours. If you are intending to travel by car, and require parking space at the OU on Friday 11 May, please ensure that you arrive before 8.30am for registration. Parking will be less restricted on Saturday 12 May.

Security
For security purposes, please ensure that you wear your conference badge (clearly visible) for the duration of the meeting, and for the social events (drinks reception and conference dinner). This is essential in order to identify your status as a conference delegate. In case of loss or damage, replacement badges are available from the registration desk at an additional charge of £5.

Liability
The conference organisers, administrative staff, and the Open University will not be responsible for, and shall be exempt from, all liability in respect of any personal injury, accident, and loss or damage ensuing to personal items or equipment during the meeting. Speakers, chairpersons, exhibitors and delegates are responsible for their own personal insurance cover.