Registration closes Wednesday, Oct. 15 for the third annual Martha’s Vineyard Community Services fall training conference entitled Different Like Me: Learning from the Experts.

The two-day conference begins on Friday, Oct. 24. It is an opportunity for Island professionals to enhance connections between services that support individuals and families.

The Island community (like the rest of the country) has experienced a substantial increase in the number of children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit disorder. These issues will be covered.

In addition, people with physical and mental disabilities have increased survival rates and longer, more productive lives; there are high rates of domestic and sexual violence; and the Island population has considerable language and cultural differences.

Different Like Me: Learning from the Experts offers presentations by successful people who have experienced a disability, including these.

The conference will be held at the Winnetu Inn and Resort in Katama. Speakers will include Dr. Barry S. Fogel, Lisa Halpern, Keith Jones, Elizabeth Brenner, Nancy Raine and Dr. Edward Hallowell.

For a full conference schedule, course descriptions, presenter biographies, and online registratio, see online mvcommunityservices.com/conference.

This year, MVCS is extending its reach into the community by providing a pre-conference screening of Including Samuel, a powerful documentary about inclusion of people with disabilities. The film will screen Thursday evening, Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center and is free and open to the community. Conference presenters (including a presenter featured in the documentary) will be on hand for discussion following the showing of the film.

“This conference brings together our community’s psychotherapists, counselors, first responders, nurses, clergy, social workers, psychiatrists, law enforcement professionals, and teachers along with nationally renowned experts to learn, problem-solve and create a better network,” said Tom Bennett, associate director of Community Services.

For more information, call 508-693-7900, extension 267.