With the experience gained so far, and having had the feed back on the workability and suitability of the Upanayan Early Intervention programme from several service providers who have systematically used it, the Centre conducted a two-day international conference, on Early Intervention in Mental Retardation at Chennai in December 2004. The conference was successful wherein the delegates had a valuable update in the knowledge and skills in the field from leading experts in the world, which would facilitate their serving the needy ones better. The conference made significant recommendations to all agencies concerned in prevention and rehabilitation in the field.

Encouraged by the out come of the first conference the Centre has planned to conduct a second international conference to update the professionals and others concerned with the developments since the last one.

The topics, which would be covered in the course of five sessions, tentatively, are broadly:

• Trends in Research (Part 1) with primary focus on the impact of the research on prevention, early detection and identification of a child with disability/ high risk child/ High risk mother. Topics covered will on relevant research in the field of Genetics, Stem cells, Nutrition, Immunisation, etc.
• Trends in Research (Part 2) will share the same focus as in Part 1 and topics covered will be pertaining to relevant research for specific types of disabilities like autism, Down's syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder( ADHD)
• Care and management of children with focus on the Special educational, developmental therapeutic, behavioral, medical management techniques for the benefit of teachers, trainers, parents and other rehabilitation professionals
• Information -Communication Technology Enablers with focus on the impact of Information and Communication Technology on proving quality services to children, their families and the society at large
• Policy and Programmes Panel discussion on the different programs, policies and legislations of the Government of India and their impact on the society