Autism & UF Conference

Save the Date!

The 2023 Autism & UF Conference will be held June 23 & 24, 2023 at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art. Details will be posted soon!
Call for Posters – Submissions for the Autism & UF 2023 Conference Poster Session are now being accepted. The Poster Session will be held June 23 from 4 – 5pm. Set up at 3:45pm. Call for Posters Form Submission deadline: April 30, 2023 You will be contacted by UF CARD staff by May 15th regarding the acceptance of your poster presentation proposal. Please see online submission form for poster guidelines. If you have any questions, please email Ann-Marie Orlando at aorlando@ufl.edu.
Call for Artists and Performers – Are you a CARD Constituent who wants to showcase your talents? Then join us for…Celebrating Autism in the Arts, Saturday, June 24, 2023, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, 3259 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608 Open to artists & performers of all types: Visual Artists, Photographers, Sculptors, Actors, Dancers, Jewelry Artists, Musicians, Magicians, Comics… Interested in participating? Please complete the online Artist/Performer Application for Participation. Please contact Danielle Liso at 352-265-2241 or liso@ufl.edu if you have any questions. The art show takes place following the Autism & UF Conference. Featured artist: Sonny Petrossian 
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To request accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Dr. Ann-Marie Orlando at (352) 265-2239 or aorlando@ufl.edu. 

2022 Autism & UF Conference: Together We CAN Conference

Hosted by
University of Florida Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UF CARD)
and UF Health Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment (UFHCAN)

Dates/Times
FRIDAY, June 10, 2022
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

SATURDAY, June 11, 2022
9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Check-in begins at 8:00am on both days.

Location
Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida
3259 Hull Road
Gainesville, FL 32608

There will be a live stream for online participants.

About the Conference
This FREE two-day conference will consist of a series of sessions on a variety of topics related to current research and intervention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Target Audience
Educators, Researchers, Administrators, Professionals, Individuals with ASD & Family Members

Conference Description
The Autism & UF Conference is an annual conference aimed at providing high quality professional development to a variety of professionals, including educators, researchers, mental health counselors, psychologists, occupational, physical, and speech therapists, physicians, and caregivers involved in the lives of individuals with ASD.  This event will consist of two days of 1-1.5-hour sessions on the latest research and intervention in the field of ASD. Topics will include but are not limited to: systems of care for children & youth with ASD, transition to adulthood, and teaching self-advocacy.

Poster Session
Participants also will have an opportunity to peruse research posters during the event.

Registration Deadline
June 10, 2022
Limited to the first 150 in-person participants. Unlimited online participants.
Registration is mandatory.

Accommodations
UF Health’s list of local hotels & motels (PDF)
Visit Gainesville’s list of local lodging

Parking
-For individuals without a UF parking decal, parking vouchers will be available at the registration desk.
-For individuals with a valid UF parking decal, “all decal” parking is available in the lot and parking garage in front of the Cultural Plaza.
-Parking is free on Saturdays. Free handicap parking is available near the entrance to the museum.
Parking Map

Venue
Map of Harn Museum

Earlier Early Intervention: The Development of Early Learner Programs
This presentation highlights two areas for children awaiting EI services. The first program aims to monitor early development in infants with risk factors for ASD. We will present developmental milestones, assessment of play development, and teaching infants sign language. The second program consists of behavioral coaching for early skills alongside mental health therapy aimed at reducing parental stress with families awaiting evaluation for diagnoses or newly diagnosed toddlers.
Presenter:
Kerri Peters, PhD, BCBA-D
Administrative Director, UF Health Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (UF Health CAN)
Clinical and Research Director, Behavior Analysis Research Clinic (UF BARC)

Working Together: Designing and Evaluating Technology as an Inclusive Team
When people with developmental disabilities are part of a research team, the outcomes are more likely to have a positive impact on the everyday lives of people with disabilities. Members of the YELL Lab will describe two projects: An accessible patient reported outcome measure, and an online training about research during public health emergencies. They will share reflections about the value of including people with IDD as research partners, and strategies to make the research process accessible.
Presenters:
Jessica Kramer, Ph.D., OTR/L
Associate Professor, University of Florida Department of Occupational Therapy
Director, University of Florida Youth and Young Adult Empowerment, Leadership, & Learning (YELL) Lab
Fiorella Guerrero
Doctoral Candidate & Fulbright Scholar, University of Florida Rehabilitation Science Doctoral Program
Cyril Nonga-Mann
Student, Santa Fe Community College SAINTS Program
Yong Adult Team Member, University of Florida Youth and Young Adult Empowerment, Leadership, & Learning (YELL) Lab
Elijah Thomas
Yong Adult Team Member, University of Florida Youth and Young Adult Empowerment, Leadership, & Learning (YELL) Lab

The Impact Behind Impact Autism
Impact Autism is dedicated to serving individuals with Autism (and related disabilities) and our growing community of friends and families. I wanted to dive into the impact our organization has made, as well as our aspirations for the future with regards to expanding the types of resources we provide. I am excited to share our fun and lighthearted learning experiences we have had throughout the years. I will also briefly touch on the impact of COVID-19 on our events such as Stomp the Swamp.
Presenter:
Rafena Boyd
President, University of Florida Impact Autism

Rethinking “Social Motivation Theory” in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Social Motivation Theories of social deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) implicate a neurogenic insensitivity to social reward. This has, at times, been used as a basis for avoiding social reinforcers in early intervention. I will discuss evidence, from my laboratory and other’s, for and against this insensitivity. I will also reconsider certain early behavioral theories of social deficits in ASD that firmly contact contemporary thinking on the role of reinforcement in psychopathology.
Presenter:
Iser Deleon, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Professor, University of Florida Department of Psychology

Systems of Care for Children and Youth with ASD: How Do We Get There?
Over recent decades, significant strides have been made in evidence-based care for children with ASDs, yet we lack a comprehensive system of care approach to address the needs of children/youth/families. We have fragmented components that are poorly knit together so that navigating them is too challenging for families, especially for those with lower socioeconomic status and families of color. This presentation explores the current status of services and envisions a holistic systems approach.
Presenter:
Andrew Pumariega, M.D.
Professor and Chief, University of Florida College of Medicine and UF Health Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

OASIS: A Telepractice Intervention to Increase Parent’s Skill Fluency and Knowledge of ABA
This presentation will describe the critical elements of the Online Applied System for Intervention Skills (OASIS), a telehealth parent training program. This 16–24-week distance program provides parents with online learning modules followed by live behavior skills training and coaching on behavior analytic principles. OASIS is intended to increase skill acquisition and fluency of ABA principles for parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Presenters:
Carla Schmidt, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Florida College of Education School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies (SESPECS)
Brittany Batton, M.Ed., BCBA
Doctoral Candidate, University of Florida College of Education School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies (SESPECS)
Rachel Kaplan, BCBA
Doctoral Candidate, University of Florida College of Education School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies (SESPECS)

Project PHoENIX: Developing Virtual Reality Experiences with Autistic Users
We present a framework for supporting co-design and collaborative research with autistic stakeholders in virtual reality. The developed technology systems, design methods, and research processes are actively being used to facilitate a multi-site focus group research study, entitled Project PhoENIX (Participatory, Human-centered, Equitable, Neurodiverse, Inclusive, Extended Reality). Preliminary results suggest our approach promotes relevant learning experiences and novel research directions.
Presenter:
Matthew Schmidt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Florida Educational Technology Program
Faculty, University of Florida Institute for Advanced Learning Technologies
Director, University of Florida Advanced Learning Technologies Studio

For more information contact:
Ann-Marie Orlando
card-training@ufl.edu
352-265-2230