Coordinating Services for a Better Outcome
Hosted by
University of Florida Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UF CARD)
and UF Health Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment (UF Health CAN)
Dates/Times
Day 1
Thursday, July 23, 2026
7:45AM – 4PM
Day 2
Friday, July 24, 2026
7:45AM – 4PM
Location
Best Western Gateway Grand
4200 NW 97th Blvd
Gainesville, FL 32606
Hotel rooms are still available at the conference rate. Please call (352-331-3336 x607) or email the hotel and mention that you are attending the Autism and UF conference. The room rate will be honored.
About the Conference
This FREE two-day conference will consist of sessions focused on supporting the needs of adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum.
Target Audience
Educators, Administrators, Professionals, Individuals with ASD and RD, Researchers, & Family Members
Conference Description
The Autism & UF Conference is an annual conference aimed at providing high-quality learning sessions to providers working with children or adults on the spectrum, researchers, and individuals with lived experience, including family members and autistic individuals, as well as those with related disabilities. This event will consist of two days of sessions focused on supporting the needs of adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum.
Poster Session
Poster presentations will be held during the lunch break on Friday.
CEUs & In-Service Credit
Everyone can receive a certificate of attendance for the time they attend the conference. We will have forms for therapists to use to document their hours. However, we are not a CEU provider for ASHA or other CEU accrediting organizations. A strand for behavior analysts will be available for up to a total of 6 BCBA CEUs. The approved UF provider number will be made available.
Teachers, be sure to contact your ESE District Staff or Staff Development Contact to determine the process for receiving credit.
Schedule
Please note: Schedule is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Thursday, July 23, 2026
| Time | AGENDA |
|---|---|
| 7:45 – 8:15 | Registration |
| 8:15 – 8:30 | Welcome, Introductions, and Housekeeping |
| 8:30 – 9:15 | Keynote: David Matsibekker, M.D. Helping Teens with Autism Accept Themselves: An Autistic Physician’s Perspective |
| 9:30 – 10:45 | Breakout A: Jacquelyn “Jackie” Dillersberger, M.S. & Karen Isrow, SLP The Importance of Continuity of Services: PEPSA 10 years later |
| Breakout B: Janae’ Pendergrass, M.S., BCBA & Kerri P Peters, Ph.D., BCBA-D Severe Behavior and Risk Management (BCBA CEUs Available) | |
| 11:00 – 12:15 | Breakout C: Jennifer Homard, Ed.D., Ann-Marie Orlando, Ph.D., CCC-SLP/A, & Kerri P Peters, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Building a Statewide Framework for Autism Support: Implementation of Florida’s Senate Bill 112 |
| Breakout D: Janae’ Pendergrass, M.S., BCBA Coordination of Care (BCBA CEUs Available) | |
| 12:15 – 1:30 | Lunch Break |
| 1:30-2:45 | Breakout E: Brett Walden, MPH Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Employment Preparation and Work-Based Learning |
| Breakout F: Arielle Marshall, M.A., BCBA & Janae’ Pendergrass, M.S., BCBA Functional Assessment and Considerations, Part 1 (BCBA CEUs Available) | |
| 3:00 – 3:45 | Keynote: Marc Leyser, M.D. The Genetics of Autism: What Recent Peer-Reviewed Research Tells Us—and What It Means for Families and Care Teams |
| 3:45 – 4:00 | Closing Remarks |
Friday, July 24, 2026
| Time | AGENDA |
|---|---|
| 7:45 – 8:15 | Registration |
| 8:15 – 8:30 | Welcome, Introductions, and Housekeeping |
| 8:30 – 9:15 | Panel: Meg Lietzau, Ph.D. Join the Conversation: Building Skills, Friendships, and Community with SLG Bigs |
| 9:30 – 10:45 | Breakout A: Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix, M.S., CCC-SLP Autism Therapeutic Wellness Program: Breaking Barriers Through Racquet Sports |
| Breakout B: Arielle Marshall, M.A., BCBA & Janae’ Pendergrass, M.S., BCBA Functional Assessment and Considerations, Part 2 (BCBA CEUs Available) | |
| 11:00 – 12:15 | Breakout C: Justin B. Han, PhD, BCBA-D Cooperation, Coordination, and Collaboration with Service Providers |
| Breakout D: Arielle Marshall, M.A., BCBA & Kyleigh Montague, M.S. Core Components of Behavior Plans (BCBA CEUs Available) | |
| 12:15 – 1:30 | Lunch Break Kenadee Langford Shattering the Glass Prognosis: The Power of Different Wiring and Radical Inclusion |
| 1:30-2:45 | Breakout E: Takahiro Soda, M.D., Ph.D. Collaborative Decision-Making with Doctors and Other Clinical Providers |
| Breakout F: Kyleigh Montague, M.S. Stress Management for Care Providers (BCBA CEUs Available) | |
| 3:00 – 3:45 | Keynote: Tyler White Anything is Possible with Tyler White |
| 3:45 – 4:00 | Closing Remarks |
Accommodations
We strive to host accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To request accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Dr. Danielle Liso at 352-265-2241 or card-training@ufl.edu.
For more information contact:
Danielle Liso
card-training@ufl.edu
352-265-2241