Come celebrate with us!

Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 7pm

Location:
Celebration United Methodist Church
9501 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, Florida

Free entry!

Co-sponsored by University of Florida Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, City of Gainesville – Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA), Santa Fe College, Gainesville Opportunity Center, & UF Disability Resource Center

Are you an adult with autism who struggles with mental, sensory, or social burnout? This session will discuss why autistic adults struggle with burnout and how they might manage it. The impact of cognitive distortions, stress, and perfectionism will be discussed. Strategies including resilience, connection, positive reappraisal, and self-care will be offered.

Thursday, December 4, 2025
5:30 – 7:00PM
Online

Navigating the first year after your diagnosis can be an overwhelming and daunting task. It is often filled with questions that aren’t fully flushed out as you wrestle with what to do. Those questions you manage to articulate may go unanswered or lost in a sea of topics as you attempt to piece together life. This presentation will serve as a critical step to not only taking the first steps after your appointment but helping you process, prioritize, and develop a plan of action to keep you moving forward.

Monday, December 8, 2025
4:30 – 5:30PM
Online

Understanding how to have conversations about you or your loved one's diagnosis of autism may trigger unsettling feelings. During this critical time in your life, you may long to be surrounded by those you love and feel closest to, however you do not know how to fully express your new diagnosis to them. Whether you have recently participated in an evaluation, or are sharing your news with new friends, this presentation strives to present you with strategies that will ease your mind and help you set boundaries of support with those around you.

Monday, December 15, 2025
4:30 – 5:30PM
Online

Join us for a series of “duo trainings” on important topics. Each month, we will highlight a specific area of consideration for home, therapy, school, and community environments. Attend them all or choose those that apply to you!

Behavior
Thursdays, September 4 & 18, 2025
3:30 – 4:30PM

Considerations for Students with Extensive Support Needs
Thursdays, October 2 & 16, 2025
3:30 – 4:30PM

Sensory/Motor Considerations
Thursdays, November 6 & 20, 2025
3:30 – 4:30PM

Communication
Thursdays, January 8 & 22, 2026
3:30 – 4:30PM

Social Skills
Thursdays, February 12 & 26, 2026
3:30 – 4:30PM

Teaching New Skills
Thursdays, March 12 & 26, 2026
3:30 – 4:30PM

All sessions are ONLINE.

Registration is open for the 33rd Annual Statewide Center for Autism & Related Disabilities Conference which will be held in Orlando on January 15-18, 2026.

The purpose of the annual conference is to provide information on state-of-the-art practices in areas that promote best practices in education, early intervention, and quality community based life-styles for individuals with autism, deaf-blindness, and related disabilities.

Schedule:
Thursday & Friday -  ADOS-2
Friday -  Educator’s Day & HISPA
Saturday & Sunday -  CARD Conference

Each session focuses on one of the following areas: 

• A special guest speaker addressing topics based on your interests and questions from our support group discussions. 
• A monthly theme, such as Autism Awareness Month or other dedicated events. 
• A deep dive into a specific topic, like caregiving, self-care, or accessing services, etc.

This session is a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, reflect, and grow as parents/caregivers. You will gain valuable insights, enhance your skills, and leave feeling energized and supported. 

Third Friday of every month
12:00 – 1:00PM
ONLINE