Staff members from the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at USF (CARD-USF) presented on topics ranging from building inclusive communities to behavior strategies for teachers at the 32nd Statewide Center for Autism & Related Disabilities Conference. The three-day conference on Jan. 17-19 in Orlando welcomed educators, professionals, and caregivers from across Florida and featured presentations on various autism-related subjects.
Presentations:
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Let Your Students Move: The Effect of Movement on Restrictive Repetitive Behaviors (RRBs) – Lourdes Quiñones, MA
Liz Burke presents at the conference.
- Creating Inclusive Communities: An Autism-Friendly Approach – Liz Burke, MS
- How to Create a Keeping Our Kids Safe/Securing their Future Events Near You – Denise Barnes, MA
- Estrategias de autorregulación: ¿Cómo ayudar a mi hijo(a) con autismo? Strategies for Self-Regulation: How to Help my Child with Autism? – Yazmin Castellano, MA
Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule training and continuing education, HISPA presentations for Spanish-speaking participants, and the Partnership for Effective Programs for Students with Autism (PEPSA) preconference day. The free PEPSA professional development day for educators offered tools and strategies to use within the classroom and is part of the ongoing collaboration between the statewide CARD centers and PEPSA.
“PEPSA continues to be a valuable partner and collaborator with CARD. Our partnership allows educators to gain knowledge from the PEPSA partnership program, Autism Summer Institute, and regional trainings,” said Mindy Stevens, MS, director of CARD-USF. “We worked together on the preconference day, which included presentations with an education focus and showcased teachers from several counties involved in the PEPSA-CARD partner program,” she continued.
CARD-USF is one of seven locations throughout the state of Florida that provide resources, training, and guidance to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, their families, and the community. CARD is funded by the Florida Department of Education.