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Join us for this year’s Fall Conference, More Than Words: Communication in Action. Featuring keynote speaker Jenny Brodell, M.A., CCC-SLP, this year’s conference will focus on supporting meaningful communication, connection, and self-expression across all stages of life.
Sessions will explore a variety of approaches that recognize and build upon individual strengths while also addressing diverse communication needs in the home, school, workplace, and community settings. Attendees will gain practical insights into collaborative support strategies, inclusive communication practices, relationship-building, and tools that promote independence and self-advocacy.
Designed for professionals, caregivers, educators, service providers, and self-advocates, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to learn, connect, and discover at this year’s conference.
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Time: 8:00am – 3:30pm
Location: Sheraton West Des Moines
Cost:
ASI Member – $100
Non-Member – $125
Adult w/ Autism – $40
*Note – early bird discount only applies to ASI member and non-member registrations.
Adults with Autism – if cost is a barrier, please contact us.
CEU Information: The Autism Society of Iowa is an accredited sponsor for CEU’s for Social Work #300 and Speech Language Pathology #191. This conference offers 4.5 credit hours of SLP CEU’s and 4.5 credit hours of SW CEU’s.
Discount hotel rooms available until October 3rd, or until sold out. Click Here to reserve.
*Session times subject to change
Key Note Speaker: Jenny Brodell, M.A., CCC-SLP
Jenny Brodell is a speech-language pathologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her main areas of focus include autism, pediatric speech & language disorders, and interdisciplinary practice. Jenny has extensive experience and training in early childhood and family-based supports, social communication supports, and executive function supports. She works with families and individuals from early childhood through young adulthood and trains graduate student clinicians to become speech-language pathologists.
Sue Askeland
Susan Askeland graduated from the University of Nebraska with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. She worked for Northwest AEA in Sioux City as a speech-language pathologist and a member of the Autism Resource Team for 37 years. In 2013, she moved to eastern Iowa, where she worked as an Autism consultant for Grant Wood AEA until her retirement in 2017.
Susan remains actively involved in the Autism community. She is a board member of the Autism Society of Iowa and a past board member of the Corridor Autism Resource Expo (CARE) and the Awesome Autism Awareness and Acceptance Art Project. Susan also facilitates several support groups that currently meet on Zoom.
Krista Davidson, M.S., CCC-SLP
Krista Davidson is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Iowa. Her academic and clinical focus includes the preparation and supervision of graduate student clinicians who serve individuals with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs across the lifespan. She is also the inventor of RescueVoice, a mobile AAC application designed to support communication with first responders and medical professionals.
Dr. Todd Kopelman, PH.D., BCBA
Todd Kopelman is a licensed psychologist and a board-certified behavior analyst. He evaluates children, adolescents, and adults for questions about autism spectrum disorder and related neurodevelopmental conditions and provides individual therapy for children and adults as well as parent coaching at Meadowlark Psychiatry.
Before joining Meadowlark, Dr. Kopelman was a Professor in the University of Iowa Hospitals and clinics Department of Psychiatry. He co-directed the hospital’s Autism Center as well as the Day Treatment Program at The Center for Disabilities and Development. He has worked collaboratively with schools across Iowa to support students with behavioral challenges, served as Project Coordinator for three federally funded grants investigating the use of telehealth and young children with Autism, and has co-written several journal articles and book chapters.
Dr. Kopelman is an active board member of the Autism Society of Iowa, including serving as its President, and he has helped organize conferences on several topics related to Autism. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry where he continues to teach and mentor graduate students, medical students and psychiatry residents and conducts interdisciplinary autism evaluations.
Kerry Lust
Kerry Lust and her husband Adam are the proud parents of three children, Carter (19), Brandon (17), and Jaina (14). Their journey with autism began when their son Brandon, was diagnosed at age 4. Kerry is passionate about advocating for autism awareness, acceptance, and support. She currently serves as a board member for the Autism Society of Iowa. Kerry is a high school social studies teacher and an adjunct psychology instructor at DMACC.
Ali McCue, M.A., CCC-SLP
Ali McCue, M.A., CCC-SLP is licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked with autistic patients in schools, private practice, and early intervention. She earned her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Iowa in 2013. Ali was an Autism Consultant for Grant Wood Area Education Agency and was the Autism Center Clinic Coordinator at University of Iowa Health Care’s Center for Disabilities and Development. She is now the Behavioral Health Manager at the CDD where she is focused on increasing access to patient-centered, high quality care for patients across the state. Ali servers on the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Iowa.
Lindsey Nichol, M.A., CCC-SLP
Lindsey Nichol is a speech-language pathologist at the University of Iowa Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, whose primary area of clinical focus is pediatric speech and language disorders. She provides diagnostic and treatment services across populations from early childhood through young adulthood. She also participates in interdisciplinary autism diagnostic clinics. In addition to providing clinical services, Lindsey is a research associate in the Psycholinguistics Lab at the University of Iowa. Lindsey’s work aims to bridge gaps in understanding communication disorders, ultimately aiming to improve clinical practices and patient outcomes.