Autism & Communication Conference

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Autism Society of Iowa (ASI) and Meadowlark Psychiatric Services are hosting a 1- day virtual conference on Friday, April 5, 2024, focusing on Autism and communication.

Agenda

8:45 a.m.– Welcome

8:50 a.m. – Communication Across the Lifespan: Supporting Autistic Individuals’ Access and Participation presented by Jenny Brodell, M.A., CCC-SLP

Objectives:

1. Identify three core communication areas to support across the lifespan in Autistic individuals.
2. Explain one supporting strategy to build skills in each core communication area.
3. Describe two ways to build person and family centered goals within core communication area.

10:00 a.m. – Break

10:15 a.m. – Functional Communication Training: Treating Challenging Behavior by Promoting Communication presented by Matt O’Brien, Ph.D., BCBA

Objectives:

1. Understand how challenging behavior is learned and serves as communication
2. Learn the steps involved in developing and implementing functional communication training
3. Appraise the research support for functional communication training.

11:15 a.m. – Break

11:30 a.m. – AAC Devices presented by Krista Davidson, M.A., CCC-SLP

1. Participants will be able to identify low-tech and high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.
2. Participants will be able to describe the general AAC evaluation and funding process.
3. Participants will be able to summarize common misconceptions associated with AAC.

12:30 p.m. – Lunch Break

1:15 p.m. – Social Communication and Supports for Adolescents with Autism presented by Audrey Wood, M.A., CCC-SLP

Objectives:

1. Attendees will understand a brief history of interventions for adolescents with social skill differences and reasons to consider supporting social communication development for adolescents with Autism
2. Attendees will describe effective and evidence-based strategies for supporting social communication development for autistic adolescents that can be implemented by professionals, educators, or parents and caregivers
3. Attendees will be able to identify available interventions and resources for those interested in further social skill support.

2:15 p.m.– Break

2:30 p.m. –  Let’s talk about work – tips for communicating and accommodations for communicating at work.” with Judith Warth.

Learning objectives: Participants will:

1. Recognize the importance of communication at work.
2. Identify strategies for helping others (co-workers/supervisor) learn some tricks to effectively communicate with the Autistic worker.
3. Learn about resources to help troubleshoot issues.

3:30 p.m. – Adjourn

Speakers

Jenny Brodell, M.A., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also holds an appointment at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where she participates in interdisciplinary Autism diagnostic evaluations. Jenny has extensive experience working with families and individuals in the area of Autism and pediatrics.

Krista Davidson, M.A., CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist and clinical associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Iowa. She specializes in the education and supervision of graduate student clinicians in the treatment and evaluation of clients with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs across the lifespan.

Matthew O’Brien, Ph.D., BCBA is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. He completed his doctorate in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations from the University of Iowa and completed postdoctoral fellowships in neuropsychology and behavioral psychology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. O’Brien serves as the Director of Biobehavioral Services and Director of Research and Psychology for the Iowa LEND program. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health since 2015 for research related to severe and challenging behavior and communication. Dr. O’Brien conducts research related to functional analysis of severe and challenging behavior for individuals with Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Matthew is an active member of the Autism Society of Iowa Board, assisting annually with the Autism Advocacy and Acceptance Day at the Iowa State Capitol.

Judy Warth, BBA, CESP is a Program Manager and Employment Training Specialist at Iowa’s University Center for Excellent in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the University of Iowa. Coming to the University in 1994, Warth combines over 30 years of supporting people with disabilities to meet labor needs of Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa businesses. Some areas of emphasis include transition from school to work, job coaching and job coach development, person-centered services, employer relationship building & job development, self-advocacy training, and staff development and technical assistance to community rehabilitation & transition programs. Current projects include working as part of the Iowa Blueprint for Change Project with the Iowa Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, providing 4+ programming and work experience support to the Iowa City Community School District, staffing the CDD Transition Clinic and providing training on employment related topics to community rehabilitation programs.

Audrey Wood, M.A., CCC-SLP is a Speech Language Pathologist at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD). She received her BA and MA at the University of Iowa and is an Iowa Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (ILEND) program graduate. She has extensive experience working with children and adults with a variety of communication needs including Autism, speech and language disorders, and augmentative and alternative communication. She is a PEERS® Certified provider and Girls Night Out (GNO©) certified provider and has led several PEERS social skills groups for adolescents and young adults, in addition to frequently providing individualized therapy supporting social communication development.