The TA Institute provides an opportunity for UCEDD leaders to network, meet with their federal project officers, and learn of new initiatives, national trends, and other information vital to the administration of the UCEDD programs.

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) will be hosting its 7th semi-annual Research Day on July 22, 2024, in conjunction with the 2024 Autism CARES Meeting. This virtual event is an opportunity to highlight research related to the physical health and overall well-being of autistic individuals. The 2024 theme is "Translating Research to Community Impact" and will feature poster presentations from across the nation. This virtual event is open to all.

The AUCD Leadership Academy is a week-long intensive experience, paired with a year of pre and post interactions designed to enhance the skills of current and emerging leaders from disability networks to build coalitions to improve systems of supports and services. The Leadership Academy engages participants from UCEDDs, LENDs, IDDRCs and the wider community of disability partners to come together to immerse themselves for a week of study, shared experiences, self-evaluation, and skill development.

The Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is one of the premier conferences for behavioral scientists conducting research on intellectual and developmental disabilities. It has a rich history that started in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 1967, and the name of its original location remained. Each year, Gatlinburg Conference brings together scientists from around the world to gather to discuss research and collaborations in the field.

The Disability Policy Seminar is an annual federal legislative conference co-sponsored by The Arc, Autism Society, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, United Cerebral Palsy, and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (the partners). The Disability Policy Seminar strengthens our federal advocacy efforts by providing training, learning opportunities, and updates, and opportunities to visit their Members of Congress. The Disability Policy Seminar promotes unity, movement building, and amplifies the concerns of people with IDD before Congress.

The Autism SIG invites you to a roundtable discussion on leadership and mMentorship. The Autism SIG co-chairs will facilitate a recap of the webinar series and provide a perspective on the importance of mentorship and leadership for the autistic community. Members of the Autism SIG will have the chance to speak in breakout rooms on various topics decided by the SIG.

The Disability Policy Seminar strengthens our federal advocacy efforts by providing training, learning opportunities, updates, and opportunities to visit Members of Congress.

The TA Institute provides an opportunity for UCEDD leaders to network, meet with their federal project officers, and learn of new initiatives, national trends, and other information vital to the administration of the UCEDD programs.

This workshop helped trainees learn how to educate policymakers in DC and at home. It also taught trainees how to connect their experience and expertise to policy. Finally, the workshop helped prepare trainees for the virtual 2023 Disability Policy Seminar that was on Monday, April 24th, and the fly-in hill day on Thursday, April 27th.

AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) is sponsoring a series of webinars for Autism Acceptance Month. This webinar series will focus on mentorship and leadership in the Autism Spectrum community.

Welcome (or welcome back) to the AUCD network, emerging leaders! Join us to learn about the Emerging Leaders Community and how you fit within the AUCD Network. Presenters will share resources and opportunities to help you make the most of your traineeship! Former trainees or fellows are also encouraged to attend.

This webinar will be presented by Dr. Dora Raymaker, on the following topics: -An overview of systems approaches to inquiry, including systems thinking and action research -An overview of relevant concepts and methodologies within these approaches, including leverage, generative causality, system dynamics, and critical systems heuristics -Using leverage to identify how to create to long-term change through intervention -Real-world examples of using systems approaches within autism employment research and public health

In this webinar, Dr. Christine Wu Nordahl will provided an overview of current research focused on understanding autism in girls and women. Topics included biological and clinical theories about: -the difference in the sex ratio of autism -current insights into neurobiological sex differences in autism -unique challenges faced by autistic girls and women

In this webinar, Dr. Kristen Choi will discuss emerging evidence on using telehealth to deliver therapy to children with autism spectrum disorder (e.g., speech therapy, occupational therapy, applied behavior analysis). Using data from a recent survey of parents in Southern California, the mental health impact of the pandemic on parents and their children will be discussed, as well as how COVID-related stress affected perceptions of telehealth.

This year's TA Institute will be a virtual event over 4 sessions. Attendees will have an opportunity to network, hear from our federal partners, and learn of new initiatives, national trends, and other information vital to the administration of the UCEDD Programs.