This workshop will help prepare trainees for the 2024 Disability Policy Seminar taking place from April 8-10, 2024, in Washington, DC, to learn how to educate policymakers in DC and at home, as well as how to connect their experience and expertise to policy.

This webinar offered interested potential applicants an opportunity to interact with the AUCD Leadership Academy faculty. The webinar featured a brief overview of the 2024 Academy curriculum and timeline. It was followed by a time for questions from potential applicants to the 2024 AUCD Leadership Academy. In addition, alumni will shared their reflections about the benefits they gained from participation in the week-long academy. and the follow-up activities.

Join us on Tuesday, November 28th from 5 pm-6 pm EST 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.

AUCD hosted a webinar for trainees to learn about policies that support family and family caregivers. The participants received an overview and history of family support, current needs of families and family caregivers and policies and practices of Respite.

AUCD hosted an educational webinar for trainees to learn about the structure and financing of the Medicaid program and Home and Community-Based Services. The speakers provided an overview of the Medicaid program and its structure and financing. The webinar also provided an overview of what is happening in Congress and the Administration regarding the Medicaid program.

This webinar is to celebrate the end of the academic year and share professional development tips with outgoing and continuing trainees in the Emerging Leaders Community, including advice on staying engaged with the AUCD network. Participants will hear from our Emerging Leader Board Member, Aliana Romero, AuD, CCC-A, and AUCD's Council Trainee Representatives.

This presentation introduced the LEND Audiology Fellows to the Fostering Joy movement, which aims to promote positive engagement between families and their deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) children, and to bolster professionals' ability to emphasize joy in the work that they do with children who are DHH. The presentation included descriptions of Fostering Joy and the science behind why doing so is important. It also offered suggestions for audiologists interested in embracing a "joy lens" in their work.

When a child who is deaf or hard of hearing also presents as autistic, what can audiologists do to promote appropriate care? This presentation introduced the LEND trainees to the diagnostic challenges related to dual diagnosis, screening for secondary challenges and the role of audiology, and how to successfully create an interdisciplinary approach to ensure dually diagnosed children access the support they need.

The IACC Strategic Plan, first issued in 2009, guides federal agencies and private organizations in planning ASD-related research, services, and support activities. It is produced by the IACC, including federal officials and public stakeholder members. It is informed by extensive input from researchers, adults on the autism spectrum, parents, advocates, and the general public. This inclusive process ensures that the IACC Strategic Plan reflects diverse perspectives across the autism 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.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN; Indigenous) children are at high risk for neurodevelopmental disorders including developmental delay, learning disabilities, and conduct disorders. Major risk factors, in addition to low socioeconomic status, are the loss of traditional child-rearing practices due to historical trauma, racism, and oppression.

Join us for an interactive discussion exploring alumni trainee engagement strategies. The panel will feature former trainees currently serving as LEND program faculty/staff.

Suicide is a leading cause of death in autistic people. Autistic people have significantly higher rates of suicidal thoughts, suicidal behaviors, and deaths by suicide than the general public. Warning signs of imminent suicidal behavior in the general public do not represent the unique needs of the autism community. Misunderstanding a suicide warning sign in an autistic individual can have devastating consequences. The presenters will describe warning signs of suicide for autistic people based on the latest research findings and expert consensus. They will also share information about crisis supports for this population.

Join us for a practical legal discussion tailored for the autism community on the protections offered by mental health parity laws. Learn what insurance practices are prohibited and what you should do if you encounter such prohibited practices.

This presentation will discuss clinical and research approaches for developmentally anchored social skills supports across the lifespan. The growing literature on social skills suggests promising clinical and socio-cultural approaches with the potential to improve relationships and reduce the impact of accumulated social disability and isolation across development. We will briefly review the literature and present clinical applications that integrate recent discoveries on social cognitive, pragmatic language, and implementation sciences.