OUTCOME OF TRAINING PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TO USE ANTECEDENT-BEHAVIOR-CONSEQUENCE CHARTS

Interventions based on applied behavior analysis (ABA) are research-based approaches to changing behavior, including for those with ASD. Researchers have shown that ABA significantly reduces the debilitating effects of ASD (Ben-Itzchak & Zachor, 2011; Eldevick et al., 2009; Howlin et al., 2009; Reichow & Wolery, 2009).

Find the Lever: Partnering with Organizations That Decide What Gets Trained and Funded

Billing, training, and credentialing systems often reward one another. This working session shows how to find the specific organizations that govern practice in your field of research and shows you how to partner with them to change it. Using behavior analysis as an example, you will map your field's levers and craft a partnership plan. Relevant to behavior analysts, clinicians, researchers, educators, policy professionals, self-advocates, family members, trainees.

Disability Acceptance on Tinian

Monika Diaz's research investigates disability acceptance on Tinian, where an estimated 25% of the population lives with a disability. Surveying 41 community members, the study reveals that personal connections drive awareness, yet significant stigma and accessibility barriers remain. This program highlights the urgent need for community education and self-advocacy training. By shifting mindsets, the project aims to foster an inclusive culture and empower individuals.

Family-Professional Partnerships: Elevating Experience to Expertise

This session explores how lived experience becomes recognized as professional expertise. Two Family Faculty/Lived Experience Partners share strategies for building sustained roles in research, teaching, and program design – moving family partnership beyond a symbolic presence. Through interactive group discussion, attendees will leave with practical next steps for their own programs. Relevant to Family/Parent Leaders, LEND Directors and training faculty, and any program seeking to authentically include families.

Research, Training, and Service Integration in Adult Autism: Leveraging Partnerships Within and Across UCEDDs

UCEDDs are uniquely positioned to lead effective research, training, and service integration (RTSI), promoting innovation and collaboration on emerging issues in DD. In this interactive session, leaders from the Waisman Center will describe RTSI efforts in autism and transition to adulthood. Attendees will consider opportunities for RTSI in their own centers, discuss best practices and lessons learned, and develop goals for future innovation and partnership across the Network.

Moving from Presence to Partnership: How Shared Ownership Strengthens Self-Advocate and Family Influence

Too often, self-advocate and family participation is measured by presence rather than influence. Ohio's Charting the LifeCourse Champions initiative partnered with self-advocates and families to create accessible, individualized learning opportunities grounded in shared ownership, flexibility, and presumed competence. Through guided reflection and discussion, attendees will explore how meaningful partnership and lived experience can strengthen self-determination, inform systems change, and create lasting impact.

Extending Reach of Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Through the Jump Start App: An Implementation Protocol for Mental Health Consultants

This session presents Jump Start ECC, a multilingual, AI-enhanced mobile application extending Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation through on-demand support. Learn how the app equips directors, teachers, and families of children with special needs with real-time, evidence-based resources, while mental health consultants are trained to intentionally implement and monitor its use. Relevant disciplines: psychology, social work, mental health counseling, early childhood education, and developmental/behavioral pediatrics.

• Download Jump Start ECC App AUCD Poster

Stakeholder Perceptions of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® Program

This presentation will share findings from Phase 1 of a national evaluation of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®, a program promoting social inclusion for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Focus group findings from students, parents, and educators highlight valued experiences, benefits, critical program components, and opportunities for improvement. We will describe a stakeholder-informed model illustrating how program components, motivations, and experiences interact to influence outcomes.

Impact Through Innovation and Partnership: Implementation Lessons from the MEDIAN Ed/Med Model

The MEDIAN Project addresses barriers to timely autism identification by integrating educational and medical evaluations into a coordinated "Ed/Med" model. Through school-based evaluator training, ECHO telementoring, and collaboration between school and university diagnostic teams, the model expands access to comprehensive autism evaluations, particularly in rural communities. This session presents preliminary findings to inform sustainability, scalability, and future dissemination. Relevant to psychology, education, speech/language, occupational therapy, social work, and implementation science.

• Download Impact Through Innovation and Partnership Implementation Lessons from the MEDIAN Ed Med Model Poster Presentation AUCD 2026.pdf

Beyond Participation Counts: Measuring Progress Toward Competitive Integrated Employment

This poster describes how the Nebraska EmployABILITY Project, funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration Disability Innovation Fund, tracks participants from referral through assessment, training, microcredentialing, work-based learning, and competitive integrated employment. The poster highlights early outcomes, intermediate indicators, data-informed decision-making, and lessons learned in developing a longitudinal evaluation system that connects program implementation with participant progress and employment results.

Fast-Track to Early Intervention: Using Technology and Systems Change to Improve Access for Children with Autism

Early intervention for children with autism improves outcomes, yet many families face long wait times for diagnosis and intervention. We present a collaboration between a UCEDD and a state-sponsored Part C early intervention program to reduce time to diagnosis for young children with autism. The team of psychologists, family navigator, and developmental pediatricians implemented systems-level change ("fast-track" appointments) and novel use of an emerging diagnostic technology (EarliPoint).

Building Meaningful Disability Leadership: Exploring the History and Mission of AUCD's Council on Leadership & Advocacy & How to Join

This poster explores how disability leadership organizations can create opportunities for meaningful participation, leadership growth, mentorship, and community connection. It also informs people about how to get involved with COLA.

Transforming Medical Education Through Community-Engaged Disability Curriculum

This session will feature multiple examples of how UCEDD/LEND programs can be a collaborative force in facilitating the implementation and evaluation of community-engaged, disability-inclusive medical school curriculum. The session will also present national qualitative and quantitative attitudes and knowledge change among medical students educated by NICHE grantees.

Engaging People with Disability Experience on Research Teams: Collaboration of NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Programs and AUCD

The NCATS CTSA Network and AUCD convened a National Working Group to develop a practical Toolkit supporting investigators and people with disability experience (PWDE) as research team partners. We describe the two-year process, introduce the Toolkit?s eight components, present survey findings on benefits and barriers to PWDE involvement on research teams, and use implementation-focused examples to help participants identify strategies for applying the Toolkit across the research lifecycle.

Stony Brook University's LEND and Nonspeakers: The Power of the Spelled Word

Estimates suggest that one-third of autistic adults cannot communicate effectively using speech. To ensure adequate representation for all self-advocates, the Stony Brook LEND has specifically recruited nonspeaker trainees. Survey results indicate the significant impact of their inclusion on faculty and cohort peers. These results and tips for communicating with nonspeakers in LENDs will be shared by the director and an advanced medium-term alumnus nonspeaker.

Ask Me, Too! Including Children with Disabilities in Research Through Picture-Supported Surveys

How can researchers better include children with disabilities in research about their own experiences? This poster examines disability inclusion in congregational worship through surveys of children and adult stakeholders. Findings highlight the value of picture-supported surveys for supporting direct participation by children with disabilities and have implications for self-determination, inclusive research, and participatory methods. This presentation is relevant to researchers and practitioners across disciplines.

From Referral to Employment: Using REDCap to Track Progress Across a Complex Employment Initiative

This poster will demonstrate the Nebraska EmployABILITY Project (NEP) participant pathway, corresponding REDCap structure, key implementation decisions, and lessons learned. Attendees will receive a practical framework for designing longitudinal data systems that connect services, implementation, and employment outcomes across complex disability programs.