The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Action Plan calls for UCEDDs to work with their Consumer Advisory Committees (CACs) to incorporate specific goals, objectives, and actions steps to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion into their five-year plans. In this virtual workshop, UCEDD leaders and staff will explore how to effectively accomplish this priority within and across the UCEDD core functions.

The Room to Grow: Journey to Cultural and Linguistic Competency Conference is an annual event sponsored by the Office for Health, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. This year's theme is on "Truth and Reconciliation".

Current advances in our knowledge of the genetic contributions to physical health and its integration into medical care have generated both opportunities for advancing healthcare and critical gaps in knowledge on its impact. We will introduce the landscape of genetic advances for individuals with neurodevelopmental differences, from diagnostics to ancestry and predictive risk. We will also explore the current state of genetics within healthcare, the role of early diagnosis on outcomes, opportunities for implementation of individualized interventions, and discuss future directions for this advancing field.

This presentation will provide an overview of the incidence and pathophysiology of epilepsy in patients with autism spectrum disorders, as well as special considerations in treatment.

A conversation with health professionals to address the misinformation and concerns associated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Our panelist will discuss COVID-19 variant combinations, COVID-19 vaccines for children, and COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

On November 6, 2021, from 12-4 pm ET, the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), in collaboration with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will convene a workshop on the first Community-Centered Spina Bifida Research Agenda.

Research demonstrates that autistic individuals interact with the criminal justice system at high rates. These interactions consequently are risk factors to physical, behavioral, and mental health, as well as the overall wellbeing of autistic individuals. The Global Autism and Criminal Justice Consortium was developed to address this issue and respond to calls from the autism community to prioritize criminal justice concerns.

Join us for updates on how the latest national research indicates autistic individuals are gaining, maintaining, and using Medicaid that point toward areas for policy and program change. Experiences from Pennsylvania, a state with two of the first and only Medicaid programs to serve autistic adults, will describe how practice is unfolding on the ground and where research is needed to improve health outcomes.

Drawing on findings from his dissertation research, Nachman discusses how autistic college students make sense of and reconcile challenges related to their mental health and wellness. He describes the influence of an autism-specific college support program in enabling students to think through emergent issues and determine solutions that support their well-being. Nachman will relay study insights and practical recommendations for colleges to implement.

After introducing common aims and controversies surrounding the neurodiversity movement, this presentation will empirically examine how support for the neurodiversity movement intersects with perspectives about socially valid "intervention" goal among autistic and non-autistic stakeholders.

Join us in this unique moment to move forward together. Come reconnect and renew. Celebrate achievements, share lived experiences and lessons learned. As we explore innovative strategies for advocacy and activism, you are invited to weave in your voice. Together, we'll magnify our collective power for meaningful action. Let's mobilize!

Dr. Rujuta B. Wilson provided education on sleep difficulties in autism in this webinar. The following areas were addressed: (1) prevalence and diagnosis of sleep difficulties in autism, (2) the current knowledge in the field of why sleep difficulties occur in autism, and (3) behavioral and pharmacologic treatment for sleep difficulties.

The National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NRCN) in partnership with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) will be leading this conversation to identify and engage disproportionately impacted communities on the topic of COVID-19 through a national virtual event.

Now more than ever it is critical to be an effective public health messenger. As a member of AUCD's network, you are invited to attend a four-part monthly virtual workshop series (April-July 2022) led by a joint collaboration between researchers at UCLA Health and the Hood Medicine Initiative, sponsored by AUCD through a cooperative agreement with CDC.

Understanding and Reaching your Audience-will help participants identify and reach their target audience in their public health communication efforts during and post-COVID-19. Content will focus specifically on reaching neurodivergent populations and those with multiple intersectional marginalized identities.