Immunizations are crucial to protect all people from vaccine-preventable illnesses. Some studies suggest that autistic individuals have lower rates of immunizations, for reasons that are not entirely clear. Multiple organizations have called for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be prioritized in COVID-19 vaccination distribution. Vaccine hesitancy and needle phobia are two likely contributors towards lower vaccination rates. One of the initial intervention projects from the AIR-P focuses on reducing needle anxiety and improving immunization rates among autistic individuals. This intervention was developed as a pilot to address needle anxiety in conjunction with Pfizer and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for use in an Improving Pediatric Immunization Care collaborative but has not been widely implemented. The AIR-P network provides an opportunity to implement this needle anxiety intervention in multiple sites. Measures of success for this intervention would include vaccination rates among autistic individuals and satisfaction with the vaccine administration process.

Motor dysfunction are prevalent and pervasive in autistic individuals. However, due to the heterogeneity of motor dysfunction and the categorization in DSM-5 as an associated deficit, this condition often goes undetected and undertreated. Improving our understanding of motor dysfunction in autism is important so that we can adequately screen for these difficulties and ultimately provide the best interventions.

This webinar will help to prepare interdisciplinary professionals to become important team members and crucial partners to parents and teachers in the early childhood intervention field (e.g., teachers, speech/language pathologists; occupational therapists, physical therapists; early behavior specialists; and social workers).

The fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) SIG invites you to join them for a review of current research that you might use in your work building or expanding your program of services and supports for individuals with FASD. Dr. Christie L. M. Petrenko, Ph.D. (Research Associate at the University of Rochester) and Dr. Edward Riley, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology, College of Sciences, San Diego State University) will join the FASD SIG to discuss current research focused on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.

The conference will bring together experts in early childhood development to discuss challenges and opportunities for the care and wellness of young children as they grow up in a pandemic. Speakers will discuss the physical and emotional impacts of COVID-19 on children 0-5 and their families and highlight ways in which early childhood personnel and allied health professionals can better support young children's well-being and development through practice and policy.