AIR-B Network Activities
April 19, 2018
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The Autism Intervention Research Network for Behavioral Health (AIR-B) provides a free annual community conference to increase awareness of autism services, current research, and evidence-based interventions in the local regions of each of its network partners: University of Pennsylvania, UC Davis MIND Institute, University of Rochester, and University of California, Los Angeles. Experts in the network share their expertise and invite other prominent autism advocates to discuss topics ranging from non-clinical based autism interventions, to parent advocacy, to school-based transition supports for students with autism.
Since the inception of AIR-B III which focuses on community-partnered participatory practices (CPPR) to develop and implement sustainable interventions for underserved populations, UCLA has held annual community conferences in South Los Angeles. This year on March 16th was the fourth annual conference that focused on the theme of The Power of Connectivity in the Community. Partnering with local community-based agencies including Healthy African American Families, Fiesta Educativa, and local Regional Centers, this conference featured a parent panel, self-advocate panel, community resource fair, entertainment by The Miracle Project Live, and breakout sessions on multiple topics. These topics included early childhood services, school-based supports and advocacy, transition supports for teens and young adults including employment experts and information about supported decision-making for young adults on the spectrum. Over 200 attendees participated in the conference and translation services were provided in Spanish and Korean. Of the registered attendees, 44% were parents, 33% were providers, and 29% were self-advocates, with some participants reporting dual roles of both provider and parent, and self-advocate and parent.
Photos: (p.1 Top row, L) A packed house. (p.2, Top row R) Sharing pilot results with the community and updating on the randomized control trials. (Bottom row, R) Our translated resource guide for attendees in Korean and Spanish. (Bottom row, L) Happy partners: AIRB members, Jenny Chiappe and Consuelo Garcia, with Healthy African American Families Director, Felica Jones.
