Reducing Clinical Bias in Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

This presentation is aimed to answer the question: How does clinical bias impact patients, and how significant is this impact? My research has found clinical bias has enormous impacts on patients, including misdiagnosis and problematic interventions.

Supporting Autism Families in the Primary Care Setting Using Collaborative Care Models

Our project aligns with the conference theme because it offers an innovative approach to addressing the access crisis experienced by autistic individuals and their families and gives providers a neurodiversity affirming framework for understanding autism as a construct (as opposed to a medical diagnosis) and feasible tools to better serve autistic individuals and their families.

• Download Supporting Autism Families_Inge.Register-Brown_AUCD.pdf

Improving Program Response and Efficiency for Clients and their Families in Rural Communities

The purpose of this presentation is to identify and discuss team approaches to providing coordinated care within a disability network when a client would benefit from two or more services. In rural areas, services for individuals with disabilities and their families are limited and disjointed. A UCEDD may have the resources to provide coordinated care that reduces duplication, increases efficiency, and is effective for the client and family.

• Download Improving program response

Improving Care for Underserved Families Through Integration of Family Navigation into ECHO Autism for Pediatric Primary Care

Children with autism and their families face complex system-, provider-, and family-level barriers to timely diagnostic and intervention services. This project evaluated a new program (ECHO Autism LINKS) that integrated primary care provider training with family navigation to bridge the gaps between screening, referral, and service access. The results offer preliminary support for the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the program. The session is relevant to all disciplines.

• Download Family Navigation & ECHO

Social Determinant of Health Screening and Community Health Worker Intervention in Families of Youth with Developmental Disabilities

This study highlights results of social determinant of health screening and the effectiveness of a community health worker intervention for families of children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We discuss which social needs are heightened for these families, what proportion of families are connected to social services, and progress made on social needs. This is relevant to the UCEDD community, developmental behavioral pediatrics, and social work.

• Download Social Determinant of Health Screening and Community Health Worker Intervention in Families of Youth with Developmental Disabilities - AUCD 2024 - Falkenberg.pdf

Enhancing Independence and Inclusion: The Transformative Role of Technology for Disabled Adults in Residential Care Settings

Explore the transformative role of technology in enhancing independence and social inclusion for disabled adults in Residential Care Settings. This session presents findings from a critical realist disability study, highlighting key conditions for successful technology integration. Relevant to disciplines such as disability studies, assistive technology, social work, healthcare, and public policy, the session advocates for intersectional and systemic approaches to achieving inclusive, supportive environments.

• Download Enhancing independence: tech
• Download Empowering indep full content

The Communication Impact of Anxiety and Depression for Children with Autism and a Multidisciplinary Approach to Assessment

This presentation highlights the communication behaviors of autistic individuals who present with depression and anxiety. It discusses why diagnosis is difficult and proposes a multidisciplinary approach to assessment. This presentation is designed for educational professionals, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, parents of autistic individuals, and autistic individuals.

• Download Nightingale Poster ASD

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Users Report on Tools and Techniques They Rely on for Communication

Over 130 AAC users completed the largest survey related to peer supports that gathered data about the tools and techniques they use to be heard and understood. Eighteen options, including a write-in option, ranging from natural (body movements) to aided approaches (tablets or computers) could be selected. Learn about the multiple forms of expression that AAC users identified. This session is relevant to all disciplines and everyone who communicates.

• Download AUCD2024_Poster_AAC Tools and Techniques_final.pdf

Mental Health, Healthcare Access, and Health Behaviors Among People with Disabilities

This study explores the association between frequent mental health distress, healthcare access, and health behaviors of people with disabilities. We found that having poor mental health more than 14 days a month was associated with lower rates of insurance, lower likelihood of having a healthcare provider, and lower likelihood of being able to afford healthcare. This presentation is relevant those in the fields of mental health, physical healthcare, or disability.

• Download FINAL_AUCD FMH Health Poster 2024.pptx

Primary Care Services Reduce Wait Times for Autism Evaluations in Underserved Families

This poster presentation highlights how primary care settings that provide autism diagnostic services can drastically reduce wait times for autism evaluations among underserved families. Through retrospective reviews of electronic medical records, we compared sociodemographic characteristics, evaluation wait times, and diagnostic outcomes of pediatric patients referred to either primary or specialty care for autism evaluations. Relevant disciplines for this session include developmental/behavioral pediatrics, psychology, primary care medicine, and public health.

• Download Autism Evals in Primary Care

The Impact of Using Food as a Reward in Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy for Children with Pediatric Feeding Disorders

Using food as a reward in the context of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and feeding disorders can be a complex issue that requires careful consideration. While using preferred foods as rewards can be effective in motivating children with autism in ABA therapy, it is important to balance this approach with careful consideration of nutritional concerns and the risk of reinforcing selective eating habits.

• Download Impact of Food Rewards in ABA