2024 Simpson-Ramsey Neurodevelopment Symposium

More than 60 people attended the Center’s annual Simpson Ramsey Symposium on April 25, 2024 at the Bradley Lecture Center. Distinguished presenters included Dr. John Foxe, Dr. Julie Preskitt, Dr. Leandra Godoy, Ms. Yetta Myrick, Dr. Madeline Eckenrode, and Ms. Betsy Hopson. LEND psychology trainee Zachary Arnold also presented updated data on his current research project.

Attendees were engaged in lectures and discussion on neuromarkers in rare monogenic neurodevelopmental disabilities, rural healthcare disparities in preschoolers referred for autism testing, multi-system approaches to improving autism care, and transition care for children and teenagers at the UAB STEP Program. The day also included presenting the Fred J. Biasini Outstanding Former Trainee award to Dr. Julie Preskitt who gave an inspiring talk on how teamwork and a multidisciplinary focus is truly one of the building blocks to success.

CEDD Co-sponsors and Attends the 23rd Annual Alabama Autism Conference

The CEDD and the UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics (Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics) were co-sponsors for the 23rd Annual Alabama Autism Conference on 2/22 and 2/23/2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The conference had about 350 in-person and over 200 virtual attendees, including many trainees and faculty/staff from our CEDD programs. Highlights included:

    • Presentations by leading experts, including Susan White, Ph.D.; Brittany Travers, Ph.D.; Jessica Kramer, Ph.D., OTR/L; Lauren Little, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA; Mallory Manning, M.S., CCC-SLP; Pamela Ramsey, M.C.D., CCC-SLP; and Dr. Kerry Magro
    • Four posters presented by trainees from the Autism Database Group at Civitan-Sparks Clinics
    • A trainee breakout session attended by 30 trainees to meet with state department representatives and discuss opportunities for professionals working in the area of autism and related disabilities in Alabama
    • A pre-conference dinner discussion facilitated by LEND/UCEDD faculty Dr. Sarah Ryan, Looking to the Future with Adults with Autism in Alabama
    • Two well-attended pre-conference workshops led by LEND/UCEDD faculty Dr. Justin Schwartz (Empowering Autism Identification and Diagnosis in Primary Care) and Dr. Sarah Ryan (Adapting Evidence-Based Psychotherapy for Autistic Individuals)

The Alabama Autism Conference is held annually on the last Friday in February. More information can be found at https://training.ua.edu/autism/.