NCSA 2024 Webinars
• All NCSA webinars are free, include live Q&A, and will be recorded
• Pre-registration is required for all webinars
• Details on all webinars to be announced closer to their dates; subject matter, speakers and timing are subject to change
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Autism’s Rising Rates: A Deep Dive Into 50 Years of Data
Jill Escher, Escher Fund for Autism; NCSA
Walter Zahorodny, PhD, Rutgers University
Watch the recording here
Jill’s slides here
Walter’s slides here
Autism rates among children used to be .01%, perhaps .06% under a broader definition, but today’s childhood rates are around 3%. Jill Escher details a long history of studies and data to explain why the increase for the most part represents a true increase in serious neurodevelopmental pathology, a phenomenon that should be met with utmost alarm and not resignation. Dr. Zahorodny is the lead investigator for the New Jersey autism studies under the CDC and other efforts at Rutgers and focuses on the extreme increase in autism in that region.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 7-8.15pm ET
Discrimination by Design: How Policies Threaten the Most Severely Disabled
Ashley Kim, Together for Choice
Jackie Ceonzo, SNACK* NYC
Watch the recording here
There is a nationwide shortage of long term supports and services available and it disproportionately affects adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities in need of 24/7 support. The need for such housing has been ignored and gone unanswered for decades by many responsible for the well-being of this population.
While Congress expected that the ADA’s integration mandate would be interpreted in a manner that ensures that individuals who are eligible for institutional placement are able to exercise a right to community-based long-term services and supports, that expectation has not been fulfilled.
We believe that people with disabilities should have the right to choose where they live, work, and receive services that are appropriate for their needs and preferences without those responsible for making choice a reality blocking that path with red tape.
This event with Dr. Wachtel has been postponed. We will announce the rescheduled date soon.
Postponed: New date coming soon, and we will re-open registration as soon as we announce the date. If you are currently registered, you will not need to re-register.
In the meantime, we recommend the recording of a recent webinar: “Catatonia in Pediatric and Neurodiverse Populations, with Dr. Joshua Ryan Smith | TN NCSA Webinar” here
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Seizures and Epilepsy in Severe Autism
Stephanie Morris, MD, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Epilepsy is one of the most common co-occurring medical conditions among children, adolescents, and adults with severe autism. Dr. Morris 1) defined what a seizure is and how a diagnosis of epilepsy is made, 2) reviewed how to identify possible seizures, 3) explained what to do in the event of a seizure, and 4) discussed the medical evaluation and treatment of seizures and epilepsy.
Watch the recording here
Dr. Morris’s slides here
What Can Be Covered Through My Health Plan for My Child with Severe Autism?
Karen Fessel, Mental Health & Autism Insurance Project
Dr Karen Fessel is the executive director of the Mental Health & Autism Insurance Project. She discusses what you need to know to help navigate what can be a complex system of benefits.
Watch the recording here
Behavioral Treatment for Severe Behaviors in Profound Autism
Shaji Haq, PhD, Easter Seals, Southern California
Watch the recording here
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 7-8.15pm ET
Profound Autism: When Challenging Behaviors Become Life-Threatening
A Parent Perspective, with Eileen Lamb
Register here
We are so excited to host social media superstar and NCSA Board member Eileen Lamb to discuss this urgent topic, also emphasizing how she uses social media to shed light on dangerous and deadly behaviors.
Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 7-8.15pm
Crisis Care for Severe and Profound Autism: Update from Washington State
Arzu Forough, Washington Autism Alliance
Register here
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 7-8.15pm
Topic: Residential Programs for Adults with Severe Autism
With Lisa Parles, Esq and Dr. Sam Volpe
Details and registration coming soon
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 7-8.15pm
Topic: Specialized Schools for Students with Severe Autism
Aaron Parsons, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and NAPSEC
Details and registration coming soon
Wednesday, August 28, 2024, 7-8.15pm
Topic: The Attack on Severe Autism on Social Media
Cyndi Wall, TikToker and Autism Advocate
Details and registration coming soon
Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 7-8.15pm
Topic: TBA
Susanna Mierau, MD, PhD, Associate Neurologist, Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital; Faculty Member, Harvard Medical School
Details and registration coming soon
Date TBA
TBA
Child Mind Institute
Registration opens soon
NCSA Webinar Archives
You can also find past webinars on our YouTube channel.
2024 Archive
2/28/24 Discrimination by Design: How Policies Threaten the Most Severely Disabled here
Ashley Kim, Together for Choice
Jackie Ceonzo, SNACK* NYC
2/15/24 Autism’s Rising Rates: A Deep Dive Into 50 Years of Data
Jill Escher, Escher Fund for Autism; NCSA
Walter Zahorodny, PhD, Rutgers University
Watch the recording here
Jill’s slides here
Walter’s slides here
2/8/24 The Reauthorization of the Autism CARES Act here
Alison Singer, Autism Science Foundation
Craig Snyder, IKON Consulting
2/2024 Catatonia in Pediatric and Neurodiverse Populations here
With Dr. Joshua Ryan Smith, via TN NCSA
2023 Archive
11/8/23 Autism & Psychiatry: Guide to Navigating Treatment here
With Arthur Westover, MD, UT Southwestern
10/11/23 Chasing the Intact Mind here
With Amy Lutz, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
9/13/23 Intro to State Advocacy here
With Susan Goldstein, Legis Group, FL
3/14/23 The Case for Profound Autism here
With Lee Wachtel, MD, Kennedy Krieger Institute
2022 Archive
1/11/22 The Crisis in Crisis Care here
1/27/22 Supported Financial Planning here
2/17/22 ABLE Accounts here
3/11/22 Homeless by Design here
4/14/22 After Parents Are Gone: Building a Circle of Support here
9/23/22 Autism Family Safety here
2021 Archive
2/19/21 What’s Wrong With Facilitated Communication? here
3/25/21 NCSA Policy Summit here
4/27/21 Treating Challenging or Dangerous Behaviors, Part 1: Medical Support here
5/27/21 Treating Challenging or Dangerous Behaviors, Part 2: Insurance here
6/24/21 Treating Challenging or Dangerous Behaviors, Part 3: Behavioral and Sensory Support here.
8/26/21 Transition Plans here.
10/13/21 Reforming the DSM here