2026 Conference - March 6

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

PRESENTERS

2026 Conference Schedule - March 6

All Conference sessions will be located in the Sorensen Student Center at Utah Valley University.

 

Conference Morning Address

9:00- 9:15 am

Greeting and ARUCC Awards

Holli Child

Room: Ballroom

Keynote

9:15 - 10:15 am

Common Medical and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Dr. Christoper McDougle 
 
 

Room: Ballroom

Overview of common medical comorbidities that occur in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These include gastrointestinal disorders, seizure disorder, and immune-related disorders, among others. Comorbid psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, irritability, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders, among others, will also be addressed. Clinical presentation and treatment considerations will be discussed.

Conference Morning Sessions

10:30 - 11:30 am

Autism and OCD: Compassionate, Practical Support for a Complex Intersection   

Katrina Williams 

Room: SC 206 A, B, C

Learn how to recognize OCD in autistic individuals, avoid common misunderstandings, and offer effective, compassionate support. This session will help you distinguish compulsions from stimming or sensory behaviors, understand why OCD often looks different in autism, and use practical strategies that reduce anxiety without reinforcing it. A clear, neurodiversity-affirming approach for clinicians, educators, parents, and autistic adults.

Integrated Healthcare for Autism 

Patricia Aguayo 

Room: Centre Stage

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition frequently accompanied by co-occurring psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial needs. Fragmented care across medical and behavioral systems contributes to poor continuity of care, increased caregiver burden, and elevated use of crisis and emergency services, particularly among transition-age youth and adults. Will discuss the role of case management and care coordination in a team-based framework.

Why are we talking about Autism and Mental Health? 

Julia Connelly 

Room: Ragan Theater

Autism and mental health have been a not well-understood subject, which has become increasingly relevant given the very high suicide rates and concurrent mental health diagnoses in individuals with autism. This presentation will provide attendees with an overview of why this topic is critical, and mental health support by specialized mental health providers is key to supporting this diverse population and helping individuals live the most fulfilling lives possible.

How to manage a relationship even when it’s hard and scary.  

Eric Stoker 

Room: SC 213 A, B

This session will help self-advocates with autism learn how to be in a safe and healthy relationship, and also how they can manage their mental health when hard or scary things come up in a relationship. We will also figure out what relationship they want to be a part of. I will be sharing handouts that the TETONS program provides so self-advocates and their families can see what relationship they want.

Lunch

11:30 -12:30 pm - Meal vouchers will be provided

Conference Concurrent Afternoon Sessions

12:30 - 1:30 pm

Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Using Big Data to Identify Personalized Treatment Targets for Autistic Adults  

Mikle South 

Room: Ballroom

Why do some autistic adults struggle with severe anxiety, depression, and burnout while others thrive? Our research with 860 autistic adults reveals that mental health outcomes depend not on how "autistic" someone appears, but on underlying processes like emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Learn to identify individualized treatment targets that any clinician can address—moving beyond generic interventions toward precision care.

Putting the "Person" in Person-Centered Supports: Empowering Students with Autism to Design Personalized Self-Management Tools 

Patrick Mallory 

*BCBA CEUs available

Room: Centre Stage

This session presents a person-centered approach to self-management by coaching adolescents with autism to design their own monitoring and goal-setting tools. Grounded in autonomy and self-determination, this model supports students in identifying meaningful goals, selecting preferred strategies, and tracking their progress. Participants will learn practical steps for empowering students to build personalized self-management systems that strengthen independence, increase engagement, and enhance overall well-being across settings.

Autism & Mental Health: Perspectives from Autistic Adults 

Julia Connelly 
*Panel Discussion

Room: Ragan Theater

This panel features autistic adults sharing lived experiences and perspectives on mental health, highlighting how identity, access to supports, and systems of care shape well-being across the lifespan. Moderated by a Ph.D.-level psychologist, the discussion centers on autistic voices while connecting personal narratives to ethical, person-centered, and clinically relevant considerations for mental health and social work practice.

Questions and Answers About Clinical Presentations in Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Dr. Christoper McDougle 

Room: SC 206 A, B, C

This caregiver-focused session provides clear, practical answers to common questions about the clinical presentations of autism spectrum disorder, helping families better understand what they may be seeing and why. Through accessible discussion and real-world examples, caregivers will gain insight into medical, behavioral, and mental health factors to support informed decision-making and advocacy.

PDA Assessment: Needs and Controversies 

Miriam Walkingshaw 

Room: SC 206 A & B

Practitioners familiar with pathological demand avoidance (PDA) who recognize it in practice are aware of the extensive needs of clients and families. However, as PDA is not a diagnosis in the DSM-5 or ICD-11, there are no best-practice recommendations for assessment, making it daunting for evaluators. Learn how to identify traits of PDA and assess their severity, and how symptoms and behaviors are conceptualized differently from oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

1:45 - 2:45 pm

Navigating Demand Avoidance 

Amy Corry 

Room: Ballroom

An autistic client who might look on the outside like they are "resistant" to traditional therapeutic or behavioral approaches could be someone struggling with pathological/pervasive demand avoidance (PDA). By engaging choices and emphasizing autonomy, these clients can feel empowered to approach treatment without perceiving therapy as a threat.

Centering Joy: Using Indices of Happiness to Support Learning in Autism 

Michelle Stagg, Alyssa Freeman, Olivia Polachek, Sydney Jensen 

*BCBA CEUs available

Room: Centre Stage

Creating and expanding opportunities of JOY! Learning doesn’t need to be mundane, task-driven, and boring. The Declaration of Independence states, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Our clients deserve happiness and joy, and it is their right to enjoy their everyday lives. Let’s learn how to create it and use evidence-based strategies to support it.

Suicidality on the Autism Spectrum: Risk Factors and Interventions 

David N Top Jr 

Room: Ragan Theater

This session will briefly review the scientific literature about suicide risk within the autistic community, as well as potential factors that lead to increased or decreased suicide risk. We will explore how to support folks on the autism spectrum with suicidal ideation, emphasizing practical daily practices for individuals and families, as well as suggestions for mental health workers. 

Diagnostic Considerations for Autism: A Kaleidoscopic Approach 

Brialee Turner 

Room: SC 206 A, B, C

This presentation will explore the nuanced diagnostic landscape of autism spectrum disorder, with a focus on identifying comorbidities, frequently misdiagnosed conditions, and the role of intersectionality in clinical presentation. Designed for mental health professionals, the session will provide tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy and support informed, individualized care.

Beyond Compliance: Cultivating Resilience and Achievement in Youth with Autism through Growth Mindset   

Crystal Emery and Deanna Taylor 

Room: SC 213 A, B

Youth with growth mindsets have been shown to achieve at higher levels than those with fixed mindsets (Dweck, 2006). This hands-on workshop dives into the power of self-determination and a growth mindset to empower youth with disabilities to conquer their college and career goals. Learn evidence-based strategies, engage with other participants, and leave equipped with tangible tools to foster college and career readiness and ignite students’ path to success.

3:00 - 4:00 pm

The Caregiving System: Utilizing the ARC Framework to build expert Caregiving Systems and resilience in neurodiverse families 

George Ballew 

Room: SC 206 A, B, C

It’s rarely good vs bad parenting; it’s about effective parenting strategies. With an understanding of our nervous system, caregivers can increase their influence to help our loved ones on the spectrum feel a sense of safety and control, maximizing their bandwidth for growth. This starts with us, the caregivers, and the environment and systems we put in place in our family and community

 Psychopharmacology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Dr. Christopher McDougle 

Room: Ballroom

This session examines the psychopharmacology of autism spectrum disorder with a focus on evidence-based medication management for co-occurring mental health and behavioral conditions. Designed for mental health practitioners, the presentation emphasizes clinical decision-making, treatment considerations, and collaboration within interdisciplinary care teams to optimize outcomes across the lifespan.

Suicide Risk and Prevention in the Autism Community 

Kristina Feldman 

Room: Centre Stage

This presentation will describe what’s currently known about suicide risk and prevention for the autistic community. Findings will be shared from research done at the University of Utah in partnership with autistic stakeholders. Recommendations for clinicians will be provided based on research evidence, stakeholder perspectives, and clinical experience.

Sibling Voices: Growing Up Alongside Autism 

Suzy Ahlman 

Room: Ragan Theater

As the autism field increasingly prioritizes mental health, siblings remain deeply impacted yet rarely centered. This panel highlights the sibling perspective, exploring how growing up alongside autism shapes identity, responsibility, advocacy, and mental well-being across the lifespan. Grounded in personal narrative and professional insight, this reflective, strengths-based session broadens the lens of autism and mental health—reminding us that supporting individuals with autism also means supporting those who grow alongside them.

Mind the Gap: A Summer Camp Approach to Address the College Readiness of Autistic Students 

Michael Davies 

Room: SC 213 A & B

College readiness is more than finishing high school. There is a myriad of academic and social experiences that contribute to students' self-efficacy and identity development, influence their sense of belonging, and shape their perceptions of a fulfilling post-high school life. This session presents the literature that illuminates the gap in this reality for autistic youth and explores a way to bridge it through a college campus-based summer camp.