Southern Utah Autism Conference 2025: Full Schedule

9:30am PDT

Autism and ABA—Seeing Behavioral Science from the Neurodivergent Perspective

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Over the past few decades, Applied Behavior Analysis has become the predominant evidence-based intervention for treating Autism Spectrum Disorders. But despite the mountains of published research and application showing that it can and does have a socially valid impact on autism-related challenging behaviors, there is a growing backlash against ABA from Autistic self-advocates and the Neurodiversity movement as a whole which we all need to understand and address. Discover insights into the pros and cons of ABA by engaging in an examination of ABA through the lens of an Autistic BCBA’s professional and lived experiences. Learn why ABA (even “New ABA”) can be problematic, and explore some practical tips and guidelines on how to avoid the very real trauma and abuse that can result from even the most well-intended ABA when it is not conducted from an autonomy-affirming framework. Participants will leave with tools for creating and strengthening autism-informed practices, and with insights for effectively and ethically utilizing ABA interventions with neurodivergent individuals while improving the reputation and results of ABA with individuals on the Spectrum of all ages.

Speakers

Jared Stewart

Program Director, Scenic View Academy

Jared Stewart, M.Ed., BCBA, was named the 2011 Educator of the Year by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers, the 2018 Presenter of the Year by the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and the 2020 Hero for Autism by the Autism Resources... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Room C1

ABA Practices

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

9:30am PDT

TBD

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Room D1

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Room D1

Communication

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

9:30am PDT

Reframing Communication: Promoting Dignity and Inclusivity in Disability Discourse

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Room D2

Empowering Communication: Autism-Affirming Language
In this session, participants will explore the evolving dynamics of disability identity and how we talk about it. We’ll delve into the distinctions between disability-affirming language and person-first language, examining their origins, purposes, and real-world implications. We will discuss language choices that respect individual preferences and diversity while fostering inclusivity and empowerment. Through real-life examples and interactive discussions, participants will gain practical tools to communicate in ways that honor the dignity and identity of the people they interact with.

Speakers

Summer Gunn

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Room D2

Inclusionary Practices

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

9:30am PDT

Understanding Sensory Behavior and Supporting Children's Needs Appropriately

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Room D6

Sensory is understood as a function of behavior by the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, but is sometimes misunderstood. Insights are shared about how to look at the function of sensory behavior. This session will talk about the sensory needs of children and how to help children get the things they need in socially appropriate ways.

Speakers

Danielle Merritt

MA BCBA LBA, Elevation Behavioral Science Services

Danielle Merritt MA BCBA LBA loves the work she does as the owner and director of Elevation Behavioral Science Services. Danielle is a Licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (MA BCBA LBA) with a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and a master’s certification in Autism... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Room D6

Sensory

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

10:35am PDT

Disability & Special Needs Planning Made Easy;

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room C5

Join us for an informative and educational workshop for family members with loved ones of all ages with Autism or any other types of physical or cognitive disabilities or special needs. The topics covered in this workshop include Guardianship vs Alternatives to Guardianship, Wills, Family Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, SSI, Social Security Disability, Social Security Retirement/Survivors Benefits, Medicaid/Medicare, ABLE Accounts, Budget Planning and Lifestyle/Transition Planning. This workshop will explain why these disability and special needs planning aspects and documents are important to have and how they complement each other in a plan designed to protect yourself, your family and/or your loved one’s current and future quality of life and care. Don’t be afraid to plan… be afraid if you don’t plan.

Speakers

Andre Sam

Comprehensive Disability/Special Needs Planner, Disability & Special Needs Project

Andre Sam, CRPC®, APMA®, is a Comprehensive Disability/Special Needs Planner with the Disability & Special Needs Project. Upon earning a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Arizona, Andre began a career in Comprehensive Disability and Special Needs Planning. Andre... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room C5

Audience Caregivers

10:35am PDT

Interactive Learning: Games for Independent and Happy Little Humans

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room D1

Teaching through games. Helping the little humans become independent. Introducing games in a controlled environment. Creating a Happy Place. Playing games in ways the child does not realize they are learning... a Magical Place. Every child has motivators. Get ready to have fun and teach the children is so many ways that they WANT to "Learn". (About Children-Play)

Speakers

Lucia Cortes Medrano

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room D1

Behavior at Home

Audience Caregivers, Families

10:35am PDT

Understanding Sensory Challenges in Autism: Navigating Food and Mealtime Stress

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room C6

Food plays a unique role in the lives of autistic individuals, often complicated by the presence of sensory sensitivities and limited palates. Navigating these obstacles can be difficult and oh so stressful for everyone involved in the meal process, so what gives? What’s going on and can it improve? Join as we discuss food, self-regulation, and maybe even some helpful ideas.

Speakers

Josh Olivas

Autism Specialist

Josh (he/him) considered using AI to write this bio, as a robot writing about a robot seemed deliciously appropriate, but, unfortunately, he couldn't get past the CAPTCHA code. Having somehow made it into his 30s, he has a wide variety of experiences and interests which he draws upon... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room C6

Behavior at Home

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

10:35am PDT

Uncovering the Hidden Messages: Teaching Effective Communication to Children

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room D6

Lack of communication is the number one reason for problem behavior. In this session we will discuss how to identify what a child's problem behavior is telling us about their need for communication and how to teach them to communicate the things they need. When children know that the are understood and that there communication is honored, much of their problem behavior goes away and growing blossoms.

Speakers

Danielle Merritt

MA BCBA LBA, Elevation Behavioral Science Services

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room D6

Communication

Audience Families, Caregivers

10:35am PDT

Giving the Dignity of Risk

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room C1

It is completely understandable for parents and professionals to want to protect vulnerable individuals with disabilities such as autism. We see the obvious challenges and worry about their ability to safely navigate the world of adulthood. But that same urge to protect can sometimes go to extremes that actually end up disabling those individuals and robbing them of the opportunities and autonomy that could have led to greater resiliency, success, and quality of life. Join Jared Stewart, the Autistic BCBA, to gain valuable insight into how to achieve the critical balance between our responsibility to care and the universal human right to make personal choices.

Speakers

Jared Stewart

Program Director, Scenic View Academy

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room C1

Coping Skills for Families

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

10:35am PDT

Maximizing Inclusion: Choosing the Right Supplemental Aides and Services (SAS)

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room D2

Supplemental Aides and Services (SAS) are the “linchpin” of inclusion in general education. With limited guidance from the research literature, identifying appropriate accommodations can be difficult. Sometimes, decisions are based more on IEP team members’ personal experiences than the student’s individual needs in general education. In the session, we will discuss guiding questions IEP teams can use to determine supplemental aides and services. We will discuss a framework for considering a student’s need for SAS, (physical/accessibility, instructional, behavioral, social-communication, collaboration).

Speakers

Summer Gunn

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room D2

Legal (IEPS Disability etc)

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

10:35am PDT

Help Wanted: I need a job, now what do I do.

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT

Room C2

Best practices from ScenicView Academy, that help Autistic students find meaningful employment.

Speakers

Scott Wood

Scenic View Academy

Scott graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Scott has worked for ScenicView since it opened, and has enjoyed seeing its growth, and seeing the students benefit from the services provided at ScenicView. He has many duties, including... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:35am - 11:35am PDT
Room C2

Workplace Skills

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators

11:40am PDT

Trauma-Informed ABA: Supporting Children's Well-being Through Compassionate Care

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm PDT

Room D6

Compassionate care through understanding the whole child is the goal of quality Applied Behavior Analysis. This session will discuss the elements of trauma assumed ABA and the power that it has to support children. We will talk about aspects to consider when looking for this kind of provider and the difference it can make in the quality of care.

Speakers

Danielle Merritt

MA BCBA LBA, Elevation Behavioral Science Services

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm PDT
Room D6

ABA Practices

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

11:40am PDT

Supporting Young Children's Social Emotional Development: Practical Tools for Caregivers

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm PDT

Room D2

The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovation has developed a library of resources to support professional and caregiver’s efforts to improving the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five. In this session the presenter will highlight practical tools for teaching emotional regulations, friendship skills, problem-solving, and behavior regulation. Resources are available in multiple languages and include family handouts that describe evidence-based practices.
ChallengingBehavior.org Resources

Speakers

Summer Gunn

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm PDT
Room D2

Behavior at Home

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

1:30pm PDT

Looking at Autism through the experience and eyes of young adults with autism.

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Room D6

This session will talk about the ways that autism has affected the experiences of my 2 children who are now young adults. This session will given an understanding of how they view communication with others, sensory needs and experiences that have been beneficial, and other insights.

Speakers

Danielle Merritt

MA BCBA LBA, Elevation Behavioral Science Services

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room D6

Coping Skills for Families

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

1:30pm PDT

Navigating the Hidden Curriculum with IEP Teams

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Room D2

Identifying the Hidden Curriculum
General education curriculum is made up of the ‘explicit curriculum’ (linked to core standards and essential elements), ‘hidden curriculum’ (unspoken, implicit, values, and social norms for student’s behaviors, attitudes, and expectations), and the ‘null curriculum ‘(the knowledge, skills, or topics that are intentionally or unintentionally omitted). For all students to access each part of the general education curriculum, it is important for the IEP team to consider each aspect. In this session, we will discuss using assessment practices that support the IEP team in understanding what needs the student has regarding the ‘hidden curriculum’, and ideas for planning intervention and specially designed instruction to support their acquisition of skills.

Speakers

Summer Gunn

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room D2

Legal (IEPS Disability etc) Disability etc)

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

2:30pm PDT

Enhancing Interpersonal Communication Skills in Autism: Strategies for Success

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Room C6

Underdeveloped skill in back-and-forth communication is a core diagnostic feature of autism. Teaching effective interpersonal communication goes a long way to reduce tantrums, frustration, and other concerns. Knowing that, how do we effectively teach interpersonal communication to children, youth, and young adults on the autism spectrum? This workshop will draw from social skills training (PEERS), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to do just that.

Speakers

Brett Shumway

Possibilities ABA

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room C6

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional
Subject Communication

2:30pm PDT

Unlocking Communication: Exploring the Spell to Communicate (S2C) Method for Autistic Kids

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Room D2

We will talk about the Spell to Communicate (S2C) method and the in and outs of what it is and why it works for so many nonspeaking and minimal speaking autistic kids.

Speakers

Kaley Stymeist

Spelling to Communicate (S2C)

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room D2

Communication

Audience Families, Caregivers, Educators, Professional

Southern Utah Autism Conference 2025

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