Southern Utah Autism Conference 2026 has ended

Create Your Own Event

Southern Utah Autism Conference 2026

TBA

Conference CreditChris Haught

8:30am MDT

Checkin and Light Breakfast Lunch RoomChris Haught • Melissa Van Horn

9:00am MDT

Welcome and Introductions! Lunch RoomJoe B Wright • McKay Thompson • Melissa Van Horn • Chris Haught • Paul Day • Emily Sagendorf, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA Partners Central HallWendy Cook • Melinda Dalton • Jeanne Fielding • Lisa Gomes • Ryan Hawks • Veronica Ibarra • Veronica Johnson • Cindy Jones • Jess Levy • Carolynn Nauta • Luca Nordquist • Kayla Robertson • Tanya Semerad • Bridgeway Integrated Healthcare Services • Chloe Thompson • Steve Thyfault

9:30am MDT

Simple Evidence-based Prevention and De-escalation Strategies Room D6Christine Manning How to Pick My Dream Job Room E7Trujillo Amy Identifying and Addressing Common Mental Health Concerns and Co-Occurring Diagnoses with Autism Room D7Brynn Bell What Comes Next? Preparing Autistic Teens for Adulthood Without Fear Room E2Veronica Ibarra You Matter Too: Caring for the Caregiver” Room E6Amy Arnold

10:35am MDT

Conjunction Junction, What's Their Function? Room D6Christine Manning How to Help Autistic Students Manage Anxiety Room E6Heather Kennedy • Dr. Mallory Poole • Dr. Nichole Wangsgard Teaching Social Skills Through Lego Therapy at Home and in Schools Room E7Brynn Bell Invisible Capes: Supporting Siblings of Children with Disabilities Room E2Amy Arnold Understanding the DSPD waitlist system: learning how to advocate for a child/adult to get services Room D7Sage Allen

11:40am MDT

From Traits to Trust: Creating Environments Where Every Child Thrives Room E6Summer Gunn How to Help Autistic Students Manage Anxiety Room D6Heather Kennedy • Dr. Mallory Poole • Dr. Nichole Wangsgard Opening the Door to Writing: Sentence Construction for Emergent Writers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Room E2Thai Ray Williams Behavior Strategies for Home: What to do when you are climbing the walls and kids are climbing the curtains! Room E7Christine Manning • Damon Martin Ethical and Best Practice Considerations in Autism Assessment Room D7Brett Shumway, PhD

12:40pm MDT

Lunch Lunch RoomMelissa Van Horn

1:30pm MDT

Building Independence Through Play: Using the System of Least Prompt to Support Young Children Room E6Summer Gunn Simple Evidence-based Prevention and De-escalation Strategies Room E2Christine Manning Trauma and Behavior: Trauma's Impact on the Brain Room E7Emily Sagendorf, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA Navigating Utah State Special Education Rules and Regulations for Students with Autism Room D6Heather Kennedy • Dr. Mallory Poole • Dr. Nichole Wangsgard

2:35pm MDT

Beyond the Spectrum: Innovative AI Strategies for Empowering Neurodiverse Learners Room D6Dr. Nichole Wangsgard • Heather Kennedy • Dr. Mallory Poole Teaching Social Skills - The Ultimate Survivor Skills Room D7Paul Day Using Visual Supports to Strengthen Academic, Social, and Behavioral Outcomes Room E2Thai Ray Williams Beyond Autism: How do I support my child with anxiety, OCD, hoarding, and other concerns that commonly co-occur with autism? Room E7Brett Shumway, PhD Linking Trust and Autonomy: Gaining Assent in Ethical, Inclusive Interventions Room E6Summer Gunn