NCSA 2025 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
Special Event: Special Interest Group on Severe, Intense and Dangerous Behaviors
(A collaborative project by Profound Autism Alliance, Autism Science Foundation, National Council on Severe Autism, Autism Speaks, University of Pittsburgh, and Standford University)
Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 12 p.m. ET
The Relationship Between Emotional Regulation and Severe and Dangerous Behaviors
Carla Mazefsky, PhD - University of Pittsburgh
Jessie Northrup, PhD - University of Pittsburgh
Emily Ferguson, PhD - Stanford University
The Regulation of Emotion in Autistic Adults, Children, and Teens (REAACT) Program of the University of Pittsburgh focuses on identifying the mechanisms of emotion dysregulation in autistic people, developing measures of meaningful outcomes, developing community-informed, innovative treatments, and raising acceptance of autism.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 7-8:30 p.m. ET
Child Mind Institute: Understanding the Development, Behavior, and Psychiatry of Children and Adolescents With Profound Autism
Dr. Cynthia Martin, PsyD – Senior Director, Senior Psychologist, Autism Center
Dr. Stephanie Ruggiero, PsyD – Psychologist, ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center, Autism Center
Dr. Jason Sarte, MD – Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Psychopharmacology Center
Join us to learn more about the latest research and clinical approaches for children and adolescents with profound presentations of autism. A multidisciplinary panel will discuss strategies for conducting thorough evaluations that map out each child's strengths and weaknesses, managing co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions, and addressing severe behaviors that negatively impact health and quality of life.
Date: March 26, 2025
Hospital for Special Care Autism Services: Care and Collaboration for Success
Hillary Krystiniak– Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
An overview of services provided in the Hospital for Special Care Autism Continuum including outpatient, Partial Hospital Program, and Inpatient services. With the unique environment, many question “how to ABA” in a short term, inpatient unit. This will review the various techniques used on the unit along with parent training and the essential community connections to assist with generalization post discharge.
Registration coming soon
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7-8:30 p.m. ET
Beyond the Surface: Exploring the Complexities of Seizures and Epilepsy in Autistic Individuals
Stephanie Morris, MD - Medical Director, Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI)
During our first NCSA webinar with Dr. Morris, we discussed the basics of seizures and epilepsy in severe autism including: types of seizures, signs and symptoms, causes of seizures, treatment options, and seizure first aid. In this webinar, we will dive deeper to explore the complexities of seizures and epilepsy in autistic individuals including: the neurobiological basis of seizures in autism, the influence of environmental factors on seizures, seizure medications and their effects, and alternative forms of therapy.
Note: Attendees are strongly encouraged to watch Dr. Morris's earlier webinar on this topic as she will not be reviewing the basics in this follow-up webinar.
NCSA Webinar Archives
You can also find past webinars on our YouTube channel.
2024 Archive
9/26/24
First Responders & Autism: Linked up with LINKED
Ashley McClain, Corporal Jason Piccirillo, Dr. Monica Santos, & Amanda Dubois
Watch replay here
9/11/24
Would you treat a broken tooth with Abilify?: Access Barriers to Medical Care
Susanna Mierau, MD, PhD
Watch replay here
8/28/24
Autism Misunderstood: The Viral Spread of Misinformation on Social Media
Cyndi Wall
Watch replay here
8/14/24
Behavior Constellations: An Approach to Behavioral Presentations of Medical Issues
Ley Linder, MA, M.Ed., BCBA
Watch the recording here
6/12/24
Specialized Schools for Students with Severe Autism
• Dr. Aaron Parsons
• Dr. Tasha Geiger
• Kathryn Miller
• Sandi Jenkins
Watch the recording here
5/29/24
Crisis Care for Severe and Profound Autism: Update from Washington State
Arzu Forough, Washington Autism Alliance
Watch the recording here
Find the slides (PDF) here
5/15/24
Profound Autism: When Challenging Behaviors Become Life-Threatening
Eileen Lamb, director of Social Media, Autism Speaks
Watch the recording here
4/24/24
Behavioral Treatment for Severe Behaviors in Profound Autism
Shaji Haq, PhD, Easter Seals, Southern California
Watch the recording here
4/10/24
What Can Be Covered Through My Health Plan for My Child with Severe Autism?
Karen Fessel, Mental Health & Autism Insurance Project
Watch the recording here
3/27/24
Seizures and Epilepsy in Severe Autism
Stephanie Morris, MD, Kennedy Krieger Institute
Epilepsy
Watch the recording here
Dr. Morris’s slides here
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