STAR Winter Newsletter: 2022 Autism Hope Summit, Research, and Resources

STAR Newsletter

Winter 2023

In this month’s newsletter, the UVA STAR Initiative is excited to reflect upon the success of the recent 2022 Autism Hope Summit, share information about current research opportunities, and connect you with educational and outreach resources.

STAR EVENT

A Look Back

"It was wonderful seeing so many groups and organizations geared toward autism in one space. The wealth of information was AMAZING."

2022 Hope Summit (In Your Words)

We asked the attendees of December's Hope Summit to share what they liked about the event. Here's what some of you had to say!

Pictured: Autism Resource Fair in the PepsiCo Forum, Darden School of Business

"The Autism Hope Summit gave me hope that providers, families, and affected individuals are finding ways to find solutions as a team rather than fighting individual fights for inclusion and acceptance."

Pictured: Keynote Speaker, Eric Garcia, journalist and author of "We're Not Broken"

"I liked that the keynote speaker was a widely recognized individual from the autistic community who could lead with a message of hope."

Pictured: Panel of Self-Advocates: Rachel Pretlow, Jess Walters, Brendan Oakes, Hank Selzer (left to right)

"My favorite part of the Summit was listening to the panel of autistic adults share their life experiences."

Other things you had to say about the Hope Summit:

The availability of sensory rooms significantly enhanced my experience; it was necessary for me to take breaks throughout the conference.

I liked the resource fair and opportunities to network with several different people involved in various roles supporting the neurodivergent community.

The entire Summit was a very enlightening experience for me. I enjoyed each of the topics and speakers. It was also nice to network with individuals that I haven't seen in years.

As a BCBA, it was so nice to attend a conference that included such diverse individuals from different fields.

It is great to be immersed in learning about something that affects my life and the life of my family every day.

Autism Hope Summit: By the Numbers

RESEARCH & TRAINING

Get Connected with STAR

OPPORTUNITIES FOR

ADULTS

Autism and Mental Health

Tell us your opinions on how to best support mental health in autistic adults.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR

FAMILIES

Treating Depression in Teens with Autism

Participate in a behavior-based approach to treating depression in adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONALS

Special Education Professional Development

Teacher and para-professional training on supporting students with special education needs.

Autistic Adults with ID

Tell us how to best support mental health in autistic adults with intellectual disabilities.

Brain Differences in Boys and Girls with Autism

Help to understand the differences in how autism develop in boys versus girls.

Autism Training for First Responders

TJEMS and UVA STAR Initiative are partnering to offer a community informed, evidence-based training on autism.

Emergency Responder Experiences

Seeking autistic adults and caregivers of people with autism to give their input on experiences with first responders and what they should know about autism.

Find Summer Camps and Other Resources

Autism DRIVE houses many resources for families including information on summer camps, therapies, and more.

Watch Our Aut ism Webinars

Check out the many informational webinars from past STAR events to learn more about autism.

Important STAR Links

Autism DRIVE

Local events, services, information and research opportunities

Sheila C. Johnson Center

Telehealth, individual therapy, and parent autism training program

STAR Family Navigation

Autism resources, referrals, and support for families in Virginia

About STAR

The mission of the UVA Supporting Transformative Autism Research (STAR) initiative is to improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families through research, education, and outreach. STAR brings together researchers, community partners, individuals with autism, and their families to leverage strengths and address challenges. Our ultimate goal is to empower individuals with autism, their families, and their communities to achieve positive outcomes and quality of life.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE