Biennial Spring Autism Conference

Thank you for making our VTCAR Biennial Spring Conference: Promoting Well-being for Autistic People Across the Lifespan a huge success!

* sold out *

Monday, March 24, 2025

8am - 4:30pm

The Inn at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

This day-long event was open to autistic individuals, parents/caregivers, researchers, students, providers and anyone interested and was held at the Inn at Virginia Tech.  

The event was free with an optional recommended donation of $20 per person ($5 per student) and can be made through the Virginia Tech Gift Accounting page or our VTCAR Make a Donation page.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

8-8:20: Check in and visit with exhibitors

8:20-8:30: Welcome with Dr. Angela Scarpa

8:30-9:15: Opening Keynote with Q&A: Promoting Wellness: A tiered approach to supporting autistic adults by Dr. Vanessa Bal, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University

9:15-9:20: Q&A

9:20-9:40: Education Research: Human-Centered Design and Autism Research by Dr. Caroline Branscome, Instructor and Pathways & Experiential Learning Coordinator, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech

9:40-10:00: Technology Research: Designing neuro-affirming human-AI interactions for coping with negative self-talk for autistic adults with Buse Carik, VTCAR Student Award recipient, second-year PhD student,  Computer Science, Virginia Tech

10:00-10:05: Q&A

10:05-10:20:  Technology Demo: Hanging out with Robots! by Jia Dong, PhD candidate in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Dani Stephens, undergraduate in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech

10:20-10:40: Break and Networking

10:40-11:00: Clinical Research: Organization, time management and planning: Strategies for autistic adolescents now and as they transition to adults with Dr. Rosanna Breaux, Assistant Professor, Director of the Child Study Center, Jerry L. Hulick Faculty Fellow, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech

11:00-11:20: Clinical/Development Research: Sexual violence toward people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with Dr. Jamie Edgin, Professor and Department Chair, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech

11:20-11:40: Biomedical Research: Self-injury in autistic samples: Toward characterization, neural markers, and novel avenues for intervention with Dr. Ligia Antezana, Post Doctoral Researcher, REAACT Research Program, University of Pittsburgh

11:40-11:50: Q&A

11:50-12:00: SAFE Award Presentation by Meghan Walsh, undergraduate, VTCAR SAFE Coordinator, Virginia Tech; Mobile Autism Clinic Announcement by Dr. Angela Scarpa

12:00-1:00: Lunch and visit with exhibitors

1:00-1:10: Raffle drawings

1:10-1:30: ABLE Accounts: A Unique Opportunity by Ashlee Gallagos of ABLEnow and Jerry Hulick of the Washington Group Special Care Planning Team

1:30-1:50: Empowering Autistic Job Seekers Through Mentorship by Brittany Short, Manager for Hire Autism at the Organization for Autism Research

1:50-2:10: Beyond the Pigeonhole: Effectively Employing those with Developmental Disabilities by Rob Snow, Executive Director for the CEO Commission for Disability Employment

2:10-3:10: Panel discussion: Understanding ways to promote inclusive integrated competitive employment for autistic individuals with Rob Snow, Claire Branscome, Dr. Caroline Branscome and Elizabeth Green, moderated by Dr. Alan McLucas

3:10-3:25: Break and networking

3:25-4:20: Self-advocate Keynote: Embracing God's Calling on my Life as a Late-diagnosed Autistic Woman with Allison Rose-Carroll, VTCAR intern, after-school program instructor, tutor, and equine instructor and Kelly Rose, Autism mom, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension for Dickenson County

4:20-4:25: Q&A

4:25-4:30: Closing Remarks with Dr. Angela Scarpa

Plus snacks, lunch, exhibitors, networking, a SAFE space and more! 

Your registration includes refreshments throughout the day and a buffet lunch.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact us at 540-231-8747 or email vtautismcenter@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

We are grateful for the generous and continued support from the Washington Group Special Care Planning Team and for grant funding from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Innovation Partnerships Grant Program award.