William Carey University’s School of Education in conjunction with the non-profit organization TEAAM, (Together Enhancing Autism Awareness in Mississippi), sponsors the annual Autism and Neurodiversity Conference. The 2-day conference was held for the first time in March 2022 on the Hattiesburg campus and in March 2023 on the Tradition campus. Educators, administrators, and parents of children with special needs attend sessions on informative and innovative topics for the classroom and home settings. Participants earn continuing education credits through various speakers and sessions on topics including strategies, interventions, and life skills for neuro-diverse students.
In 2022, Distinguished lecturer Dr. Raun Melmed shared information about ground-breaking research on autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Melmed is a pediatrician and world-renowned author and speaker on autism and neurodiversity. In 2023, the keynote speaker was Dr. Scott Robertson, a social scientist and nationally recognized expert in disability policies and practices in Washington DC. His presentation highlighted his insights as an autistic adult with additional disabilities and his experience in conducting qualitative research and the role of key technologies that address the challenges and barriers to ensure autistic people can achieve their life goals.
For more information on future conferences, please contact Dr. Mark Yeager at myeager@wmcarey.edu.
2023 Conference Agenda