Speakers

Brandon Arkland
Self-Advocate
Mr. Arkland is a senior at Iowa State University studying Human
Development and Family Studies. He is on the Board of Directors
of the Iowa Autism State Council and the Autism Society of Iowa
and the president of Autism Speaks U at Iowa State. Mr. Arkland
was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome at age 4.
Suzanne Bartlett, MD, FACOG, FABOIM
Mercy Integrative Medicine
Dr. Bartlett is the medical director of the Mercy Integrative
Medicine Center in Cedar Rapids, and is the mother of a 15-yearold son with autism, named John. Her decision to pursue
integrative medicine has come from her personal experiences with
her sons autism and her husbands diagnosis and death from
cancer. Dr. Bartlett is past president and a current board member
of the Autism Society of Iowa and a member of the University of
Iowa Autism Center Advisory Council. She is the author of an
award-winning childrens book called A Friend Like John,
Understanding Autism.
Elizabeth (Liz) Delsandro, MS
University of Iowa
Ms. Delsandro is a clinical professor of Communication Sciences.
She teaches and supervises graduate student clinicians working with
individuals with autism at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing
Clinic. Ms. Delsandros work includes using best practices with
individuals with autism, motivation in learning, and international
service delivery for individuals with significant disabilities.
Mike Dierdoff
Self-Advocate
Mr. Dierdoff works as an assembler and tester for Adams Thermal
Systems in Cedar Falls. He and his wife, Margo, have two sons:
Alex, age 18, and Drew, age 15. Mr. Dierdoff is on the Board of
Directors of the Autism Society of Iowa and provides training to
emergency personnel on working with individuals with autism.
Connie Fanselow
Iowa Department of Human Services
Ms. Fanselow is the Executive Officer for Intellectual and
Developmental Disability Policy at the Iowa Department of Human
Services Division of Mental Health and Disability Services. She
manages the state-funded Autism Support Program, which
provides applied behavior analysis services to eligible children with
Autism Spectrum Disorder. Ms. Fanselow has specialized in
disability policy and disability rights issues since 1995 and currently
coordinates Olmstead planning and activities within the Iowa
Department of Human Services.

Betsy Lin, MA
Iowa Department of Education
Ms. Lin has worked in the field of early childhood special education
for over 17 years, as an early childhood special education teacher in
both inclusive and segregated settings. She joined the Iowa
Department of Education in 2012 as an Early Childhood Special
Education consultant working on projects involving special
education law, professional development, assessment, and criteria
for the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards.

Iowa Autism Symposium

Autism and Your Family:
A Spectrum of Support During Early Childhood

Kelly Pelzel, PhD

Center for Disabilities and Development
Dr. Pelzel is a licensed psychologist, providing assessment and
treatment services for young children. She is also the clinical
coordinator for the University of Iowa Childrens Hospital Autism
Center and president-elect for the Iowa Association for Infant and
Early Childhood Mental Health. Dr. Pelzel is a certified Project
ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) trainer.
Sean Peterson, PhD, BCBA
Pier Center for Autism
Dr. Peterson is the Clinical Director of the Pier Center for Autism.
He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has been working
with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for
over a decade. Dr. Peterson has recently completed his PhD in
Applied Behavior Analysis through the University of Nebraska
Medical Centers Munroe-Meyer Institute.
Nate Noble, MD
Developmental Pediatrician, Blank Childrens Hospital
Dr. Noble is Medical Director of the Anna Blank Developmental
Center in Des Moines, specializing in the care of children with
special healthcare needs. Dr. Noble completed his pediatric
residency training at Blank Childrens Hospital and fellowships at
the University of Iowa in both Developmental-Behavioral
Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics. He has conducted research on
genetic disorders, focusing on genotype-phenotype correlations and
care coordination.
Wendy Trotter, MS, CCC-SLP
Iowa Department of Education
Ms. Trotter has over 20 years of experience working with
individuals with autism in a variety of settings including specialty
schools, public schools, and pediatric outpatient therapy. She joined
the Iowa Department of Education as an education consultant in
2014 and has training in a number of therapeutic techniques and
intervention approaches. Ms. Trotter advocates for the integration
of various treatment models to meet the needs of children with
ASD at any given developmental level.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

8am-5pm
Courtyard by Marriott - Ankeny
2405 SE Creekview Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021

Symposium Objective

Schedule of Events

To provide an opportunity for parents, primary

caregivers, and family members of young children with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and early childhood
providers to learn about:
Statewide resources
Evidence-based practices
Funding supports for services
Service delivery options

7:30-8am

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8-8:15am

Welcome - Iowa Overview

8:15-9:30am

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Nate Noble

Autism in Iowa: Pillars of Paradox

9:30-10:15am

Wendy Trotter & Betsy Lin

Preparing for School-Based Services

10:15-10:30am

Break & Resource Fair

10:30am12:15pm

Kelly Pelzel, Elizabeth Delsandro, &

Sean Peterson
Evidence-Based Practices: Programs and
Interventions

12:15-1:15pm

Lunch (provided) & Resource Fair

1:15-2:15pm

Connie Fanselow
Funding Sources for ASD Services and Supports

2:15-3:15pm

Suzanne Bartlett
Caring for the Caregiver

3:15-3:30pm

Break & Resource Fair

3:30-4:45pm

Panel Discussion

4:45-5pm

Closing Remarks

Sessions will focus on topics of interest to families of

children who have recently been diagnosed with ASD
with information about therapeutic interventions,
financial resources, and emotional support.
Participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn
from professionals from across Iowa and integrate new
strategies into their own daily practices.

Additional Information

CEUs available
No cost to attend
Meals will be provided
Sessions will be recorded and made available for
later viewing online
An email will be sent to all attendees following the
symposium that will contain electronic links to
resources and other related information
Presentation materials and other resources will be
available at the symposium
This project is supported in part by the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) under grant award number H6MMC2743801-01, State Implementation Grants for Improving Services for
Children and Youth with ASD. Total award amount September 1,
2014 August 31, 2016 is $591,436. This information or content
and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the
official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by
HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
This symposium is in cooperation with the University of Iowa College of
Nursing.

Resource Tables
Child Health Specialty Clinics
Iowa Regional Autism
Assistance Program

University of Iowa Center for

Disabilities & Development

ChildServe

Metro West Learning Center

Pier Center for Autism

Iowa Department of
Education

Autism Society of Iowa

ASK Resource Center

The Homestead

Amerigroup

AmeriHealth Caritas

United Healthcare

Michaelson Lab

Location
Courtyard by Marriott - Ankeny
2405 SE Creekview Drive
Ankeny, IA 50021
515-422-5555
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dsman-courtyard-desmoines-ankeny/
A block of rooms has been reserved for the Iowa Autism
Symposium, please call for rate and to reserve rooms by
June 30, 2016

Registration
To register, click on the following link:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form?
EQBCT=2ad816c239334dff88287fc488eb9aec
For more information contact:
Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program
Child Health Specialty Clinics
University of Iowa
100 Hawkins Drive, 247 CDD
Iowa City, IA 52242
1-866-219-9119, ext. 2
Iowa-RAP@uiowa.edu
CEU Information
The University of Iowa College of Nursing is an Iowa
Board of Nursing Approved provider, Number 1.
Full time attendance for this program will award .84
CEUs or 8.4 contact hours.
6.7 (Contact Hours) Social Worker CEUs available
(This program is intended to meet the requirements for 6.7 hours of
social work continuing education credit in the area of Assessment
and treatment - interdisciplinary consultation and collaboration.)
Certificates of attendance will be distributed