Conference on neurodevelopmental disabilities for Spanish-speaking community Sept. 20
By Marianne Russ Sharp
7th annual MIND Institute event to focus on diagnoses, rights and services
(SACRAMENTO)
The seventh annual “Aprendiendo Juntos” or “Learning Together” conference will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the UC Davis MIND Institute. The event is sponsored by the MIND Institute’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and community partners. The daylong conference, delivered entirely in Spanish, is focused on empowering families through knowledge and community.
The seventh annual "Learning Together" conference, delivered entirely in Spanish, will be Sept. 20 at the UC Davis MIND Institute.
The popular event brings together professionals from the MIND Institute with agencies and organizations in the community that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. It is open to self-advocates, family members and professionals.
“The conference is an opportunity to unite as a community, meet, learn and ask the experts questions about the different areas that encompass the lives of our loved ones living with a developmental disability,” said Maribel Hernandez, a community outreach coordinator at the MIND Institute who helps to plan the conference. “This includes the school system, medical care, services and supports to navigate the systems in a caring and safe environment.”
The 2024 Spanish Conference was very well attended.
A focus on diagnoses, rights and services
This year’s theme is “Developmental Disabilities: Diagnoses, Rights and Services for the Hispanic Community.”
MIND Institute experts and community specialists will discuss the interaction between neurodevelopmental disabilities like autism and the most common mental health conditions that often occur alongside them.
Breakout sessions will include:
Naturalistic interventions to support development
Educational evaluations and IEP (individual education plan) development
A panel discussion featuring psychologists and parent leaders sharing insight and support for families at the time of diagnosis
“We’ll also talk about what to expect at a doctor’s visit, the different components of diagnosis, and the many interventions available to help improve quality of life,” Hernandez explained. “And we’ll focus on the services and laws available to support and protect people with developmental disabilities.”
In addition, the conference will include information on how to help adolescents transition to adulthood and self-care exercises to support caregivers’ well-being.
Community collaborators for the conference include:
“This conference is a standout example of deep community engagement,” said Wendy Neikirk Rhodes, executive director of Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. “It is especially notable for its focus on empowering Spanish-speaking individuals and families — communities that have long faced significant barriers to timely diagnoses, accurate information, and access to critical services. By conducting the entire event in Spanish and tailoring its content for adult learners — including parents, self-advocates, caregivers, and professionals — the MIND Institute is helping bridge those gaps.”
Developmental-behavioral pediatrician Bibiana Restrepo presenting during the 2024 Spanish Conference.
Hernandez said her favorite thing about the powerful conference is the sense of belonging.
“For Spanish-speaking families who have a loved one with a disability, there are many challenges: language, disability, perhaps financial needs and other uncertainties. This day, this conference is for them,” she said. “We offer a space for learning and help mitigate the feeling of loneliness that is common among families.”
Event details:
Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
UC Davis MIND Institute, 2825 50th St, Sacramento, 95817
The UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, Calif. is a unique, interdisciplinary research, clinical, and education center committed to deepening scientific understanding of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It is a highly collaborative center, bringing together families, researchers, clinicians, community leaders and volunteers with the common goal of developing more personalized, equitable, and scientifically proven systems of support and intervention. The institute has major research efforts in autism, fragile X syndrome, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Down syndrome. More information about the institute and its Distinguished Lecturer Series, including previous presentations in this series, is available on the Web at https://health.ucdavis.edu/mind-institute/.
