NewYork-Presbyterian Autism Awareness Virtual Community Outreach Fair

Monday, October 26, 2020 12:00PM-1:00PM

Panel discussion and presentation from different professional perspectives. 

Please submit questions for the panel to address:
https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/91353515035          

 Alison Heffer, Child Life Specialist

Alison Heffer has been a certified child life specialist on the cardiology/ heart transplant service at a high volume pediatric hospital, for the last nineteen years.  During this time, she has established many psychosocial programs to address the complex needs of this population and support families living with chronic illness  During this time Alison established the Autism Task Force with Dr.Jennifer Bain.  The Autism Task Force has become a multidsicplinary group of individuals who care for patients with autism across New York Presbyterian campuses.

Shoshana Davis, PT, DPT, PCS

Shoshana Davis has been a physical therapist for over 14 years and has specialized in pediatrics for the past 9 years. She primarily works in the outpatient hospital setting working with a variety of patients as well as in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She has worked with children with autism in the outpatient setting over the years and more recently through remote/virtual therapy. Shoshana is passionate about setting up children to succeed and a growing dedication to family-based learning. 

Rachel Selman OTR/L, DIRC

Rachel Selman OTR/L, has been an Occupational Therapist for over 15 years and has specialized in pediatric care for almost her entire career. She has a certification as a DIR/Floortime expert clinician providing relationship based and family centered neuro-developmental therapy for children on the autism spectrum. In the last 8 years she has focused her career on providing developmental care interventions to infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Family centered care continues to be at the core of her practice. Her work in the NICU has unquestionably informed a deeper understanding about how the neuro-sensory system develops and how intimate relationships are formed. 

Tuesday, October 27, 2020  12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Please submit questions for the panel to address:
https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/93985255538

Sylvie Goldman, PhD, Child Neuropsychologist

Sylvie Goldman is an Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology in the Department of Neurology- Divisions Child Neurology & Cognitive Neuroscience at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. In her clinical practice, she evaluates children under the age of 6, for a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Over the years, she has developed an expertise in using comprehensive battery of autism instruments.
Dr Goldman's research focuses on disparities and delays in the diagnosis of ASD in girls and the identification of early gendered markers of autism and clinician's bias. She has developed video coding systems for dyadic interactions and motor atypicalities (stereotypies and gait) as well as kinematic and visual remote approaches.

 Chris Ricupero, PhD, Researcher

Dr. Ricupero is an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center with a PhD in Neuroscience. His career has focused on regenerative medicine strategies for neurological and craniofacial disorders using genetic engineering, stem cell fate programming and disease modeling. He has an extensive background in neurodevelopment where he has investigated gene expression and epigenetic regulation. Recently, he has a special interest in the rare neurogenetic disorder Angelman Syndrome and plans to further this research using patient specific stem cells and genetic editing tools. Dr. Ricupero is a member of the Columbia University Consortium on Neurodevelopmental Studies of Autism Spectrum and Related Disorders.

Sophy Kim, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Researcher

Dr. So Hyun "Sophy" Kim is a clinical researcher with an extensive background in identification of early behavioral phenotypes and examining developmental trajectories of children with ASD. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Research Director at the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB). She has developed a new language assessment tool, the Observation of Spontaneous Expressive Language (OSEL), which is now undergoing a national norm based on a partnership with the publisher, WPS, in collaboration with Dr. Catherine Lord. She has also led the development of new treatment outcome measures for ASD, the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) and the Measure of NDBI Strategy Implementation-Caregiver Change (MONSI-CC) with Dr. Catherine Lord. Currently, she is a PI of a NIMH funded project designed to examine the mechanisms of early, parent-mediated interventions for toddlers with ASD (1R01MH114925-01). Most recently, Dr. Kim has led efforts to examine school readiness in kindergarteners with ASD while integrating behavioral and electrophysiological (ERP/EEG) methods, with a particular focus on executive function.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Panel discussion and presentation from different professional perspectives. 
Please submit questions for the panel to address:
https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/93994304256

Molly Gangopadhyay, MD, Child Psychiatrist
Dr. Gangopadhyay is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Board certified in Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She serves as the Program Medical Director for the Pediatric and Obstetric Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Services at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. She is also on the Board of the New York Council for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the board for the Physically Ill Child Committee of the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her interests in pediatric integrated care, patient and family resiliency and coping in chronic illness.

Andrea Pollack, Autism Parents Connect

Hannah Reed, MD, Child Psychiatrist

Thursday, October 29, 2020  12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Please submit questions for the panel to address: https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/92586359020

Amy Lemelman, Ph.D. Child Psychologist

Dr. Amy Lemelman is a clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Autism and the Developing Brain. She is also an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Lemelman has expertise in using evidence-based diagnostic tools, such as the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), to evaluate children for ASD. She also has extensive experience working with parents of children with ASD from leading autism education groups for parents, providing parent training to target behavioral challenges in children, and providing parent coaching to teach the use of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions with children.

Gazi Azad, Ph.D. Child Psychologist

Gazi Azad is a Clinical Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist at the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She also is an Assistant Professor at Columbia University. Dr. Azad’s work focuses on helping parents and teachers communicate and collaborate in order to do the same interventions across home and school.

Friday, October 30, 2020 

12:00PM: Psychiatrist - Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, MD

Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who uses molecular and translational neuroscience research tools in the pursuit of new treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). His clinical/translational research program at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Center for Autism and the Developing Brain studies potential treatments for ASD and related genetic syndromes. Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele serves as an Associate Editor of Autism Research, the Journal of the International Society for Autism Research, and of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. He also co-chairs the Autism and Intellectual Disability Committee of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Please submit questions for the expert to address: https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/97899308999

1:00PM Psychologist - Stephen Kanne, Ph.D., ABPP (CN)

Dr. Stephen Kanne is the Director of NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Autism and the Developing Brain located in White Plains, NY. Dr. Kanne has over 20 years of specialized clinical training and experience working with children and adults with ASD, focusing on the measurement of ASD symptoms and traits, treatment outcome and measure development. Trained to the point of research reliability in the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), Dr. Kanne is an independent trainer for both instruments, allowing him to supervise and train others in the use of these assessment tools.

Please submit questions for the expert to address: https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/95843097566

2:00PM: Diet & Feeding

Registered Dietician - Danielle Starkman, MS, RD, CSN, CDP

Danielle Starkman serves as a dietitian at MSCHONY and has been a part of the NYP team for over five years. Danielle has had a passion for working with families and children since she became a Registered Dietitian in 2014. Danielle graduated from Syracuse University and also holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She has a pediatric nutrition certification as administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. She currently specializes in the ketogenic diet for pediatric patients with epilepsy.  

Speech-Language Pathologist -  Meghan Ledan M.S. CCC-SLP

Meghan Ledan is a speech-language pathologist at Morgan-Stanley Children's Hospital of NY has been a part of the NYP team for over three years. Meghan graduated from University of Connecticut, and then received her Master's Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Boston University. Meghan currently specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, and works with medically complex children with a variety of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder. 

Please submit questions for the experts to address: https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/97628848131

3:00PM Board Certified Behavior Analyst Daniel Sullivan – MS, BCBA, LBA

Daniel Sullivan is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst working as the Clinical Director for the district of New Milford, New Jersey. He is a Supervisor of Home Programming Services in Manhattan for Proud Moments Therapy, and founder of Behavior FX, an agency which services the tri-state area providing home programming,  homeschooling supports, evaluations and standardized assessments, parent support/training services, and crisis intervention training for families and agencies.  For over 10 years Daniel has worked using Behavior Analysis to help children and adults on the Autism Spectrum increase their skill sets and decrease socially impeding behaviors in order to live more fulfilling lives.  

Daniel Sullivan MS, BCBA, LBA

Founder Behavior FX - www.behavior-fx.com

BCBA.Daniel.Sullivan@gmail.com

info@Behavior-FX.com

Please submit questions for the expert to address: https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bsIrDvOa4nPMQm1

ZOOM LINK: https://weillcornell.zoom.us/j/96020982167

Full List

non-profit_community_partner_list_pdf.pdf

We are collaborating with the Child Mind Institute to investigate brain and behavioral changes in children with ASD over the first five years of life. Through the use of natural sleep MRIs, the project aims to identify the neurobiological underpinnings of early developmental changes in restricted repetitive behavior/interests (RRB) – one of the most clinically impairing aspects of ASD - and their predictive contribution to behavioral outcomes. Families who participate will receive comprehensive diagnostic assessment, feedback, and a formal written report, as well as up to three MRI sessions over the span of the five-year period. You may also receive up to $180 in compensation per year. We are looking for children with concerns for autism or social communication difficulties between 20 and 40 months of age.  

Please contact Helen Branyan at (914) 997-5254 or hfb4001@med.cornell.edu for more information. Flyers can be found here.  

The purpose of this study is to develop an automated approach to objectively measure nonverbal communication abilities in individuals who are typically developing, individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, and individuals who have developmental delay without ASD. There is no treatment involved in this study. In the first and second year of the study, your family will come in for two or three short visits, each lasting 2-3 hours for parent interviews and child testing. Children must be between 12 and 48 months of age, and not yet speaking in full sentences.

Please contact Elysha Clark-Whitney at (914)-269-8702 or elc2036@med.cornell.edu for more information. Flyer can be found here.

The SPROUT study investigates changes in expressive language and social communication in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over the course of the play-based intervention JASPER. JASPER targets the foundations of social communication and uses naturalistic developmental and behavioral strategies to increase the rate of complexity of social communication. We are collaborating with the Center for Autism Research Excellence at Boston University and the Center for Autism Research & Treatment at UCLA with hope to contribute to improving language and social communication related interventions and measures of change for children with ASD.   We are looking for families of young children (18 months to 5 years in age) with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of ASD to participate. Children can have little to no language. The SPROUT project will consist of 10-20 weeks of assessments and interventions. You will receive compensation for your time along with comprehensive play-based and behavioral assessments for your child.  For more information, please contact Alyssa Viggiano asv9013@med.cornell.edu.  Flyer can be found here.

We are offering a free language and play-based intervention through telemedicine, called “Tele Toy Talk.” We are looking for families of young children (12 to 48 months in age) with autism and other communication disorders to participate. The main goal of this intervention is to increase caregivers’ use of interactive strategies to improve the child’s early sentence development via telemedicine and video-based feedback. The Tele Toy Talk project will consist of 6 weeks of intervention in weekly 1-hour telemedicine sessions, followed by two additional hour-long telemedicine booster sessions. Several behavioral assessments will be done with the child, and caregivers will also be asked to fill out several questionnaires over the course of the study. The same caregiver(s) must be available to attend all video-conferencing sessions. Caregivers must also have internet availability from their homes. For more information, please contact Elizabeth McKernan, PhD at epm4001@med.cornell.edu

The CADB Medicine Research Program is evaluating a potential medicine for autism-related symptoms in  adolescents and adults. In collaboration with Janssen Research & Development, LLC, we are evaluating the effects of this medication on social communication problems, as  well as on repetitive behaviors. The potential medicine, JNJ-42165279, blocks an enzyme called fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which breaks down anandamide, a naturally occurring endocannabinoid. Participation in this study will last approximately 12 weeks with 8 total visits to our clinic. We are looking for participants aged 13-35 years old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a caregiver who would be willing to complete study activities. Participants will be compensated for each study visit and will receive evaluations and feedback. The CADB Medicine Research Program is dedicated to helping people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program is directed by Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele as a collaboration between Weill Cornell Medicine, the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, and Columbia University Medical Center at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Center for Autism and the Developing Brain (CADB).

For more information, please contact Miranda Zuniga-Kennedy at miz4002@med.cornell.edu or go to our website at cadbmedicineprogram.com