Kentucky Autism Training Center

Registration is NOW OPEN for the FINAL CAREGIVER SUMMIT OF 2026!!

September 11 to 12, 2026
Kit Carson Building
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky

Join us for two days of learning, encouragement, practical strategies, and connection. Designed primarily for caregivers of school-aged autistic children, this summit brings together families, self advocates, professionals, and community partners to share knowledge, resources, and real-world experiences.

Cost:
• $25 Individual Registration
• $40 Couple Registration

Registration Includes:
• Dinner on Friday evening
• Lunch on Saturday
• Two days of training and learning opportunities
• Time to connect with other caregivers and families
• Access to local resource exhibitors
• Participation in our unique Resource Roundtables, a "speed dating for resources" experience where attendees rotate among organizations to learn about services, ask questions, and build local connections

Featured Keynote Speakers:
• Elle Travis
• Rhys Travis
• Toast 🐾

Hear this inspiring Kentucky family share their experiences, perspectives, and journey through autism, advocacy, and connection.

Workshop Sessions:
• Understanding Behavior Through the Lens of Communication with Dr. Myrabeth Bundy & Self-Advocate Caleb Rader
• Sensory Processing Basics for Home and Everyday Life
presented by the EKU Occupational Therapy Dept.

Who Should Attend?
• Parents and caregivers
• Autistic self advocates
• Grandparents and other family members
• Siblings and extended family members
• Educators and school staff
• Therapists and service providers
• Anyone supporting an autistic child

Important Information:
• No childcare will be provided.
• The summit is not designed for children to attend.
• Presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities are intended for adults and older self advocates who can independently participate in the event.
• Attendees are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements.

While this summit focuses primarily on the needs of school-aged children and their families, we recognize that autism is lifelong. Future caregiver initiatives are being planned with a greater emphasis on adolescents, transition-age youth, employment, post-secondary education, independent living, and adulthood.

Whether you are newly navigating an autism diagnosis or have been on this journey for years, we hope you will join us for a weekend of learning, encouragement, practical resources, and meaningful connections.

Go here to learn more: tinyurl.com/CGDashboard2026

Registration is open now. We hope to see you in Richmond this September.

Summer swimming + sensory-friendly support = inclusive recreation for autistic kids. 🌊

Share an adapted swimming location near you or explore programs already listed. Community partnerships like these keep autistic students active and connected.

Submit your program: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQvniM-VzDBXpHUI6Tg3rpQXl2yj099HKRig_kAgYNbyQlcg/viewform

See current programs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DA3zRhHc3jmBo9QIQeKjafhOgjI45TwAjtWTKCmgFE4/edit?tab=t.0 =h.oc7abns06z6b

Finding the right provider for your autistic child matters. 🆓

KATC's Kentucky Provider List includes assessment, therapy (speech, occupational, physical), ABA, counseling, and more. Updated, searchable, and crowdsourced by families.

Access it: tinyurl.com/KATCPROVIDERLIST

Know a provider we're missing? Use the form to add them: tinyurl.com/PROVIDERLISTGF

Preschool teams - this one's for YOU (and the families you serve).

KATC's Lindsay Eubanks is presenting at the Kentucky Behavior Institute (June 15–16 | Louisville, KY) with a session full of resources you'll actually use!

📍 Preschool educators are often the first people outside a family to notice that a child's development looks different. This session helps early childhood teams move from noticing to connecting to guiding with confidence.

Using personal story and the Notice → Connect → Guide framework, participants will leave with:
👉 practical language for family conversations
👉 documentation habits that support evaluators
👉 a guided walkthrough of Kentucky-specific autism resources organized by where families are in their journey.

Appropriate for
→ preschool teachers
→ assistants
→ Head Start staff
→ early intervention
→ providers
→ early childhood professionals at any experience level
→ anyone who wants to know more about Kentucky autism resources for parents/caregivers.

🔗 Register today: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/KYBehaviorInstitute2026/home

FREE Virtual Book Study: "Life on the Bridge" by Kaelynn Partlow, autistic therapist 🎥

Mondays Aug 24 & 31, Sept 14, 21, 28 | 5:30–6:45 PM CT

"You belong here." Learn from an autistic professional about linking your world to hers. Space for school professionals, caregivers, self-advocates, and service providers.

Register using the QR code in the bottom right corner of the flyer below. Thank you!

📅 Virtual ADOS-2 training coming September 16 & 18, 2026!

Professional assessments require proper training. KATC's ADOS-2 training supports school teams in understanding autistic students' communication and sensory profiles, essential for accurate intervention planning.

Register now: https://sites.google.com/view/katcsafety/upcoming-trainings?authuser=0

Preschool teams — this one's for YOU (and the families you serve).

KATC's Lindsay Eubanks is presenting at the Kentucky Behavior Institute (June 15–16 | Louisville, KY) with a session full of resources you'll actually use!

📍 Statewide Autism Resources Every Preschool and Teaching Team Should Know to Help Caregivers

Families of young autistic children often don't know where to turn — and early childhood teams are the bridge. Come discover the statewide resources available right here in Kentucky to help you support caregivers with confidence.
Leave with a roadmap of tools, connections, and resources to share with the families in your community.

🔗 Register today: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/KYBehaviorInstitute2026/home

🎉 120/120 — KATC reached every county in Kentucky this fiscal year!

At the Kentucky Autism Training Center, we believe every autistic Kentuckian — across every stage and setting of life — deserves access to knowledgeable, affirming support. This year, we made that belief real.

In FY26, KATC connected with all 120 counties across the Commonwealth. 🗺️✅

That reach happened through:

📍 Community Engagement — localized events, specialized trainings, consultation calls, and ongoing email support

🏫 Training Site Initiative — partnering with schools to embed evidence-based strategies into classrooms and empower educators

🚒 First Responder Trainings — equipping law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS with the knowledge to respond safely and compassionately

🤝 Statewide Collaborations — joining forces with partners across Kentucky to build a stronger, more connected network of support

Every training held. Every resource shared. Every connection made. It all adds up to something bigger — a more inclusive Kentucky for autistic people and their families.

To every partner, educator, first responder, and family who walked alongside us this year: thank you. We are building this together. 💙

🔗 Learn more: uofl.me/katc

🚒🚑👮 Calling All First Responders in Eastern Kentucky!

Do you respond to calls involving autistic individuals? This free training is for YOU.
Autism and the First Responder is coming to Manchester, KY — and it's FREE!

📅 June 10, 2026
⏰ 9:00–11:30 AM EST
📍 Crawdad Building | 311 HWY 638, Downtown Manchester
Co-hosted by Clay County Emergency Management & Clay County EMS

Seats are limited — RSVP today!
📞 Rebecca Patton: 502-682-4052
📧 [email protected]

Open to ALL first responders — police, fire, EMS, search & rescue, and emergency management.

Learn more at 👉 uofl.me/katc

Make it. Take it. Use it Monday.

KATC's Kimberly Howard is bringing a hands-on session to the Kentucky Behavior Institute (June 15–16 | Louisville, KY) that you won't want to miss!

📍 Make & Take: Structured Work Systems
Structured work systems are a powerful, evidence-based strategy that help autistic students work independently — and they're easier to create than you might think!

Leave this session with materials in hand and the knowledge to implement them right away. Perfect for special educators, paraprofessionals, and anyone who supports students in structured learning environments.

🔗 Grab your spot: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/KYBehaviorInstitute2026/home