Florida Center for Inclusive Communities - FCIC

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day! 💙
Join our friends at CARD-USF to learn more about their programs, initiatives, and impact in the community by visiting their website: https://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day! 💙

Established in 2007, this day recognizes the importance of awareness, acceptance, and advocacy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Throughout April, we are proud to spotlight the impactful work happening across our department to support individuals on the autism spectrum, their families, and the broader community.

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF (CARD-USF) has served the community since 1993. Funded by the Florida Department of Education, CARD-USF is one of seven centers in the state providing guidance, resources, training, and consultation.

Through strong collaboration with community partners, CARD continues to expand its impact. From the Autism Friendly Business Initiative to distributing Safety Kits to families and increasing Spanish-speaking services, their work is making a difference every day.

Learn more about CARD and their programs by visiting their website: https://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html



Florida Center for Inclusive Communities - FCIC USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences University of South Florida

Save the Date!
Join us on May 26, 2026, for the FCIC Employment Virtual Conference:
Future Ready: Empowering Youth to Actualize Their Talent

8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Join us on Teams @ https://bit.ly/EVC2026
More info: flfcic.cbcs.usf.edu/webinars_talent.html

A full day of learning and strategies to support youth as they explore and develop their talents. Mark your calendar and share!

📢 Webinar: Understanding the Mental Health Challenges Autistics Often Face

🗓 Date: Monday, January 23, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:30 PM EST
🎤 Speaker: Charnell Widnall

Join us for an insightful session where you will:
✔ Build a foundational understanding of key co-occurring conditions
✔ Learn how these conditions impact daily life and mental health
✔ Discover effective supports for co-occurring conditions

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your knowledge and support autistic individuals more effectively!

Register today!
c588a03b-5ac4-4edf-a2b4-3d8472e58459@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c588a03b-5ac4-4edf-a2b4-3d8472e58459@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa

📢 Course Alert for Spring 2026: Systems, Services, and Supports in Developmental Disabilities

Explore the systems, services, and supports that shape the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. This course offers a life course perspective, addressing societal, environmental, and systemic factors that impact quality of life.

Instructor: Dr. Laura Rodríguez López
This graduate-level course is offered online.

📩 For more information or course permits: [email protected]
Register today!

📢 Special Topics Graduate Course – Spring 2026
Studying Inferential Language in Childhood: Rationale, Methods, and Coding Systems

Curious about how children learn to reason, explain, and predict through conversations? This course dives into the role of inferential language during shared book-reading activities—both one-on-one and in classrooms.

You’ll learn:
✔ How to elicit and measure children’s exposure to inferential talk
✔ Coding authentic adult–child interaction transcripts
✔ Working with data from monolingual children and Dual Language Learners

By semester’s end, you’ll be ready to design studies exploring inferential language and its impact on comprehension and higher-order thinking.

📅 Term & Time: Spring 2026 | Thursdays, 5–7:45 PM
💻 Modality: Remote synchronous | 3 credit hours
👩‍🏫 Instructor: Maria S. Carlo
📩 Email [email protected] for enrollment permission.

Join Denise Barnes on Sunday, January 18th, 2026 and learn what Employment First means!

Register and learn more about the 33rd annual CARD Conference from January 16th-January 18th, 2026.
www.cardconference.info

Learn what Employment First is from Denise Barnes on Sunday, January 18th, 2026!

You can't miss our 33rd annual CARD Conference from January 16th-January 18th, 2026. For more info and registration, go to www.cardconference.info

Join us on November 14 at 10:00 AM EST for From Awareness to Action:
What Every Job Coach Should Know About Neuro Inclusive Hiring

A webinar presented by Silvia Gil, M.S. Ed.
Founder of Neuro Consulting Solutions, PEERS Certified

Whether you’re new to disability inclusion or ready to expand your impact, this session will provide actionable, research-based insights you can use right away.

Register today!
9899ff12-83ab-4a7f-b01c-9b5f091f2349@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9899ff12-83ab-4a7f-b01c-9b5f091f2349@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa

The Supporting Neurodivergent Clients in Hiring⁠ webinar has been rescheduled!
⁠
The new date is March 6, 2026, from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM EST!
⁠
Where we'll discuss: ⁠
✅ Bias-free hiring tools⁠
✅ Confidence coaching and communication tips⁠
✅ Inclusive language and disclosure strategies⁠
✅ Interview prep and onboarding guidance⁠
⁠
With the guest speaker ⁠
Dejannae Lang, Ph.D.⁠
Industrial-Organizational Practitioner⁠
⁠
Register today!
686d89f5-1d77-4dc2-9ae9-c596a7df3f09@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/686d89f5-1d77-4dc2-9ae9-c596a7df3f09@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa

If you live in Florida and care about improving services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, here's your chance to make a difference. The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is inviting public comments on its next Five-Year State Plan (2026–2031).
Check out the priorities and share your feedback before November 30! 🗣️👇

Friendly Reminder! The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) is inviting public comment on its next Five-Year State Plan (2026–2031).

The Five-Year State Plan is a roadmap that guides how the Council works to improve the lives of Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Over the past 18 months, FDDC partnered with WellFlorida Council to collect input from more than 600 individuals, families, and community leaders. These insights helped identify key priorities for the next plan, including Access to Services, Behavioral Health and Challenging Behaviors, and Aging Families.

Public comments are open October 15–November 30, 2025, with a virtual comment session on December 2.

Read the full plan and share your feedback: https://www.fddc.org/notice-for-public-comment-5-year-state-plan/

Join us on November 14, from 3-4 PM EST, for Supporting Neurodivergent Clients in Hiring⁠
⁠
Where we'll discuss: ⁠
✅ Bias-free hiring tools⁠
✅ Confidence coaching and communication tips⁠
✅ Inclusive language and disclosure strategies⁠
✅ Interview prep and onboarding guidance⁠
⁠
With the guest speaker ⁠
Dejannae Lang, Ph.D.⁠
Industrial-Organizational Practitioner⁠
⁠
To register visit: a9f19ade-834d-4adc-be3b-b79578e5b1d5@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9f19ade-834d-4adc-be3b-b79578e5b1d5@741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa

Co-Creator Cian O’Clery Discusses the ‘Significant Responsibility’ of Autism Representation in ‘Love On The Spectrum’ and Teases Season 4

https://deadline.com/2025/08/love-on-the-spectrum-season-3-interview-cian-oclery-1236489752/

Image: Featured in the Deadline.com article highlighting the series, Love on the Spectrum