2025 Autism Symposium

Joshua Feder, MD Related seminars and products

Dr. Joshua Feder is a child and family psychiatrist in Solana Beach, California and medical director at Positive Development, providing affordable developmental relationship-based support for autistic children and their families nationwide. He is the father of an autistic son and the son of an autistic father. Dr. Feder cowrote the first American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Practice Parameter on the Assessment and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and serves as editor in chief at the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report. Dr. Feder teaches and conducts research with UCSD, SDSU, and Fielding Graduate University. Dr. Feder helps run the Autism Is inclusion program, the only active antibullying program certified by the state of California Department of Education. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including, Prescribing Psychotropics and The Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice, Second Ed. Many of Dr. Feder’s podcasts and lectures can be found online at www.joshuafedermd.com

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Joshua Feder maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with Positive Development, The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report, Quicksilver Software Company, Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning, Profectum, Beyond Imagination, and Fielding Graduate University. He is a grant reviewer for Organization for Autism Research and the National Foundation for Autism Research. Dr. Feder receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Joshua Feder serves on the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry committee and is a programmatic lead for the International Network for Peach Building with Young Children. He is a member of the Autism Society of America, the National Foundation for Autism Research, and the World Association of Infant Mental Health.

Varleisha Lyons, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS Related seminars and products

Varleisha D. Lyons (formerly Gibbs), PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, is an occupational therapist and author with over 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing disorders and neurological disorders. She developed and founded Delaware’s first occupational therapy program and became the first black indigenous American woman to serve as the Scientific Programs Officer at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Currently, she is the Vice President of Diversity Equity Inclusion Justice Access and Belonging at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Varleisha continues to lecture and provides training on sensory processing strategies and self-regulation to practitioners, parents, and teachers throughout the country and internationally. As co-author of Raising Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders, she has provided families with strategies to understand and care for their children. Dr. Lyons is the developer of the Self-Regulation and Mindfulness program and author of the best-selling book, Self-Regulation and Mindfulness: Exercises and Worksheets for Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (PESI Publishing & Media). She is the co-author of Trauma Treatment in ACTION: Over 85 Activities to Move Clients Toward Healing, Growth and Improved Functioning (PESI Publishing & Media). Her areas of expertise include neuroanatomy, self-regulation strategies across the lifespan, health inequities, and trauma responsive approaches.

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this presentation belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual. Varleisha D. Lyons PhD, OTR/L is employed by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This work is independent of her role and not affiliated with AOTA, Inc.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Varleisha Lyons has employment relationships with the American Occupational Therapy Association and VDTG, Inc. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Lyons receives a speaking honorarium, recording and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Varleisha Lyons is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the National Black Occupational Therapy Caucus. She serves on the advisory board of George Washington University Programs in Occupational Therapy and is a board member of the National Association for Hearing and Speech Action.

Karen Levine, PhD Related seminars and products

Karen Levine, PhD, is a developmental psychologist of 30 years, whose passion for improving the well-being of children who have developmental, social or emotional challenges has been the driving force throughout her career. She incorporates a developmental, relationship-based approach to assessment and treatment, incorporating playfulness and fun into treatment when feasible, as a means of increasing happiness and lowering anxiety and distress. Dr. Levine believes there is not a one size fits all approach to assessment or treatment, and that individual children and families need different kinds of support at different points in their development.

Dr. Levine developed a play-based treatment for children with fears and phobias, integrating the evidenced based behavioral tool of Gradual Exposure within a developmental, relationship-based model. This approach, described in her book, with co-author Naomi Chedd, LMHC, Attacking Anxiety, is currently called Behavior Play Therapy, and is being studied and manualized by Bonnie Klein-Tasman, PhD at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. She is a part time lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Karen Levine maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Harvard Medical School. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Levine receives grants from Williams Syndrome Association. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Karen Levine has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Kathleen Platzman, PhD Related seminars and products

Kathleen Platzman, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist with a private practice that focuses on both assessment and treatment of infants/children and other family members. Dr. Platzman specializes in developmental challenges, attachment, trauma, learning challenges, trauma, and general coping struggles. She offers services that include consultation, assessment, psychotherapy, treatment planning, mentoring and supervision.

Dr. Platzman is the Chief Training Advisor for the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders. She is on the Adjunct Faculty, School of Psychology for Fielding Graduate University. Prior to private practice, Kathy was part of a research team that conducted research on the long-term developmental consequences of prenatal drug and alcohol exposure and early environmental neglect at Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Kathleen Platzman maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Kathleen Platzman serves as the chief advisor ICDL Training Program Advisory Board, and is the expert training leader for Interdisciplinary Council for Development and Learning. She is a member of the APA.