March 12–13, 2026
Invited Speaker
Lisa Morgan, LCSW-CC, M.Ed.
Founder and co-chair of the Autism and Suicide Prevention Workgroup
About Lisa Morgan
Lisa Morgan is a trauma-informed consultant specializing in crisis supports and suicide prevention for autistic people. Lisa is founder and co-chair of the Autism and Suicide Prevention Workgroup and has led the development of several autism specific resources for communicating and supporting autistic people in crisis. A self-advocate with a passion for strengths-based solutions, Lisa has authored several books, articles and resources all available on her website. She is a member of AASET (Autistic Adults and other Stakeholders Engaged Together) where she has contributed to community participatory research projects in various roles, including the co-lead of a clinician training team. Lisa has a master’s degree in social work and in the art of teaching, is a certified autism specialist, a research consultant and owner of Lisa Morgan Consulting.
Symposium
Crisis Supports and Suicide Prevention for Autistic People
Brenna Maddox, Ph.D., and Lisa Morgan, LCSW-CC, M.Ed.
Friday, March 13 | 2:55PM to 3:55PM | 60 MINUTES | LIVE
Autistic individuals are significantly more likely to think about, attempt, and die by suicide than the general population. Suicide is a leading cause of premature death for autistic people. Suicide prevention is a top priority in the autistic community. However, the resources, supports, and interventions designed for the general public can unintentionally harm autistic people. Autistic people think, communicate, and experience the world differently than non-autistic people. This strengths-based presentation will focus on ways that mental health professionals can adapt their approaches to better meet the needs of autistic individuals in crisis. Attendees will learn about unique risk factors and warning signs of suicide for autistic people, as well as specific coping and regulation strategies. The presenters will highlight recent research findings, include powerful stories of lived experience, discuss case scenarios and common clinical challenges, and share practical autism-specific suicide prevention resources developed in collaboration with autistic adults.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Objective 1:
Explain 3 key communication guidelines to use when assessing suicide risk with autistic people
Objective 2:
Describe how to leverage 5 strengths of autistic individuals when supporting them in crisis.
Objective 3:
Use 4 effective coping and regulation strategies to prevent or de-escalate a crisis with autistic people.
Elevate Your Impact is Catalight’s annual virtual conference, dedicated to advancing person-centered care for individuals with autism and intellectual developmental disabilities (I/DDs). Offering continuing education to those who qualify, the conference features a dynamic mix of live sessions and on-demand content, providing a flexible learning experience. Elevate Your Impact is an opportunity to connect with thought leaders, gain insights and optimize care outcomes in behavioral health.