March 12–13, 2026
Keynote Speaker
David Trembath, Ph.D.
Head of Autism Research and Senior Principal Research Fellow, CliniKids, The Kids Research Institute Australia
About Dr. David Trembath
Dr. David Trembath is head of autism research and senior principal research fellow at CliniKids, The Kids Research Institute Australia. His human rights-based research focuses on optimizing the learning, participation and wellbeing of autistic children and their families through the development and delivery of services and supports that are safe, effective and meaningful to them. Trembath brings to his work more than 25 years of experience as a speech pathologist in clinical, clinical education and university settings, as well as the invaluable insights children and families have shared with him throughout his career. He has co-led the development and update of national guidelines to support best practices in delivering services and supports to autistic people and their families across Australia, and has also co-led the creation of the National Framework for assessing children’s functional strengths and support needs.
Symposium
How Much Support is Enough? Individualizing Evidence to Optimize Outcomes for Autistic Children and their Families
David Trembath, Ph.D., and Rachelle Wicks, Ph.D.
Thursday, March 12 | 4:00PM to 5:00PM | 60 MINUTES | LIVE
A key challenge facing autistic individuals, families, and professionals alike is determining the amount of support that is most likely to result in optimal outcomes. We know that supports should be personalized, but how does this translate to practice, particularly when research evidence is lacking in terms of quantity, quality, and consistency of findings? In this presentation, David and Rachelle will draw on professional and lived experience in presenting a framework for working with autistic people and their families to make decisions about the amount of support, including ways to review and adjust over time. Drawing on evidence and recommendations from clinical guidelines, frameworks, research, and community perspectives, this presentation will focus on the practical aspects of translating research to practice when it comes to personalized assessment, planning, and delivery of supports in the amount that is most likely to benefit each individual and their family.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Objective 1:
Learners will be able to identify the four elements of the ‘Evidence-based framework for determining the optimal amount of intervention for autistic children’
Objective 2:
Learners will be able to apply the framework in making a recommendation for intervention dosage, in the context of a case study
Objective 3:
Learners will be able to explain the rationale for their recommendation, in the context of a simulated clinical conversation
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.