NADD: an association for persons with developmental disabilities and mental hea, 321 Wall Street, Kingston, NY (2026)

08/14/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

The New NADSP Code of Ethics - Know The Code

Speakers: Tony Thomas, LISW, ACSW & Joseph Macbeth

Description: The NADSP Code of Ethics (COE) is 25 years old in 2026. It was decided in 2025 to do a complete update of the NADSP COE. The speakers will present the new Code of Ethics just approved by the NADSP Board and will instruct the audience on how to use the new COE along with a new companion document called the NADSP Ethics Practice Guideline. This session will focus on how to teach this new code of ethics to frontline staff and supervisors—and the difference between this new Code of Ethics and the previous version.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/14/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

Community-Based Stability for Individuals with IDD and SMI

Speakers: Frank Koerber, PhD, MS, MS, LPC, LBS, NADD-CC ; Anthony DeStefano, MA, MBA, NADD-DDS

Description: The presentation will review practices that help people who have both an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) and a serious mental health problem (SMI). The people highlighted in the presentation present with excessive utilization of community resources and high-risk behaviors and are considered for more restrictive levels of care.

The presentation will also demonstrate how these practices are used in a person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed manner to enable people with IDD and SMI to maintain a life in a community setting. Participants will gain practical insight into effective supports and how effective mental health services are coordinated with various stakeholders.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/13/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

Bridging IDD Gaps in Integrated Care

Speaker: Victoria Juarez-Ochoa

Description: Integrated behavioral health models, including the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH), may overlook individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) due to reliance on standardized screening, symptom-driven follow-up, and brief interventions. Limitations in using one model over another can create gaps in identification, engagement, and continuity of care.

Using a real-world workflow, this session highlights where breakdowns occur and how Behavioral Health Coordinators (BHCs) function as system-level bridges. Attendees will review how BHCs support identification, provide clinical translation for medical teams, and coordinate care across systems to improve follow-up and alignment. Embedding BHCs within healthcare settings allows for flexible navigation across elements of both models.

The session also addresses current limitations, including resource barriers, screening gaps, and delays in linkage to IDD services, and concludes with practical strategies to strengthen identification, referral pathways, and continuity of care within integrated settings.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/13/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

Trauma-Informed Autism Care: Beyond Compliance

Speakers: Michal Frank , LPCC, MSED ; Uzama Price EdD, NADD-DDS, CC, LBA, LCAS-ABCBA

Description: Individuals with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) experience elevated rates of trauma exposure, yet trauma responses are frequently misinterpreted as behavioral challenges within service systems. Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) offers a valuable framework; however, its application often lacks adaptation for neurodiversity and communication differences common in this population.

This presentation examines how trauma and autism intersect, with particular attention to how well-intentioned interventions may inadvertently contribute to distress, loss of autonomy, or re-traumatization. Participants will explore the clinical utility and limitations of commonly used behavioral approaches, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), through a trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming lens. Specific attention will be given to how practices emphasizing compliance, extinction, or suppression of behaviors may impact individuals with IDD.

Evidence-informed strategies will be presented to support clinicians and direct support staff in modifying interventions to prioritize safety, communication access, and autonomy. Practical applications will include reframing “behavior” as communication, integrating sensory considerations, and implementing consent-based approaches.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/13/2026

LINK CENTER RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT 📢

Making a Plan for When I Don’t Feel Ok is a crisis planning tool designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health support needs. Completed when a person is feeling well, it serves as a personalized guide to help them recognize when they are not feeling well, identify helpful coping strategies, and communicate the support they need to feel better. : https://thelinkcenter.org/resource/making-a-plan-for-when-i-dont-feel-ok-2/

https://thelinkcenter.org/

08/12/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

Peer-Led Follow-Up in Mobile Crisis Systems

Speakers: Shane Achor & Katherine Cannon

Description: This session walks through how a Mobile Crisis Team built a structured, peer-led follow-up system that works across community crisis response and hospital settings, including ED and Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) discharges. The model focuses on timely outreach within 72 hours, clear referral pathways, and consistent expectations for follow up. Attendees will learn how to set up a similar structure, including how referrals are received, prioritized, and tracked to improve consistency and accountability.

The session will also break down what peers actually do during crisis encounters and follow-up, including engaging high utilizers and connecting individuals to outpatient care, substance use treatment, housing, and other supports. Program data such as contact rates, engagement levels, and short-term trends in repeat crisis use will be reviewed to show impact.

The role of peer supervision will be highlighted as a key part of maintaining consistency and supporting staff. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of how to build or improve peer follow-up in their own programs.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/12/2026

Still Wondering Why You Should Attend?
✅ Learn from nationally recognized experts and thought leaders

✅ Explore innovative practices and emerging trends

✅ Earn valuable continuing education credit

✅ Connect with colleagues and peers from across the field

✅ Discover new resources, tools, and solutions in the exhibit hall

Whether you're a returning attendee or joining us for the first time, the NADD Annual Conference offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, collaborate, and build meaningful connections.

Learn More & Register:
https://thenadd.org/conferences/

08/11/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

Beyond Crisis: Creating an Optimal Continuum of Supports

Speakers: Stacy Nonnemacher ; Brandi Kelly, PhD

Description: For years, state systems have been designed to respond to crises. We have become experts at reacting when things go wrong, struggling to build systems and practices that focus on preventative and proactive supports. When we say we support "everyone," do we truly mean the people who challenge our systems? Or are we simply managing risks until the next emergency?

This interactive presentation challenges us to move beyond the traditional cycle of crisis management and shift our focus toward a proactive Optimal Continuum of Supports. We will walk through the four essential dimensions of the continuum: 1. ensuring basic needs are met as a non-negotiable foundation; 2. implementing universal supports that benefit all individuals; 3. deploying targeted supports for those with specific needs; and 4. refining crisis services to be a temporary bridge rather than a permanent destination. Grounded in wellness, prevention, and person-centered practices, this session provides a comprehensive roadmap to design systems and clinical practices that support all people across their entire lifespan. The goal is to move from a reactive model to one that preserves dignity and fosters growth at every stage—ensuring the system is working for people at all times, not just when they are in distress.

During this session, we will introduce The Optimal Continuum of Supports Compass. This practical tool is designed for use at the systems level (macro), provider level (messo), and individual level (micro) to analyze supports and services that are currently available—and where the gaps remain. Using real-world case examples, we will present both system and practice-level strategies that maximize our scant resources like time, money, and effort. By focusing on preventative approaches, we move toward a model that is not only more cost-effective and ethically sound but one that effectively captures and supports the majority of the people you serve.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/11/2026

CONFERENCE SESSION SPOTLIGHT! 📢

Where Art Meets Therapy: Using MARI in Dual Diagnosis Care

Speaker: Patricia Gonzalez, LPC, MT-BC, NADD-CC, CMT

Description: The Mandala Assessment Research Instrument (MARI®), an art-based intervention tool used in mental health treatment, shows promising potential for supporting individuals with dual diagnoses of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and co-occurring mental health conditions. MARI®’s use of an art-based process can bypass expression barriers commonly experienced by individuals experiencing challenges due to their disability, mental health, or trauma experiences. Using symbol and color, MARI® offers an alternative entry point to illuminate patterns of coping, commonly used defenses, and both internal and external resources that support daily resilience. Studies show that MARI® can support people as they navigate stress, change, and emotional regulation challenges. Participants will engage with the tool through guided experiential activities, including mandala creation and a modified Mini MARI® process. These experiences promote personal insight and enhanced understanding of how the tool functions in applied settings. Educational in nature, these activities offer participants an adapted version of the tool that can be used for daily mindfulness practice. The session will explore how certified practitioners integrate MARI® into their clinical frameworks. Examples will demonstrate how MARI® can serve as a complementary approach to other treatment modalities such as CBT, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), sand play, behavioral support, art therapy, and music therapy. Case examples will illustrate how the tool helps identify individuals’ strengths, existing resources, over-relied-upon coping strategies, and areas for growth. Opportunities for discussion will also be provided to explore how MARI® aligns with a person-centered approach to treatment.

43rd Annual NADD Conference
October 7-9, 2026
Pittsburgh, PA

Learn More & Register: https://thenadd.org/conferences

08/10/2026

LINK Center Featured Resource: Building Responsive 988 Systems

Although May’s Mental Health Awareness Month came and went, the need for mental health support for individuals with I/DD, BI, and other disabilities remains a year-round priority. We’re highlighting the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline as a vital resource for people with co-occurring conditions. To better serve everyone, states must collaborate to build more responsive systems. This resource offers a framework rooted in the experience of states from The Link Center’s 988 Policy Academy.

Listen as Whit Downing shares her personal experience, urging states to prioritize these improvements, and encouraging anyone struggling to reach out to 988 for support. Watch the Video with Whit Downing on 988 HERE: https://thelinkcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Whit-on-988.mp4

LEARN MORE:
https://thelinkcenter.org/resources/

NADD: an association for persons with developmental disabilities and mental hea

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