25% of outpatient pediatric visits are for developmental or behavioral concerns. To help both families and professionals, the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND is holding a series of free conferences and workshops in Chattanooga and other Tennessee cities.
For families, the half-day session will help parents be effective advocates for their child with an intellectual and developmental disability. Experts will address a range of topics, including autism, intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and congenital Zika.
“Our sessions for families will provide time for questions and answers, and we’ll also provide information on local resources and organizations assisting children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Tyler Reimschisel, M.D., MHPE, Vanderbilt associate professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, director of the Division of Developmental Medicine and the Center for Child Development, and director of the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND.
The Chattanooga event for families will be held Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (lunch provided), in the SCI Board Room, 2nd Floor of Siskin Children’s Institute. On-site parking is available, and in lieu of child care, each family will receive a $20 Target gift card. Families should register by May 4. Contact tara.j.minor@vanderbilt.edu.
For professionals, the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND is providing an Interprofessional Course on Developmental Disabilities in Pediatrics—Including Congenital Zika.
“Although developmental disabilities are common, the needs of these children can be complex,” Dr. Reimschisel said. “We’ll use an interprofessional approach to identifying and managing global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and behavior problems.”
The Interprofessional Course is designed for a broad range of professionals, including community pediatricians, family physicians, pediatric and family nurse practitioners, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dieticians, speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, school administrators, audiologists, social workers, and clinical and developmental psychologists. CME/CNE credits are available.
This training is sponsored by the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) in collaboration with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt Center for Child Development, East Tennessee State University, and the Tennessee Department of Health.