News

June 9, 2026

Application Process Open for Scholarships to Conference Focusing on Autism and Sensory Disabilities

Those interested in attending the Building Knowledge to Know How Conference can apply for a scholarship, which provides free registration and lodging.

The conference highlights best practices, research, and strategies with a special focus on autism, sensory disabilities, secondary transition, and complex instructional needs.

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Those interested in obtaining a scholarship to attend the conference should apply by Monday, June 15.

The scholarships are provided by the state’s Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education, and PaTTAN. The conference runs from August 4 to 7 at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

This year’s theme is “Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners.” The conference will provide an opportunity to learn and engage with nationally recognized presenters as well as educators and families from across the state.

The conference also includes:

Youth experiences for young people, ages 4 to 21
Poster sessions on successful approaches, programs, and collaborations from state educational agencies
Exhibitors and vendors
Networking opportunities and evening activities

Family scholarships – full, partial, and virtual – are available to Pennsylvania residents who have children between the ages of 4 and 21. Applicants should:

Have a current IEP/IFSP
Receive supports and services through an infant toddler or preschool early intervention program
Be in the evaluation/assessment process for eligibility to receive support and services from a state public or approved private school

More information about the scholarships is available online.

News

June 8, 2026

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources on How to De-Escalate with Autistic Children

Allowing a child’s temper tantrum to run its course is often a method employed by many caregivers, but tantrums from children with autism might need a different approach.

In a new set of resources, The Child Mind Institute discusses how to de-escalate when children with autism are having a meltdown.

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Meltdowns, the institute writes, are similar to tantrums in that they share such traits as crying, screaming, door slamming, and harsh words. But they differ in that they are an intense involuntary response to outside stimuli, such as stress, powerful emotions, or sudden changes.

Meltdowns can go on for hours and have the potential to become dangerous to the child and others if not effectively defused.

Among the Child Mind Institute’s resources are an article that covers the different stages of an autistic meltdown as well as the dos and don’ts on how to de-escalate.

There is also an article on the sensory processing issues that can trigger extreme behavioral responses from children with autism or other developmental disorders. There are also some tips on how to help autistic children to build communication skills and manage responsibility.

Another resource discusses common causes of behavior problems in children – such as anxiety and ADHD – and how to help them regulate strong emotions or impulsive urges.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

News

May 4, 2026

Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities Seeks Volunteers

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed three executive orders to strengthen the rights and protections of Pennsylvanians with disabilities and autism.

The executive orders rescind previous orders and establish the Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities, which will consist of up to 30 volunteer members, appointed by the governor, including individuals with disabilities, family members, or those with relevant expertise. Those chosen for the commission will serve two-year terms.

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The new commissioners will recommend policy changes across the disabilities spectrum; communicate administration initiatives to the public; engage with federal, state, and local agencies; and compile information on programs, funding, and additional supports to create and inclusive resource for individuals with disabilities and their family members.

Commission members should have lived experience or be a caregiver of a person with a disability. Those interested in taking part in the commission should email a resume to Moriah Hathaway, deputy director for the Governor’s Office of External Affairs, at mhathaway@pa.gov.

News

April 21, 2026

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources for Children with Autism and ADHD

Recently, the term auDHD has been coined to describe people who have both autism and ADHD, a combination that is common, according to The Child Mind Institute.

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While auDHD is not an official diagnosis, it is meant to draw attention to the effect of having both disorders because some symptoms overlap in challenging ways.

Both ADHD and autism can result in children having trouble paying attention to things they don’t find interesting, struggling in social situations, and being prone to emotional outbursts. Occasionally, having both disorders can compound the issues, while at other times children might feel as if they are being pulled in two different directions.

The Child Mind Institute has provided resources for caregivers of children who have both disorders. One article on auDHD explores the experiences of children with dual diagnoses and how treatment is affected by them. Another explains what a careful evaluation for autism should look like and how noticing ADHD first can delay an autism diagnosis.

The institute examines the challenges that can arise for autistic children during puberty in one article, while another focuses on the case for making a separate diagnosis for profound autism. There are also resources on how children who are not hyperactive might still have ADHD and on neurodiversity, which discusses how children with autism, ADHD, or auDHD each have strengths as well as challenges.

Below are The Child Mind Institute’s resources.

News

March 17, 2026

Resources Focus on Identifying Early Signs of Developmental Disorders

Children are often diagnosed with mental health or learning challenges in middle and high school after having struggled for years without support.

Some of them could have been identified and gotten help earlier if adults in their lives had recognized the signs. The Child Mind Institute has put together resources on how to keep an eye out for early signs of developmental disorders.

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The institute’s resources on how to recognize signs cover a number of developmental disorders, including autism, ADHD, nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD), and dyslexia.

One article focuses on NVLD at various ages, from preschool to high school, and how in young children it can show up as a motor delay or difficulty drawing shapes, building with blocks, or doing puzzles.

Another discusses how some of the earliest signs of autism include delays in simple gestures such as pointing and sharing objects with others. One resource focuses on how learning disorders such as dyslexia and dyscalculia often aren’t caught until a child is struggling to keep up in school, but there may be early signs in preschoolers, such as trouble with rhymes or counting.

A resource on ADHD in preschool discusses how identifying it early can help children get behavioral support they need to succeed when they get to elementary school. Anxiety and depression are covered in two other resources.

The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:

News

February 10, 2026

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Children with Multiple Diagnoses

It can be challenging for caregivers during the process of seeking a diagnosis for a child, but even more so if they learn the child is struggling with two – or more – mental health or learning disorders.

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The Child Mind Institute has put together a series of resources on what experts call co-occurring disorders. Having multiple disorders is not unusual: One study found that 40 percent of adolescents diagnosed with a mental health disorder met the criteria for another.

Some of the most common combinations include autism and ADHD, anxiety and depression, ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and learning disorders together with anxiety or depression. Additionally, children with Tourette’s often have OCD or ADHD.

The institute’s resources include a piece on co-occurring disorders that examines why they happen frequently and how they affect treatment. In some cases, two disorders are diagnosed together, but one is often identified later when treatment for the first doesn’t resolve some symptoms.

Sometimes, a second disorder is developed as a result of a child’s struggles with the first – especially depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. In any of these cases, the conditions must be treated carefully for the child to thrive, as treatment for one could complicate the other, particularly if multiple medications are being used.

Below is the list of the Child Mind Institute’s resources on co-occurring disorders.

News

November 17, 2025

Child Mind Institute Resources Focus on Behavioral Issues for Children on Autism Spectrum

Some children on the autism spectrum struggle with behavioral issues that caregivers can find challenging to manage.

The Child Mind Institute has compiled a list of resources on how to address behavioral issues for children with autism.

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Behaviors described by the institute include young children wandering away from adult supervision or older youths going to extremes to avoid simple everyday tasks if they consider them to be demands.

Some behavioral problems can put children in unsafe situations as well as disrupt their ability to function at school or connect with their families. Caregivers face their own challenges by trying to find ways to ensure that children remain safe, happy, and supported.

The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources that focus on behavioral issues that are common in children with autism. Some focus on pathological demand avoidance (PDA) or setting up a behavior intervention plan, while others discuss ways to help children learn to communicate more effectively, rather than acting out.

The institute’s list includes:

News

July 15, 2025

Child Mind Institute Provides Resources for Summer Sensory Processing Issues

The Child Mind Institute has compiled a list of resources for sensory processing issues that are exacerbated by summer.

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For many children with autism, The Child Mind Institute writes, summer can be a challenging season. Because many of them can be sensitive to light or certain sounds and textures, they might not enjoy things that other children do – such as playing in the sand on the beach or watching July 4th fireworks.

The Child Mind Institute has put together some resources that parents can utilize to help children with autism enjoy the season on their own terms.

Tips on how to navigate overstimulating summer activities involve planning and letting children know what to expect, whether you’re going on vacation or outside on a hot day, as well as smoothing transitions from one environment to another since unfamiliar sensations can lead children to act out.

Rather than avoiding potentially stressful situations, The Child Mind Institute notes that it’s better to prepare for them by carrying comfortable clothing, earplugs, sunglasses, and other items. Showing kids how to deal with unpleasant sensory experiences helps them to recognize their needs and learn to manage situations on their own.

Here are The Child Mind Institute’s resources on managing sensory processing issues during the summer:

News

May 26, 2025

Child Mind Institute Lists Best Books on Mental Health for Children

As part of national Mental Health Awareness Month, the Child Mind Institute has released a list of the best books of 2024 for children that tackle topics relating to mental health.

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Clinicians at the Child Mind Institute reviewed more than 60 titles while compiling the list and eventually narrowed it down to 20 books.

The books on the list involved storylines or themes that helped children to understand and handle mental health challenges. The list breaks down the books by topics: anxiety, mindfulness, feelings, sadness and depression, OCD, ADHD, autism, eating disorders, and parental addiction.

The lists included

Anxiety

The Worry Monster (Dr. Catherine Cook-Cottone)
What to Do When You Worry Too Much (Dawn Huebner, PhD)
Invisible Isabel (Sally J. Pla)
Unstuck (Barbara Dee)

Mindfulness

A Tiny Difference (June Tate)
Today (Gabi Snyder)

Feelings

Bea’s Bad Day (Tom Percival)
The Hare-Shaped Hole (John Dougherty)
My Thoughts Have Wings (Maggie Smith)
Cranky (Phuc Tran)
A Terrible Place for a Nest (Sara Levine)

Sadness and Depression

The Cat Who Couldn’t Be Bothered (Jack Kurland)
Gray (Laura Dockrill)
A Voice in the Storm (Karl James Mountford)

OCD

The Very Best Me (Marin Canaday)
Puzzled (Pan Cooke)

ADHD

That Always Happens Sometimes (Kiley Frank)

Autism

Henry and the Something New (Jenn Bailey)

Eating Disorders

Louder Than Hunger (John Schu)

Parental Addiction

Breaking Into Sunlight (John Cochran)

For the entire list and the descriptions of the books, visit the Child Mind Institute’s website.

News

April 18, 2024

Sensory-Friendly Afternoon

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh will host a sensory-friendly event on the second Tuesday of every month, starting May 14.

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Children with autism spectrum disorders and sensory sensitivities can take part in a fun, friendly experience with their families in a comfortable and accepting environment. Lights and sounds in spaces throughout the museum are adjusted for the event. There will be designated quiet areas to provide space to take a break.

Sensory kits with noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses, an assortment of fidgets, and other items will be available.

More Details

Sensory-Friendly Afternoons will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. For more information, email accessibility@pittsburghkids.org.