New Resources Added
Handouts for Easy Access UF Health CAN has uploaded some comprehensive resources and handouts for persons living with ASD, including exercise tips, applying to college, employment tips and more.
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Heather Simpson, OTR/L
Heather Simpson graduated with a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science with a minor in Early Education from the University of Florida in 2007. Following her Bachelor’s degree, Heather received a Master’s in Occupational Therapy, in 2009, from the University of Florida. Since completion of graduate school, she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient neurology, inpatient physical rehabilitation and pediatric rehab. Currently, Heather splits her time between Shands Rehab at UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration and Shands Rehab for Kids at Magnolia Parke.
Heather provides occupational therapy evaluations and treatment for patients seen in the Ataxia clinic and Muscular Dystrophy clinics. She also evaluates and treats a variety of other movement disorders diagnoses including Parkinson’s, Parkinsonisms, Dystonia, Essential Tremor and Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome.
Heather has received specialized training for LSVT BIG ® and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT).
5 Ways to Promote Exercise in Children with Autism
Written by: Madelyn Debski and Donna Wolcott, PT Exercise is the basis of a healthy lifestyle for children as it increases bone strength, maintains a healthy metabolism, and aids cardiovascular fitness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children and adolescents should have at least 60 minutes of physical…
2024 Autism and UF Conference
The Autism & UF Conference is an annual conference aimed at providing high quality professional development to a variety of professionals, including educators, researchers, mental health counselors, psychologists, occupational, physical, and speech therapists, physicians, and caregivers involved in the lives of individuals with ASD. This event will consist of two…
Call for Artists & Performers
Are you a CARD Constituent who wants to showcase your talents? Then join UF CARD for…Celebrating Autism in the Arts!Saturday, June 29, 20241 p.m. – 3 p.m.at theStraughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center2142 Shealy Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608Open to artists &…
Addressing Feeding Disorders with Cultural Compassion
UF Health Psychology Addressing Feeding Disorders with Cultural Compassion Vivian Ibañez, M.D. with the Florida Autism Center and UF Health CAN specializes in navigating the complex challenges faced by families…
Spring 2024 Events
With community programming and collaboration with local organizations, there is a wide variety of events that people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder can attend. Connect here to the CARD website for details on all local events and programs. school-teacher-physical-education…
Minds & Machines
Artificial Intelligence UF College of Medicine researchers with CAN are using artificial intelligence to enhance their research and clinical practice for ASD.
Seeking Caregivers for New Study
Study title: Teaching Caregivers to Implement Applied Behavior Analysis Protocols The Translational and Applied Behavioral Science (TABS) lab is seeking caregivers of children with autism (2-8 years old) who are interested in learning how to implement behavioral interventions to teach their child a new skill, such as how to wash their…
UF CAN’s Researcher Co-leading Landmark Study on Autism & Aging
Landmark Study on Autism & Aging While the number of adults affected by autism is growing, very little is known about the way the condition is impacted by aging. Now,…