< Back MONEY MANAGEMENT & ESTATE PLANNING About Financial Services Our money management and estate planning resources provide information on financial planning and estate planning providers for individuals with autism and their families. These resources can help families plan for the financial future of their loved ones with autism and ensure they have access to the resources they need. MONEY MANAGEMENT & ESTATE PLANNING A Amazing Home Care 210.979.6022 1325 N. Flores, Ste. 114, SA TX 78212 Special match savings program for people with limited income. Helps build futures. Also includes program for buying a vehicle. LiftFund 1-888-215-2373 Web: https://www.liftfund.com/ Small business loans. AXA Advisors Jeffrey Moore 713.402.6400 E-Mail: jeffrey.moore@axa-advisors.com 8000 IH 10 West, Ste. 750, SA TX 78230 Carol Bertsch – The Law Offices of Carol Bertsch, PC 210.892.4555 Web: www.assistingseniors.com E-Mail: staff@assistingseniors.com 4950 San Pedro Ave., SA TX 78212 Long-term Care Planning, Estate Planning, Probate, Special Needs Trusts Catholic Charities 210.222.1294 Web: www.ccaosa.org EMail: info@ccaosa.org 202 W. French Place, SA TX 78212 Legal Services including immigration, wills and advanced planning services, guardianship, and legal aid. Offers a money management program that is designed to prevent the exploitation of disabled or elderly adults who are at risk of losing their independence due to their inability to manage their financial affairs. Cheryl McMullan 210.212.4076 111 Soledad, Ste. 300, SA TX 78205 Estate Planning, Guardianship & Medicaid Coalition of Texans with Disabilities 512.478.3366 Web: www.txdisabilities.org E-Mail: info@txdisabilities.org 1716 San Antonio St., Austin, TX 78701 Estate and family planning/trust Disability Benefits Assistance 210.732.6078 814 W. Euclid, SA TX 78212 Assist with applying for disability Heard & Smith, LLP Web: www.heardandsmith.com Social Security Disability Law ................................210.820.3737 10715 Gulfdale St., Ste. 100, SA TX 78216 Inheritance and Guardianship Law .......................210.904.3200 9601 McAllister Frwy., Ste. 620, SA TX 78216 Jim House 210.821.6863 8526 N. New Braunfels, SA TX 78217 Estate Planning, Guardianship K.T. Whitehead 210.930.4300 Web: www.whitehead-elderlaw.com 3004 Nacogdoches Rd, SA TX 78217 Estate Planning, Guardianship & Medicaid, Certified Elder Law Attorney Symmetry Financial Services, Inc 210.477.7140 Web: https://www.symmetryfinancialsolutions.com/ E-Mail: pst@symmetrytx.com 19230 Stonehue, Ste. 4200, San Antonio, TX 78258 Financial planning for people with special needs. Previous Next

< Back Carrie Alvarado, PhD, OTR Chief Operating Officer Dr. Carrie Alvarado serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Autism Community Network (ACN). Carrie has a PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on Infant Mental Health and Neurodiversity. Dr. Alvarado is the creator and director of the Earliest Connections Clinic, our diagnostic program geared toward early identification and therapeutic intervention for high-risk infants and toddlers. Additionally, Carrie leads the DIRFloortime and PACT therapy/teletherapy programs- intensive intervention programs supporting families impacted by autism through dyadic coaching using both in-vivo and reflective video feedback modalities. Dr. Alvarado's primary research interests are in Sensoriaffective Integration and attachment, clinical use of reflective video feedback, and in optimizing parent-mediated interventions via the modality of telepractice. She completed her dissertation on establishing preliminary validity of a new clinical assessment and coaching tool, the Sensoriaffective Interactional Attunement Scale (SAIAS), geared toward promoting enhanced use of sensoriaffective signaling between caregivers and their children. Carrie is also currently engaged in development of another scale, the Emotional Intelligence and Praxis in Play Scale (EIPPS), focused on evaluating the presence, sophistication, flexibility and organization of themes of emotional intelligence in child-led, symbolic, dyadic play. Dr. Alvarado was the first in the United States to become a Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) Accredited Practitioner and she serves as an Associate with PACT UK. Carrie is a DIR®Floortime™ Certified Expert Clinician, and she serves as an Assistant Faculty for the Profectum™ foundation. Dr. Alvarado has also served as the lead for the Clinical Advisory Committee for STAR Institute, in Colorado. She is Core Faculty for the Fielding Graduate School of Psychology and Adjunct Faculty for the UT Health OTD Program. Dr. Alvarado is passionate about building bridges where none yet exist, about innovating and expanding the boundaries of our knowledge, and about meeting families and fellow clinicians where they are and empowering them to find the gifts they all have to give. Carrie is the proud mother of three young women and wife to her compassionate husband for 24 years. She enjoys time at the lake, snuggling with her many beloved pets, and listening to Huberman Lab podcast on repeat. Carrie is also a proud niece, cousin and first cousin once removed of beautifully inspiring, neurodiverse humans who made and make the world a better place to be a part of. carrie@acn-sa.org (210) 435-1000

< Back Teresa Camacho Medical Billing Manager Teresa Camacho is a Billing Office Manager with more than 15 years of experience leading teams in the Medical Field sector. As a Billing Office Manager at Autism Community Network, she specializes in optimizing the revenue cycle, reducing claim denials, and ensuring full compliance with healthcare regulations including Medical Coding Compliance and Payer Contracting. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time in nature and any outdoor activities. teresa@acn-sa.org 210-435-9000

< Back Jarrod Purkeypile, MA CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist Jarrod Purkeypile began his speech pathology journey after earning two unrelated undergraduate degrees from Southwestern Adventist University and volunteering for two years in South America. In 2014, he completed his master's degree from the University of Kansas and moved to Oklahoma City to join their only bilingual pediatric therapy clinic. After the birth of his first son, Jarrod and his family moved to San Antonio, where he worked for 8 years in the home health industry, before finding ACN in 2024. Jarrod has experience working in schools, clinics, homes, daycares, summer camps, children's gyms, and from home via telehealth. His talents include silly voices, juggling, imaginative play, cartwheels, storytelling, and more. Outside of work, Jarrod keeps himself busy with his 3 lively children and his beautiful wife, Eileen. His home is always full of soccer balls, Lego robotics, tabletop artwork, dark chocolate, and blissful noise. He enjoys dates at the Tobin, watching cartoon movies, playing sports, and the occasional free moment. jarrod.purkeypile@acn-sa.org 210-435-1000

< Back Angela Sanchez-Concha Caregiver Coordinator Angela Sanchez-Concha received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Our Lady of The Lake University (OLLU). She has worked with individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism since 2010. Angela was born in Lima, Peru and enjoys to visiting family every opportunity possible. During her free time, she enjoys making memories with her husband and three children. angela.sanchez@acn-sa.org (210) 435-1000 ext. 5005

Educator Track: AM Breakout Session: Brains, Behavior, and Belonging Time 10:00-11:15 AM Presenter/Facilitator Rebecca Engle, MEd Back to Course List < Back Educator Track: AM Breakout Session: Brains, Behavior, and Belonging What if behavior isn't something to control...but something to understand? Join Rebecca Engle for a powerful session exploring how nervous system science reshapes the way we think about behavior, connection, and learning. This session challenges compliance-based models and replaces them with something deeper. Student don't need better behavior management systems. They need environments that understand their brains. Learning Outcomes: Participants will analyze how nervous system functioning influences behavior, connection, and learning in educational and caregiving environments. Participants will evaluate the limitations of compliance-based behavior management models and compare them to neurobiologically informed approaches. Participants will design supportive environments and strategies that align with students’ nervous system needs to foster regulation, engagement, and a sense of belonging. Rebecca Engle is a special education teacher a with a masters degree from Texas Tech University with a deep commitment to ending seclusion and restraint in schools. Making history in Texas politics at 19, she has been a passionate advocate for student rights and inclusive educational policies. As an award-winning children’s book author and neurodivergent public speaker, Rebecca amplifies the voices of marginalized learners and promotes trauma informed, compassionate approaches. Through her teaching, writing, and advocacy, she strives to create safe, supportive environments where every student can thrive without fear. Disclosure: Rebecca Engle, MEd is a paid speaker at ACN 2026 Summit- Toward Neuroharmony: Welcome to the Autism Renaissance.

Support Le Brunch des Chapeaux Help make Le Brunch des Chapeaux a success by supporting our premier fundraising event! Your contributions directly benefit autistic children and the people who love them. From sponsorships to in-kind donations, every act of generosity makes a meaningful difference. Together, we can create a brighter future! Table Sponsorship Opportunities Limited tables available - please email Cortney John, Chief Development Officer at Cortney@acn-sa.org Festival de Cannes $25,000 SOLD OUT Two tables for 10 Individuals at the end of the runway or the location of choice at the event Premium signage at event, sponsor logo or name on ACN website, program, and social media Elevated favors & décor and social media posts Two bottles of wine or champagne per table, signature cocktail upon request Afterparty reserved table, two bottles of wine and treats Prix de la mise en scéne $7,500 SOLD OUT Table for 10 individuals along the runway (as available and on first come, first served basis) with uninterrupted sight lines of the Julian Gold Fashion Show Signage at event, sponsor logo or name on ACN website, program, and social media Two bottles of wine at table Grand Prix $20,000 SOLD OUT Table for 10 individuals at the end of the runway with the best view of the Julian Gold Fashion Show Premium signage at event, sponsor logo or name on ACN website, program, and social media Elevated favors & décor, afterparty perks and social media posts Two bottles of wine and champagne Prix du scénario $5,500 SOLD OUT Table for 10 individuals on the lawn of The Argyle Signage at event, sponsor logo or name on ACN website, program, and social media One bottle of wine at table Prix d'interprétation féminine $10,000 SOLD OUT Table for 10 individuals on the runway with uninterrupted sight lines of the Julian Gold Fashion Show Prominent signage at event, sponsor logo or name on ACN website, program, and social media posts Special favors & décor, afterparty perks Two bottles of wine and champagne Palme d'Or du court métrage $3,500 SOLD OUT Table for 10 individuals on the lawn of The Argyle Signage at event Sponsor logo or name on ACN website, program, and social media. (If received by 2/16/2026) Umbrellas to provide shade One bottle of wine at table Purchase Online Table purchases are non-refundable. Underwriting Opportunities To secure your sponsorship, please email Cortney John, Chief Development Officer at Cortney@acn-sa.org Presenting Sponsor $50,000 Through the generosity of the Presenting Sponsor, Autism Community Network will be able to cover much of the costs associated with Le Brunch des Chapeaux 2026 allowing much of the revenue raised to be directed back to serving families. This sponsor will be part of the official event name and will be prominently recognized in all media related to the event and recognized on the ACN website. Preferred seating at the event will be extended to this person/organization and you will be honored during the Le Brunch des Chapeaux 2026 program. Additionally, you will have a reserved table at the afterparty with two complimentary bottles of wine. Floral Sponsor $10,000 The floral sponsor has the distinction of making the event beautiful and fragrant by underwriting the cost of florals. Recognition includes name in the formal invitation and recognition on Le Brunch des Chapeaux and ACN social media sites and event day signage. Valet Sponsor $5,000 North Park Lexus at the Dominion Your sponsorship ensures attendees arrive fashionably early and stress-free by supporting parking and shuttle services. Guests who walk, ride share, or use shuttle lots will enjoy a small gift featuring your name or logo, making your commitment to convenience unforgettable. Your generosity keeps the focus on the event while leaving attendees impressed by your thoughtful touch. Pommes Frites Sponsor $5,000 Adair Concepts Your sponsorship elevates the afterparty with delectable passable fare. You’ll be recognized on the event website, in the program, from the podium announcing the afterparty event, and on the afterparty signage. Guests will toast your generosity. Le Tapis Rouge Sponsor (The Red Carpet) $3,500 Gamez Law Firm The Tapis Rouge sponsor makes an unforgettable impact on guests as the underwriter of this eye-catching photo-op! All Le Brunch guests are invited to "walk the red carpet" during cocktail hour made possible by this opportunity. Afterparty Cocktail Sponsor $2,500 Rick & Suzanne Cavender Sponsorship underwrites 150 passed cocktails at Le Brunch des Chapeaux's signature afterparty hosted at The Argyle! This opportunity ensures the fun continues while supporting our mission. Founding Sponsor $30,000 The Donnell Family The Founding Sponsorship honors the founders of Le Brunch des Chapeaux, Shannon Turner and Kristan Northington, and their tireless work to make Le Brunch succeed annually. Their vision has allowed ACN to grow and families to receive the highest standard of care. This sponsorship opportunity includes premium recognition leading up to the event and at the luncheon, including recognition on the ACN website. Premium seating included at the end of the runway, as well as a reserved table at the afterparty with a complimentary bottle of wine. Paper Suite Sponsor $7,500 This sponsorship level underwrites all printed materials and postage necessary to share messaging about Le Brunch des Chapeaux. We all love a beautiful invitation. Help make 2026 sparkle! This sponsor will be recognized in the formal invitation and on Le Brunch des Chapeaux and ACN social media sites. Sweet Treat Sponsor $6,500 Underwrite everyone's favorite part of the day - dessert! Your donation will be recognized in the formal invitation and printed program. Runway Sponsor $4,000 Stacy Schlagel Your underwriting commitment will help dazzle the runway with a custom runway skirt for the Julian Gold models to shine in the latest trends for Spring 2026. Table Beverage Sponsor $3,000 Claire Cavender McNab & Paige Shafer Your sponsorship ensures the party will go on, setting the mood for a chic celebration. You will be recognized on the event website, in the program, and on afterparty signage. Cheers to you for keeping the party flowing and making the afterparty unforgettable! Luncheon Sponsor $25,000 Through the generosity of the Luncheon Sponsor, Autism Community Network will be able to cover all costs associated with the food and non-alcoholic beverages for 600 attendees at Le Brunch des Chapeaux 2026 . This sponsor will be prominently recognized in all media related for the event and on the ACN website and event day signage. Prominent seating at the event will be extended to this sponsor and they will be honored during the Le Brunch des Chapeaux 2026 program. Afterparty Sponsor $15,000 Corrina Holt Richter Why should the party stop at one o’clock? Let’s keep it going at The Argyle! This sponsorship will assist in covering costs associated with additional food, beverages, and entertainment post luncheon. The afterparty has been a huge success in previous years, however it can only go forward with the help of underwriting. Recognition includes signage at the afterparty, name in the formal invitation, recognition on the ACN website, and recognition on Le Brunch des Chapeaux and ACN social media sites and event day signage. Umbrella Sponsor $5,000 Carla and John Brozovich The Umbrella Sponsor covers the cost of umbrella and stand rentals. This sponsorship comes with recognition in the formal invitation and printed program. Picture Perfect Sponsor $3,500 Aja Pina Sponsor underwrites two fun photo options for guests to both share and treasure the great memories made on this day. You will be recognized by placing your name or logo on the digital photo frame. Welcome Reception Champagne Sponsor $2,500 A Friend of ACN This level underwrites passed champagne at the welcome reception. Your name or logo will be placed alongside Le Brunch des Chapeaux artwork on custom napkins with extras going to the sponsor as a memento. Purchase Online

< Back Wishlist Empowering families, one gift at a time. Explore our wish list! The spirit of giving is alive, and you have the power to brighten someone's day in the most meaningful way. We invite you to join us in making a difference by selecting a gift from our carefully curated Amazon Wish List. Every item on this list holds the potential to bring joy and comfort to the lives of those we serve at Autism Community Network. From educational tools that spark curiosity to sensory items that soothe, your thoughtful gesture can create a positive impact that lasts far beyond the moment. How to contribute: Visit our Amazon Wish List Choose an item that resonates with you. Complete your purchase, and it will be sent directly to us. Experience the joy of knowing you've made a positive difference! Your gift, no matter how small, has the potential to make a big impact. Let's get started

< Back Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy Improved Long-Term Child Outcomes Catherine Aldred Mar 27, 2023 Despite Autism being an enduring condition affecting 2% of people globally, evidenced intervention to improve the developmental impairments is limited. Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) is currently the only scientifically evidenced early social communication intervention to demonstrate long-term improved child social communication outcomes into middle childhood. The PACT intervention has shown long-term improvement of autism core symptoms within randomised clinical trials (RCTs). PACT relatively low-intensity approach is referenced in UK national guidance for the new autism care pathway from pre- to post-diagnosis and education support. The evidence base Within the NICE recommendations for intervention and support for autistic development in early childhood, only two interventions met the evidential criteria set by NICE for inclusion.PACT was one of these (the other was JASPER). These two therapies were described as “social communication interventions” and their evidence was the basis for the NICE recommendation to services to consider social communication intervention for autism intervention. Both these therapies work with parents or teachers, and have evidence to improve autistic children’s social engagement, adaptation, communication, and in the case of PACT, autism symptoms. No other therapies were considered to have evidence of effectiveness. Recent independent reviews (e.g. Sandbank et al 2020) have reached similar conclusions. These findings should therefore guide evidenced commissioning of services in autism. How does Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy work? Parents or caregivers are guided through the six steps of PACT by a certified professional using video feedback techniques delivered in 12 alienate week sessions for six months and monthly maintenance sessions for a further six months. Caregivers send a video of a 10-minute interaction or play with their child to the therapist before each video feedback session. PACT builds on existing skills by sharing and analysing the best video clips identifying new strategies and techniques, summarised in an individual written programme for 30-minute daily practice between sessions. How is PACT different from other interventions? PACT has some unique distinguishing differences from other parent-mediated interventions. Firstly, it is the only intervention to use effective video- feedback methods with parents and caregivers and to use them within a modern developmental science-based model to optimise the social communication environment for the neurodivergent child. Secondly, PACT is the only intervention that has shown long-term sustained effectiveness in high-quality clinical trials in improving child autism outcomes for six years after the end of intervention. The Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy Trial An RCT of PACT delivered pre-school demonstrated significant endpoint effects to reduce symptom severity on ADOS Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) and ADOS-2 total algorithm score (Pickles et al. 2016; Carruthers et al. 2021). At follow-up, six years after the endpoint, treatment effects on child symptoms, adaptive outcomes, and child initiations with a parent were significantly sustained (Pickles et al. 2016). Furthermore, a mechanism study of the long-term impact identifies the ‘active processes’ by which interventions achieve their effects and provides insights into causal processes in development. PACT Trial Methods: Of 152 children randomised to receive PACT or treatment as usual between 2-5 years of age, 121 (79.6%) were followed 5-6 years after the endpoint at a mean age of 10.5 years. Assessors, blind to the intervention group, measured Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale Combined Severity Score (ADOS CSS) for child symptoms and Teacher Vineland (TVABS) for adaptive behaviour in school. PACT Trial Results: The treatment effect on child dyadic initiation with the caregiver (Dyadic Communication Measure for Autism, DCMA) was sustained through the follow-up period. Increased child initiation at the treatment midpoint mediated the majority (73%) of the treatment effect on follow-up ADOS CSS. A combination of midpoint child initiations and the direct effect of treatment also mediated the near- significant effect on follow-up TVABS. PACT Implementation The scalability of early evidence-based intervention is a global health priority. A not-for-profit social enterprise IMPACT CIC (Interaction Methods for Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy), established in 2017, disseminates PACT through a cascading ‘train the trainer’ model and implementation trials. Implementation trials test the feasibility, cultural acceptability and equal easy access to PACT in different contexts, including middle and low- economic settings. PACT video feedback methods are ideally adapted to online videoconference implementation. Pilot testing of online PACT has proved acceptable, feasible and accessible to families; further large-scale trials are in progress. Conclusions: Early social communication intervention can improve child social engagement with long-term generalised outcome effects on developmental. One thousand professionals have received PACT training, cascading PACT in twenty-six countries with six international implementation trials. Implications for autism services PACT is universally acceptable and feasible for implementation in different countries and cultures, enhancing autism care pathways from early identification and pre-diagnostic to post-diagnostic and education support. PACT training is available for professionals with appropriate training and qualifications and a minimum of two years of experience in autism. Please visit the website www.pacttraining.co.uk for more information on PACT training. Previous Next

< Back STATE & FEDERAL SUPPORT About State & Federal Support State and federal support programs can be tricky to navigate. Thats why we have compiled a list of all the right places to call for options for individuals with autism and their families. Our resource library provides information on the different types of support available, including Medicaid waivers, social security benefits, and state and federal programs. STATE & FEDERAL SUPPORT Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRCs) 855.937.2372 Web: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/aging/long-term-care/aging-disability-resource-center State Agency over Medicaid Waiver Programs like CLASS, HCS, and MDCP Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities 512.437.5432 Web: www.tcdd.texas.gov E-Mail: tcdd@tcdd.texas.gov 6201 E. Oltorf, Ste. 600, Austin TX 78741 Note: TCDD does not provide any direct services Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Services 800-628-5115 Web: https://twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-services Vocational and employment services, independent living services; Early Childhood Intervention is under this department; technology and resource center. Previous Next