Empower Your Family: Attend The Southern Utah Autism Conference In Cedar City

On April 26, the Southern Utah Autism Conference will take place at Cedar Middle School, offering a range of educational sessions and resources for parents, educators, and caregivers. Organized with the help of local organizations such as the Southwest Educational Development Center (SEDC) and the Family Support Center of Southwest Utah, the event aims to provide support and information for those working with or caring for individuals with autism.

Autism, now referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), presents differently in each individual. “It can go to, you know, maybe a child who doesn’t talk at all to a child who has very typical or almost above-average language,” explained Paul Day, an autism specialist with SEDC, during an April 1 interview on KSUB’s Big Picture Morning Show. The spectrum is defined by three key characteristics: communication deficits, social deficits, and repetitive behaviors. “A child might have some extreme communication deficits, but their social is a little better. Another one may have extreme social deficits, but their communications are better,” Day added.

Early intervention plays a critical role in helping children with autism develop necessary skills. “When we first started out, it was rare that we would get a child referred at a really young age… but now doctors are sending in referrals at 18 months to two years,” Day noted. Early identification helps children gain social and communication skills before gaps widen, allowing for greater long-term progress.

The Family Support Center of Southwest Utah is playing a key role in making the conference accessible by offering respite care for children under 11 during the event. “We are here… to talk about how we can support children with autism,” said Amy Bates from the Family Support Center. The center provides free childcare services throughout the year, allowing parents and caregivers to take needed breaks while ensuring their children are cared for in a safe environment. “Our caregivers are trained to work with children that have all sorts of abilities,” Bates added.

The conference itself will feature workshops on topics such as behavior strategies, self-care, and relationship-building. Attendees will also have access to vendors offering various resources, including respite care services, educational tools, and support networks. “It’s just a great place to get extra resources,” Bates said. “Parents and educators can go to just get some more information and become better informed.”

SEDC, which serves six school districts in southern Utah, plays an important role in identifying and supporting students with autism. “A lot of these schools will come to us and say, ‘Hey, we think this child might have autism,’ and we go in and do some testing to help them identify whether that’s the issue or not,” Day explained. The organization also helps train school staff and connects families with community resources.

Registration for the conference is available at suac2025.sched.com, with a small fee for parents—$25 for individuals and $35 for couples. Families needing childcare during the event can call the Family Support Center at 435-586-0791. The center operates Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., though space is limited, and advance reservations are required.

With growing awareness and available resources, families in southern Utah have more support than ever before in navigating autism. “There’s a lot of support now compared to especially 20 years ago,” Day emphasized. “Being a teenager is hard nowadays… but there are kids that you work with, and they do show marked improvement with, you know, working on social skills.”

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For families, educators, and caregivers looking to deepen their understanding and find additional support, the upcoming conference promises to be an invaluable resource.

You can hear our entire discussion with Day and Bates in the podcast below.