William Carey University Hosts Neurodiversity Conference
William Carey University recently hosted its 5th annual Autism and Neurodiversity Conference. The event focused on providing practical support strategies for teachers, clinicians, and caregivers who work with autistic and other neurodiverse students, offering professional development and networking opportunities.
- The conference on February 12, 2026, is organized by the Carey Institute for Excellence at William Carey University, which annually hosts over 40 professional training workshops. - Dr. Mark Yeager, Chair of the university's Department of Exceptional Education and a figure sometimes referred to as the "Father of the Mississippi Autism Movement," is an instructor at the event. - This event comes just a month after the university is set to launch the nation's first Ph.D. in Neurodiverse Studies in January 2026, a fully online program. - The new doctoral program, spearheaded by Dr. Yeager, is designed to be interdisciplinary, drawing on faculty from the university's medical, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, and therapy programs. - The university's new Ph.D. program is intended for a broad range of professionals who work with neurodivergent individuals, including social workers, doctors, counselors, and law enforcement officers. - Attendees of the one-day conference can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and will hear from speakers in fields such as behavior analysis, education, and neurodiversity advocacy. - For comparison, the university's 3rd annual conference in 2024 featured Dr. Jennifer Boykin, the State Director of Special Education for the Mississippi Department of Education, as the keynote speaker.
