The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) is dedicated to improving assessment and treatment services for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families while advancing knowledge and training. Three of TRIAD’s faculty will extend the reach of that mission through new appointments to leadership roles in both state and national networks. Read on to learn more about the new endeavors of Pablo Juárez, Lauren Weaver, and Verity Rodrigues.
Juárez elected to national boards
Pablo Juárez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA
Pablo Juárez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, co-director of TRIAD and director of Behavior Analysis for Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) and the Division of Developmental Medicine, has been elected to the national boards of The Arc US and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD).
The Arc US Board of Directors includes professionals in the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) field, people with IDD, family members, and others dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. His election to The Arc Board continues a VKC presence at the national organization, as Elise McMillan, J.D., co-director of the VKC UCEDD, began her national Board career in 2004.
“I’m honored to be able to represent VKC in this way and grateful for all the support I’ve received across the Center and beyond,” said Juárez. “I am particularly grateful for Elise’s work to pave the way and being such an incredible model across these national positions.”
AUCD’s elected Board of Directors includes professionals, individuals with disabilities, and family members. The Board of Directors has established a number of committees and councils made up of experts in the field to help the Board address emerging trends and issues, and to facilitate communication across and beyond the AUCD network. Juárez has worked with AUCD for many years, most recently developing and guiding the start-up of a national workgroup focused on creating community-informed and community-assessed resources for university-level Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training programs. This is in response to concerns from self-advocates and advocates about the ableism that continues to be a significant barrier to the progression of ABA as a practice.
“AUCD has been an important part of my career development,” said Juárez. “I hope to continue to provide as much to AUCD as it has provided to me and my professional growth.”
“We’re thrilled for Pablo to continue his work on the national level and to represent the interests of people with disabilities and TRIAD,” said Jeffrey Neul, M.D., Ph.D., Annette Schaffer Eskind Chair and director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. “Pablo has built bridges within communities, the state, and the nation by directing activities that promote best practices in supports and services for people with IDD and helping to bring systematic change for sustainable growth in service provision. His many professional accomplishments, his extraordinary commitment, his creativity, and his collaborative style of leadership will no doubt be of great value in these new boards.”
Weaver elected president of Tennessee chapter of Association for Behavior Analysis
Lauren Weaver, M.S., BCBA
Lauren Weaver, M.S., BCBA, has been chosen President-Elect of the Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis (TABA). Weaver is TRIAD’s director of Community Engagement, a leader on TRIAD’s behavior analysis schools-based team, and an assistant in Pediatrics. She enters a three-year tenure in TABA’s presidency cycle (President-elect, President, Past-President) to assist in fulfilling their mission to advance awareness, development, and access to the practice of behavior analysis in the state of Tennessee.
“Lauren’s election to TABA’s presidency is indicative of her strong work and her leadership in the field of behavior analysis in Tennessee,” said TRIAD co-director Pablo Juárez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA. “This is an important role statewide and one of national prominence. I’m thrilled for her to be leading this state association down a path of compassionate and community-informed practice, especially at such a critical time in the field. I know, as always, she will represent all of us at the VKC well.”
Rodrigues named Children’s Mental Health Champions ambassador
Verity Rodrigues, M.S., Ph.D.
TRIAD educational consultant Verity Rodrigues, M.S., Ph.D., was recently named the Children’s Mental Health Champions ambassador for the state of Tennessee by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through a cooperative agreement, AUCD and the CDC started the Children’s Mental Health Champions program where selected state representatives work within their states and territories as liaisons to the CDC’s children’s mental health work and positive parenting resources.
Her work will address the mental health needs of children and families by connecting and creating family, school, healthcare, and community partnerships, supporting early identification and intervention of autism and co-occurring mental health concerns in school-age through transition-age youth, and preventing mental health disorders through resource dissemination and training efforts.
“Specifically, there are two goals I will focus on during the grant cycle,” said Rodrigues. “First, building out a professional development and training program focused on supporting school psychologists and speech and language pathologists in the autism special education eligibility process. This includes increasing awareness and understanding of co-occurring mental health concerns for autistic students. Second, I’ll assist in developing a mental health across the life-span coalition that will be informed by a state-wide needs assessment and mental health services and resource mapping.”
“Dr. Rodrigues will serve as an incredible advocate for the children of Tennessee,” said Alacia Stainbrook, Ph.D., BCBA-D, VKC TRIAD co-director. “Not only does her expertise and experience make her highly qualified to lead in this way, but she also has a passion for ensuring all those we serve have access to the supports they need to live content and happy lives. We’re very proud for her, and excited for the future of mental health services and education in our state.”
