Study Confirms the Validity of the New Parental Stress Scale for Families of Children with Autism and Other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Catalight’s Parent-Mediated Autism Care: Angela’s Family Story of Empowerment
“Nothing About Us Without Us” Leaves Voices Out
The Catalight Foundation is Supporting Families in Need
JANUARY 2025
Stepping into 2025
Catalight’s 2024 was a year filled with growth and progress. We expanded our reach, empowered thousands of families and played a key role in driving meaningful change across the intellectual and developmental disability care industry.
Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a year of even greater transformation and impact driven in large part by our commitment to clinical research and innovation in care. With intention to expand our global point of view, Catalight is poised to further enhance access to care, drive continued innovation and walk with even more families on their personalized paths to achieving greater wellbeing. Our goal remains clear: to lead the way in helping to realize a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
We step into the new year with confidence and purpose, ready to break new ground while breaking down barriers. With unwavering dedication, we look forward to making an even greater impact and transforming more lives in the year ahead.
Study Confirms the Validity of the New Parental Stress Scale for Families of Children with Autism and Other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
A psychometric study of Catalight’s Parental Stress Scale for families with an intellectual or developmentally disabled child published in the “Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders” shows the tool to be a viable measure of family dynamics that can be used to personalize treatments and steer better outcomes.
Catalight’s Parent-Mediated Autism Care: Angela’s Family Story of Empowerment
A Catalight client who recently graduated from parent-mediated therapy, Angela has three young children – two of whom are autistic. She tells the story of what led her to choose this treatment and how the flexible sessions empowered her family in a short amount of time.
“Nothing About Us Without Us” Leaves Voices Out
Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., challenges the phrase “nothing about us without us,” in the latest edition of Autism Spectrum News. She contends the philosophy excludes individuals with significant needs who cannot speak for themselves and proposes expanding the phrase to include parents and caregivers.
The Catalight Foundation is Supporting Families in Need
Imagine waiting two years for answers. That’s the reality for many families seeking an autism evaluation. Your donation to the Catalight Foundation helps us shorten the wait and provide critical support. Please consider supporting us in our goal of ensuring every child is evaluated within 10 days.
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Last Days of Elevate Your Impact Conference Early Bird Pricing
Are you an out-of-network practitioner, advocate, student or payer planning on attending Catalight’s virtual Elevate Your Impact virtual conference on March 13 and 14? Be sure to take advantage of the early bird pricing before it ends on Jan. 31. Register Today
New ‘What’s Up With Catalight!’ Podcast Episode: Dismantling of the Intact Mind
The “intact mind” is the idea that inside every autistic child is an intelligent, typical child waiting to be liberated. Amy Lutz, Ph.D., renowned author of “Chasing the Intact Mind,” joins host Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., to assert that the concept marginalizes disabled children and their families.
Attending to Accessibility and Universal Design in Digital Spaces
Catalight Director of Technology and Innovation Vincent Bemmel, Ph.D., and co-authors talk about the vital need for inclusive digital spaces for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Interventions to Help Children Who Have Trouble Sleeping
Dr. Samelson writes about the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep routine for children with I/DD in an article for Undivided, a resource that supports parents of children with disabilities.
Catalight breaks down barriers and biases to create a more equitable world so people with developmental disabilities can choose their path. Catalight provides access to innovative, individualized care services, clinical research and advocacy — all powered by intelligent technology. Through the work of affiliate partners, Easterseals Hawaii and Easterseals Northern California, Catalight and its family of companies support people with developmental disabilities and their families across their care journey.
The Catalight family of companies is one of the largest behavioral health networks in the nation with more than 16,000 practitioners serving 24,000 clients and families every day. Backed by more than a decade of experience and a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, we are reimagining the way people with developmental disabilities and their families experience healthcare. Catalight’s goal is to ensure that individuals and families receive timely access to evidence-based treatment, including naturalistic developmental and language-based services, applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy and speech therapy.