|
The Mailman Center for Child Development recently hosted the annual ArtAbilities Award Ceremony, bringing together families, educators, and community members to celebrate the artwork of children with disabilities in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The event featured an art exhibition showcasing student work, along with entertainment, activities, and an award ceremony recognizing young artists for their creativity and talent. Through the ArtAbilities program, students in special education are nominated by their teachers and selected pieces are juried for recognition, highlighting their artistic strengths and encouraging inclusion through creative expression.
|
|
|
|
The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) program at the Mailman Center is helping people with disabilities, families and educators access assistive technology that supports independence, communication and learning. As South Florida’s regional demonstration center for Florida’s Assistive Technology Act Program, FAAST provides free hands-on access to devices that support mobility, reading, communication and daily living, including smart-home technology designed to increase independence at home. Community members can visit the FAAST Smart Home by appointment by calling 305-243-5706 or emailing anevares@med.miami.edu.
Click here to read more about the FAAST Smart Home Open House
|
|
|
|
|
Smart Start Conference 2026
Ruby Natale, Maite Schenker, and Rachel Specter presented at the Smart Start Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, highlighting the implementation, adoption, and sustainability of the Jump Start Program. The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program, funded by The Children’s Trust for the past eight years, serves 100 childcare centers annually across Miami-Dade County through the University of Miami and community partners. The program has demonstrated success in reducing preschool expulsion, lowering teacher job-related stress, and improving teacher–child interactions.
|
|
|
|
|
UM Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Transition and Adult Programs at University of Miami Center for Autism and Related Disabilities hosted a virtual panel where autistic self-advocates shared their lived experiences around socializing and building friendships in adulthood. Moderated by attorney and advocate Haley Moss, the panel featured Jeanie Silver, Gregory Saint Jean (Mailman Center LEND Trainee), and Alec Gonzalez, who discussed challenges, successes, and strategies for creating a fulfilling social life. The recording is available on YouTube for those interested in learning more. Viewer discretion is advised: this recorded panel includes open discussion from autistic adults about socializing and lived experiences, and may include mentions of mental health topics, including suicide.
Click here to watch
|
|
|
|
|
Advocacy Network on Disabilities - Breakfast for Champions 2026
|
|
|
|
|
Health Resources and Services Administration
Dr. Jeffrey Brosco is returning to federal health policy work in a new role as Senior Advisor for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). He will remain a full-time faculty member in Pediatrics at the University of Miami. In his advisory role at HRSA, the federal agency focused on improving access to health care, Dr. Brosco will focus on newborn screening and the infrastructure needed to ensure that children with chronic conditions are able to play, attend school, and grow into healthy adults.
|
|
|
|
|
2026 Provost Awards
Lynn Perry and Daniel Messinger were honored at the 2026 Provost Awards for their collaborative research focused on improving early childhood education. Alongside Chaoming Song, they received recognition for interdisciplinary work examining inclusion, engagement, and interaction in early childhood classrooms. Their research brings together psychology and physics-based approaches to better understand learning environments and has potential to inform educational practices for children with autism, hearing loss, and other developmental challenges.
Click here to read more
|
|
|
New Faces of The Mailman Community
|
|
|
|
|
Sr. Practice Manager
Anouk Gachelin-Desrouleaux is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 17 years of experience within the UHealth system at the University of Miami. She is known for her collaborative, calm, and respectful leadership approach, as well as her professionalism. Anouk is passionate about supporting both patients and clinical teams. Previously, Anouk worked in the Department of Medicine, where she supported clinical operations and patient care services in a variety of roles. She was recently hired as the Senior Practice Manager for the Mailman Center Clinical Programs. Outside of work, Anouk enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, running, and traveling.
|
|
|
Mailman Center New Member Spotlight
|
|
|
|
|
Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences
Sara St. George is a behavioral scientist and licensed psychologist with expertise in clinical-community psychology, health psychology, behavioral medicine, prevention science, and public health. She directs the Health eLifestyles Lab, which develops and evaluates evidence-based digital lifestyle interventions designed to promote health, prevent chronic disease, and strengthen relationships among Hispanic/Latino families.
Click here to read more
|
|
|
|
|
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Tapia is Chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Batchelor Professor of Cystic Fibrosis and Pediatric Pulmonology, and Director of the Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship Program at the University of Miami. He earned his medical degree from the University of Concepción in Chile and completed his pediatric residency and pediatric pulmonology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). He is board certified in General Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonology, and Sleep Medicine.
Click here to read more
|
|
|
Research Presentations & Opportunities
|
|
|
|
The Mailman Center for Child Development and the Department of Psychology/CARD recently disseminated the new Batchelor Autism Bridge Mini Grants: Excellence in Autism Care Awards opportunity.
Two awards of up to $60,000 each will support innovative, implementation-focused projects aimed at improving autism care, early intervention, family support, workforce development, and systems of care. Projects must include cross-campus collaboration and meaningful engagement of individuals with lived autism experience.
Faculty affiliated with the Mailman Center and/or Department of Psychology are encouraged to review the previously distributed email and attached RFA for full eligibility and application details.
Application Deadline: June 19, 2026 at midnight
Award Notification: August 1, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
Publication
Gatewood, A. K., Morgen, M., Eickhoff, J., Brosco, J., Houtrow, A. J., Chung, P. J., Ghandour, R. M., Payne, S., & Coller, R. J. (2026). Mapping Meaningful Populations of Children with Special Health Care Needs. JAMA Health Forum, 7(5), e261199.
DOI:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2026.1199
|
|
|
|
|
Article
A new Florida pilot program co-led by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Pankaj Agrawal will use genomic sequencing to screen newborns for more than 750 treatable genetic conditions. The Sunshine Genetics Consortium also features Mustafa Tekin and Jeffrey Brosco, who are helping guide key decisions on ethics and gene selection. The initiative aims to expand newborn screening and enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases.
Click here to read more
|
|
|
|
|
Pediatric Academic Societies 2026
A group of University of Miami pediatric faculty, trainees, and staff presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting in Boston, an international conference focused on advancing child and adolescent health through research and collaboration. Jeffrey Brosco, Ruby Natale, Maite Schenker, Shu Wu, Pankaj Agrawal, Glenn Flores, Lisa Gwynn, Michelle Schladant, Jennifer Walton, and Madison Drye (Mailman Center LEND trainee) shared research spanning child mental health, neonatal outcomes, genetics, health equity, and innovative training programs. Their presentations highlighted ongoing efforts to improve care, outcomes, and access for children and families.
|
|
|
Guest Speaker: Dolly Ferraiuolo, PhD, LCSW-QS, CST
This presentation explored how autism presents in adulthood and examines the persistent barriers autistic adults face in accessing effective, affirming mental health care. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the clinical and systemic gaps that contribute to misdiagnosis, masking, and poor treatment experiences, while also learning practical, evidence-informed strategies to better support autistic adults in therapeutic settings. The session integrated current research, clinical application, and lived-experience perspective to help providers create more accessible, neurodiversity-affirming care.
Click here to watch
|
|
|
Guest Speakers: Maria Murljacic, SLP & Robert Fritz, SLP
For children, chronic hoarseness can have significant impact on social-emotional development and can serve as a marker of underlying upper-airway conditions. This presentation provided an overview of pediatric voice evaluation and care, including a review of basic vocal physiology, common etiologies of voice impairment in children, and approaches to interdisciplinary management for clinicians and physicians.
Click here to watch
|
|
|
Calendar of Upcoming Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact
Us
|
|
|
|
