The McKnight Brain Institute has allocated seed funding across 18 new projects through the MBI Accelerator Program, aimed at bolstering emerging research in neuroscience and neuromedicine at the University of Florida.

Research by UF psychology student Stephanie McNamara and clinical associate professor of psychiatry Joseph Thornton, MD introduce a new framework called AI Replacement Dysfunction (AIRD). Their work explores how fears of AI-related job loss can contribute to real psychological distress and how clinicians can better recognize and address it.

Greg Valcante, PhD recently celebrated 40 years of dedicated service at the University of Florida and was honored at the UF HR Faculty Service Reception.

As discussed at the last faculty meeting, we’d like to highlight a publication from one faculty member in each monthly newsletter. To get this started, we’re asking for volunteers to suggest one of their recent publications that can be summarized in a few sentences. If you are interested, please send the following information to Dr. Setlow:

Title

Full names and affiliations of all authors

Journal/book in which it is published

Electronic link to publication if available (e.g., DOI, publisher’s website, PubMed link, etc.)

One sentence summarizing the goal or problem addressed in the publication

One-two sentences summarizing the findings described in the publication

One-two sentences summarizing the conclusions and broader implications of the work described in the publication.

Strategies that Work Series
Various Thursdays, September 2025 through March 2026; 3:30 – 4:30PM | ONLINE

Navigating Divorce and ASD
Wednesday, March 4, 2026; 6:00 – 7:15PM | ONLINE

17th Annual Stomp the Swamp for Autism Acceptance and Awareness PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE!
Saturday, March 7, 2026; 2:00PM – 4:00PM; Registration opens at 1:30PM | GAINESVILLE

Systematic Instructional Strategies to Promote Access to the General Curriculum for Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
Thursday, March 19, 2026; 4:00 – 5:30PM | ONLINE

Battling Burnout: Addressing Caregiver Compassion Fatigue
Tuesday, March 31, 2026; 6:30 – 8:00PM | ONLINE

Assistive Technology 101: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Supports Children with Autism
Wednesday, April 1, 2026; 4:30 – 5:30PM | ONLINE

Understanding Dyslexia and Dysgraphia in Autism
Monday, April, 6, 2026; 4:00 – 5:30PM | ONLINE

“The Lost Girls”: Shining a Light on Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Friday, April 17, 2026; 4:00 – 5:30PM | ONLINE

Parent/Caregiver Lunch and Learn Series
Third Friday of every month; 12:00 - 1:00PM | ONLINE 

Save the Dates

04/21/26 | All About the Project SAINT Program at Santa Fe College

05/06/26 | Community Book Study: Beyond Behaviors (5/13 & 5/20)

08/18/26 | Creating Strong Communication and Boundaries in Relationships

09/15/26 | Building Strong Readers Together: Supporting Reading Comprehension in Children with ASD  

09/21/26 | The UCLA PEERS® Curriculum for School-Based Professionals  

10/20/26 | All About the UNF USoar Program

Find us at these community events!

02/28/26 | Hernando County School's Disability Awareness Walk and Roll (Brooksville)

02/28/26 | Citrus County School District's Transition Fair (Lecanto)

03/03/26 | Santa Fe College's Disability Pride Kickoff (Gainesville)

03/12/26 | The Center for Independent Living of NCF’s Emergency Preparedness Expo (Gainesville)

03/14/26 | Citrus County School's Water Safety Day for Autism (Lecanto)

03/24/26 | The Center for Independent Living of NCF’s Emergency Preparedness Expo (Ocala)

03/28/26 | Alachua County Sheriff's Office Community Fun Day (Newberry)

03/28/26 | UF College of Pharmacy's Office GatorRx Community Care Fair (Gainesville)

04/01/26 | Hernando County Exceptional Student Education’s Transition Fair (Brooksville)

04/02/26 | Zeta Phi Beta & Putnam County School’s Autism Awareness Resource Fair (Palatka)

04/11/26 | The Center for Independent Living of NCF’s Emergency Preparedness Expo (Palatka)

04/25/26 | The Center for Independent Living of NCF’s Emergency Preparedness Expo (Starke)

Sign up for the UF CARD eNews, visit the UF CARD website, and follow the UF CARD Facebook Page to stay informed about events.

If you know someone in need of UF CARD services, please direct them to the UF CARD pre-registration page or have them call 352-265-2230.

8:30am - 12:00pm
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

The 17th Annual Stomp the Swamp for Autism Acceptance and Awareness will be held at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, March 7th, 2026!

Autism the fastest-rising developmental disorder in the United States. At Stomp the Swamp, families of and individuals with autism or related disabilities, community members, and UF students, faculty and staff walk or run the stadium steps or loop to raise funds for the UF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UF CARD), North Central Florida’s First Choice for Autism Support.

See you back next week!