1. Identify cultural and linguistic variables critical to ASD assessment for children from diverse backgrounds.

2. List the different components of the ECLECTIC Framework.

3. Demonstrate clinical application of the ECLECTIC Framework.

4. Discuss best practice recommendations for providing culturally-informed ASD evaluations.

Target Audience: Neuropsychologists and trainees

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Dr. Romero was born in the Philippines and immigrated to California after college. She received a bachelor’s in psychology, from Assumption College, Philippines. She attended graduate school at Palo Alto University for her Master and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Romero completed her pediatric neuropsychology internship at Virginia Beach Cities Public School and her postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology in the Division of Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota (U of MN). She received fellowship training in the U of MN Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program. She was an Assistant Professor at Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and an Adjunct Professor at U of MN. Dr. Romero relocated to Florida, where she is in private practice conducting developmental/neuropsychological evaluations and interventions for children and adults and provided training to graduate students, interns, and fellows.

Abigail M Kissel, MD, FAAP was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended college at Northwestern University where she majored in biology (subfield: molecular genetics) and psychology. She then attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine and Pediatric residency at UT Southwestern/Children's Medical Center Dallas. She was chief resident for the Pediatric program at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center Dallas. She spent time upon graduation helping establish the newly formed Complex Care Medical Services Clinic and then working in our Adolescent and Young Adult program before transitioning back to a fellowship at UT Southwestern in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics. She now works as a Developmental Pediatrician at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in their Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders and is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX.

Veronica Bordes Edgar, PhD, ABPP is an Associate Professor with joint faculty appointments in Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center. She serves as a bilingual Pediatric Neuropsychologist at Children’s Health and is Co-Director for the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is Board certified through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Clinical Psychology and Pediatric Neuropsychology. Her areas of interest include cultural and bilingual issues in assessment, genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders, and interdisciplinary teaching of medical and psychology trainees. Dr. Bordes Edgar currently serves as President of the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society (HNS), is on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN), and on the Executive Committee for the Houston Conference Guidelines Revision Planning Commission. She was elected as American Psychological Association Council Representative for the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (Division 40) beginning in 2022. Dr. Bordes Edgar is a Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology and Hispanic Neuropsychological Society. Most recently, she was awarded the 2021 Tony Wong Diversity Award for Outstanding Work Related to Diversity as a Mentor.

Daphna Shaw, DNP is a doctoral-prepared developmental pediatric nurse practitioner in the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She enjoys working in an interdisciplinary team to perform developmental and behavioral assessments, medication management, and follow up care for children in the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic and in the Down Syndrome Clinic. Dr. Shaw obtained her DNP from the University of Texas at Austin, MSN and BSN from the University of Pennsylvania, and BS in Biology from the University of Florida. She began her career as a nurse practitioner in the Center for Developmental Pediatrics at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, while completing the LEND program through the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Shaw is active in the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, currently serving as the co-chair of the Developmental Behavioral & Mental HealthSpecial Interest Group

Veronica Meneses, MD, MSHS was born in Lynwood, California and attended Whittier College in Whittier, California, earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biochemistry and Literature. After working in elementary school education and research focusing on underserved populations, she completed medical school at Weil Medical College of Cornell University, thereafter pursuing residency in General Pediatrics at Loma Linda University, followed by a Robert wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles. Throughout these educational, clinical and research experiences, Dr. Meneses developed a passion for working with children and families, in particular those impacted by disability; this led her to undertake a Fellowship in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, accompanied by certification in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND). Currently, Dr. Meneses is the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Program Director at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX, and also directs the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic at Scottish Rite for Children. Dr. Meneses cares for children and adolescents with a wide range of developmental-behavioral diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and genetic syndromes. She is committed to providing holistic care for children and families utilizing the principles of evidence-based medicine, family-centered care, and shared decision making. Dr. Meneses’ research interests include ADHD in children and adolescents with spina bifida, diagnosis of autism in culturally, linguistically and medically diverse children, and sexuality and transitional issues in adolescents with disabilities.

Cristi Salinas, PsyD is a bilingual neuropsychologist and dual Spanish/American citizen who has worked with patients from over 24 countries. She is the Owner of Neuropsychology Concierge® where she developed innovative at-home and teleneuropsychology practice models since 2016. Dr. Salinas conducts lifespan neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD, ASD, LD, medical/neurological disorders, FAA, forensic civil litigation, and immigration evaluations. She completed her doctorate at Florida Institute of Technology, internship at Emory School of Medicine, and fellowship at Advent Health Orlando. Dr. Salinas has authored 32 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as 38 invited national/international presentations. She is an Editorial Board member for the Revista Iberoamericana de Neuropsicologia and a reviewer for 14 journals. She is the Founder of Niños Health®, a 501c3 nonprofit offering culturally responsive diagnostic screenings to Latinx youth. She is Chair of the AACN Relevance 2050 Peer Consultation subcommittee and the Co-Founder of the Cultural Neuropsychology Council developed in 2021, which is an interorganizational initiative to propel EDI and social justice in neuropsychology.