19th Annual Southeast Regional ADHD Conference
January 28–29, 2027
Attend in Person or Online!
Conference Overview
The University of Alabama, together with a statewide advisory committee, will present the 19th Annual Southeast Regional ADHD Conference on January 28–29, 2027, at Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Attendees also have the option to attend online. This conference brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts to share their research and interventions on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
| Available Dates | January 28–29, 2027 |
| Location | Bryant Conference Center 240 Paul W. Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 |
| Keynote Speakers | Timothy E. Wilens, M.D. |
Who Should Attend
Anyone involved in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation efforts of children and adults with ADHD will benefit from attending, including Department of Human Resources workers, social workers, school nurses, disability ministries and home school providers. The conference will include content specific to educators, counselors, parents, adults with ADHD, mental health professionals and medical professionals.
2027 Conference Agenda
Thursday, January 28, 2027
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Registration, Check-In, Exhibits | |
| 12:00 pm – 12:15 pm | Welcome! | Linda Mays, CPM, Media & Communications Strategist; Founder, Single Mothers-Empowerment Conference Inc. |
| 12:15 pm– 1:15 pm | Opening Keynote Address: The Urgency of Change | |
| 1:15 pm – 1:30 pm | Break & Exhibits | |
| 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Concurrent Sessions | |
| Medical Track: Neuroimaging and Genetic Research in ADHD: Translating Discovery into Diagnostic Evaluation and Neuropsychiatric Treatment | ||
| Clinical/Rehab Track: From Everyday Challenges to Everyday Participation: Changing the ADHD Narrative Through POET | ||
| Educator Track: | ||
| Parent Track: Black, Rural, and ADHD: A Caregivers Perspective | ||
| 2:30 pm – 2:45 pm | Break & Exhibits | |
| 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm | Concurrent Sessions | |
| Medical Track: Straightening Up the Mess of Complex ADHD: Navigating Available Guidelines in Primary Care | ||
| Clinical/Rehab Track: Beyond Postpartum Depression: Recognizing ADHD Within the Perinatal Mental Health Landscape | ||
| Educator Track: Rethinking ADHD in the Classroom | ||
| Parent Track: | ||
| 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm | PANEL: The Doctors Are In! You Have Questions; They Have Answers | |
| 4:45 pm | Adjourn |
Friday, January 29, 2027
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast & Exhibits | |
| 8:30 am – 9:45 am | Keynote Address: What’s New on the Medication Treatment of ADHD | Timothy E. Wilens, M.D., Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School |
| 9:45 am – 10:00 am | Break & Exhibits | |
| 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Concurrent Sessions | |
| Medical Track: ADHD and Substance Use: A Combustible Combination | ||
| Clinical/Rehab Track: We’ve Come a Long Way in ADHD Care for Women | ||
| Educator Track: Supporting Students with ADHD Through Comprehensive School Social Work Services | ||
| Parent Track: Rethinking ADHD at Home | ||
| 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | Lunch and Award Presentations | Carl Nowell “Success in ADHD” Award The Chris Dendy Outstanding Service in ADHD Education Award |
| 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm | Concurrent Sessions | |
| Medical Track: Changing the Narrative on ADHD with Artificial Intelligence: The Present and Future Role of AI in Diagnosis, Treatment Selection, and BrainCare at Institute of Attention & Mood (IAM) | ||
| Clinical/Rehab Track: Therapeutic Approaches Addressing the Social and Emotional Challenges of ADHD | ||
| Educator Track: Supporting Students with ADHD: Teacher-Student Relationships and Effective Behavior Management | ||
| Parent Track: The Parent Divide: Why ADHD Pulls Good Parents Apart and How to Bring Them Back Together | ||
| 1:30 pm – 1:45 pm | Break & Exhibits | |
| 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm | Concurrent Sessions | |
| Medical Track: Rewriting the ADHD Narrative for Women: Why Late Diagnosis, Masking, and Hormones Change How We Practice | ||
| Clinical/Rehab Track: Signals, Not Symptoms: Changing the ADHD Narrative from Deficit to Direction | ||
| Educator Track: ADHD and the College Transition: Myths, Access, and Student Responsibility | ||
| Parent Track: Helping Disorganized Children | ||
| 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm | Closing Remarks & Door Prizes | |
| 3:00 pm | Adjourn (Professional Approvals) |
Southeast Regional ADHD Conference Lunch and Learn
“What to Do Before Learning Can Begin: Building the Foundation for Student Success”
September 30, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 pm CDT | Zoom
Session Description
Learning cannot occur at high levels until students feel safe, connected, and ready to engage—especially for students with ADHD, whose ability to focus and regulate attention is closely tied to their environment. This 1 hour live Zoom session explores the essential conditions that must be established before meaningful learning can take place, with a specific emphasis on supporting learners with ADHD. Participants will examine the impact of relationships, classroom culture, student needs, trauma, engagement, and a sense of belonging on academic success. Through discussion and practical strategies, participants will learn how to create inclusive environments that address the unique challenges of ADHD, ensuring all students are prepared to learn and thrive.
Speaker
Sherri Travisano has served as principal of the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy and Phoenix High School since 2017. She joined Whitfield County Schools in 2007 as an elementary principal. Over the course of more than 35 years in education, she has worked in a variety of roles, including principal, district administrator, instructional coach, college professor, and teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix.
Professional Approvals
The lunch and learn presentation is planned to meet the various requirements for professional development from the following organizations. As these continuing education (CE) applications are approved, we will update this page to reflect the number of approved CE hours available:
- National Board for Certified Counselors: 1.0 Contact Hours
- Alabama Board of Nursing: 1.2 Contact Hours
- Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy: 1.0 Contact Hours
- Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners: 1.0 Contact Hours
- Alabama Education Professionals STI-PD Program: 1.0 Contact Hours
Registration
Fee for registration is $20.00 which includes CEUs and entry for door prizes. All registration fees collected will go directly to the Chris A. Zeigler Dendy Scholarship fund to provide scholarships for the Annual Southeast Regional ADHD Conference offered each January.
2027 Keynote Speaker
Timothy E. Wilens, M.D.
Dr. Wilens is the Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mass General Brigham and a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Wilens specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder. Widely published, Dr. Wilens has more than 550 original articles, reviews, chapters, books and editorials to his credit. Dr. Wilens is President-elect of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is consistently named one of the Best Doctors in Boston and in America for psychiatry.
ADHD Conference Location and Lodging
The Southeast Regional ADHD Conference is held annually at Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
A discounted room block is available for conference attendees at both the Hotel Capstone and Hampton Inn University.
Hotel Capstone
| Hotel | Hotel Capstone 320 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 205-752-3200 |
| Cost | $139/night |
| Distance from conference | within walking distance from the Bryant Conference Center |
| Reservation Deadline | December 28, 2026 |
| Booking | Make your hotel reservation online here! |
Hampton Inn University
| Hotel | Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa-University 600 Harper Lee Drive Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404 (205) 553-9800 |
| Cost | $109/night |
| Distance from conference | less than a mile |
| Reservation Deadline | January 21, 2027 |
| Booking | Make your hotel reservation online here! |
ADHD Conference Registration Options
Please see rates and options for registration below:
- Early Bird Rate (expires December 21, 2026): $179.00
- Standard Rate (begins December 22, 2026): $225.00
- Student Rate: $75.00 (call 205-348-3000 to redeem)
- UA Employee Rate: $135.00 (call 205-348-3000 to redeem)
- Three or More from the same company: $140.00 (call 205-348-3000 to redeem)
Special Accommodations Requests
Note: The University of Alabama is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Requests for accommodation of physical and/or dietary needs should be made at least 30 calendar days in advance of the program date. Please email your request to professionaldevelopment@ua.edu. A portion of the invoice amount for this program will go to the Capstone Lifelong Learning Foundation to support activities of The University of Alabama and the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.
Need our STAARS Vendor Number? Please use VC000118827 for UA Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.
A portion of the registration fee amount for this program will go to the Capstone Lifelong Learning Foundation to support activities of The University of Alabama and the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education.
Cancellation Policy
A cancellation charge of 100% of the registration fee will be assessed on cancellations occurring within seven (7) days of the start of this session. Any changes to the session registration type (example: in-person to virtual or virtual to in-person) within seven (7) calendar days of the program will be assessed a $25.00 administrative fee. Refunds will not be granted after the program has begun. The University of Alabama reserves the right to cancel, postpone or combine class sections, to limit registration or to change instructors. Contact the Registration Services department at 205-348-3000 or registration_services@ua.edu to cancel your registration. View the OTIDE Cancellation Policy.
Call for Research Poster Presentations
The Southeast Regional ADHD Conference invites the submission of research poster abstracts highlighting current and emerging research related to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We welcome contributions from researchers, clinicians, educators, and undergraduate/graduate students, whose work advances understanding, assessment, intervention, supports, outcomes, and lived experiences related to ADHD across the lifespan.
Poster presentations will be displayed throughout the duration of the conference, providing attendees with opportunities for ongoing engagement, discussion, networking, and knowledge exchange. Accepted poster presenters will receive a complimentary conference registration.
Deadline to submit abstract: November 30, 2026 by 5:00 PM CST
Notification of acceptance: December 14, 2026
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for the 19th Annual Southeast Regional ADHD Conference on January 28-29, 2027. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Monday, January 4, 2027. Notification of award will go out on Friday, January 8, 2027.
To apply for a scholarship, please click here.
Supporter and Exhibitor Opportunities
As a supporter or exhibitor of the Southeast Regional ADHD Conference, your business will reach a targeted and engaged audience interested in learning and developing their toolbox. Select the option that best fits your needs.
Title Supporter $3,500 (1)
- One exhibit booth in prime location, second booth optional (2 booth attendants)
- 5 complimentary general conference registrations (please provide names of recipients at time of registration)
- Organization and logo recognized in the conference program
- Logo/virtual booth in online conference portal
- Recognition on social media
- Recognition on website
- Company name included in conference communication and email
- Post conference attendee contact list
- Recognition and signage during lunch
- (1) Tote Bag Insert
- 3-5 minutes at the podium during program
Contributing Supporter $2,500
- One exhibit booth (1 booth attendant)
- 3 complimentary general conference registrations (please provide names of recipients at time of registration)
- Organization and logo recognized in the conference program
- Logo/virtual booth in online conference portal
- Recognition on social media
- Recognition on website
- Recognition and signage during refreshment breaks
- Company name included in conference communication and email
Scholarship Supporter $1,500
- One exhibit booth (1 booth attendant)
- 3 general conference scholarships awarded to attendees of your choice (please provide names of recipients at time of registration)
- Organization and logo recognized in the conference program
- Logo/virtual booth in online conference portal
- Recognition on social media
Exhibit Booth $500
- One exhibit booth (1 booth attendant)
- Organization and logo recognized in the conference program
- Logo/virtual booth in online conference portal
*Additional booth personnel can be added on at time of registration for $150.00
For questions, please contact professionaldevelopment@ua.edu.
ADHD Conference Professional Approvals
The ADHD conference is planned to meet the various requirements for professional development from the following organizations. As these continuing education (CE) applications are approved, we will update this page to reflect the number of approved CE hours available:
- Alabama Board of Nursing: 9.6 Contact Hours
- Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy: 8.0 Contact Hours
- Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners: 8.0 Contact Hours
- Continuing Medical Education: pending
- Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification: pending
- Alabama Education Professionals STI-PD Program: 8.0 Contact Hours
- National Board for Certified Counselors: 8.0 Contact Hours
The University of Alabama Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7285. The Southeast Regional ADHD Conference has been approved for 8.0 Contact hours.
In support of improving patient care, The UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. The University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine designates this Live Activity for a maximum of pending Credits.
The Southeast Regional ADHD Conference proudly partners with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services.
The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) to sponsor continuing education credits for counselors. Sponsor number 00060639.
Questions about the event?
Contact Emily Townsend for more information.
