Photos: Catalight Talks About the Implications on How Autism is Defined at APA Conference in Denver Article | August 11, 2025 Catalight once again attended the American Psychological Association (APA) conference in Denver from Aug. 7-9 – contributing to discussions on the evolving definition of autism and its implications for supporting a diverse community. Chief Clinical Officer Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., Vice President of Clinical Excellence Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., and Senior Researcher and Data Analyst Ben Pfingston led the session “A Conversation about Autism Spectrum and Related Constructs: Implications for Psychologists.” The presentation explored how the autism construct has changed over time from its original definition in 1943, to the broader spectrum introduced in DSM-5, to emerging concepts such as profound autism, syndromic autism, autistic social identity, and pervasive demand avoidance. The discussion addressed both the benefits and challenges of these shifts and considered potential paths toward greater cohesion in the field. In addition to the session, Pfingston presented his research poster, “The Relationship Between Sleep and Dangerous Behavior for Autistic Individuals,” which generated dialogue on the role of sleep in overall wellbeing.
