University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment
About us
The University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (UCAN) is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals concerned with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. The core value of the UCAN Assessment Team is to provide diagnostic evaluations to confirm or rule out autism in children and adolescents.
The purpose of the UCAN Assessment Team is to improve differential diagnosis between autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The team is a diverse group of professionals from different disciplines and agencies throughout Northern Nevada comprised of child psychiatrists, child psychologists, school psychologists, an occupational therapist, marriage and family therapist, speech language pathologists, and a developmental specialist.
This means providing individualized outcomes from assessment that has a meaningful impact on children and families and enables affordable access to assessment. As a group of professionals, we operate dynamically as a team and are motivated to provide service to the community. We collaborate and have a common focus in scholarly pursuit of knowledge and freely share individual expertise and knowledge.
Contact us
Director: Stephanie King, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Coordinator: Melissa McGovern, M.S.
Phone: (775) 682-7025
Fax: (775) 636-6713
Referral email: ucan@unr.edu
Address: 1664 N. Virginia St, MS 0152, Reno, NV 89557-0152
Autism evaluations
We provide autism evaluations at no cost to families. To begin the process, a referral is required outlining concerns or symptoms of autism. Referrals can come from a primary care provider, therapist or special education professional and may be submitted via email or fax.
Once we receive the referral, we will contact you to schedule a screening or intake appointment. If your child qualifies for our program, you will receive a list of required documents to complete and return. After submitting the necessary paperwork, your child will be placed on the waitlist for the next available appointment.
Key features
- Comprehensive evaluations: UCAN provides diagnostic assessments to confirm or rule out autism, improving differential diagnosis between autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Expert team: The team includes child psychiatrists, psychologists, school psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, a marriage and family therapist, and a developmental specialist, collaborating to deliver individualized, meaningful outcomes.
- No-cost services: Autism evaluations are provided at no cost to families, ensuring accessible care for the community. To begin the process, a referral is required outlining concerns or symptoms of autism.
Our Partnerships
The UCAN Team is an amalgamation of professionals from different disciplines and different agencies throughout Northern Nevada. It is truly a joint collaborative effort to provide the best assessment possible.
The NCED serves as Nevada's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The UCEDDs were established and funded by the Developmental Disabilities Rights Assistance and Rights Act (DD Act). UCEDDs work to accomplish a shared vision that foresees a nation in which all Americans, including Americans with disabilities, participate fully in their communities.
NvCAN supports the work of the University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment (UCAN) at the University of Nevada, Reno, and promotes collaboration across systems of care in Nevada. NvCAN offers several programs to support the families and professionals of Nevada. The Community Care Scholarship Fund provides funding for autism and neurodevelopment assessments, therapeutic services, medical treatments, and strategies to improve quality of life and independence.
The Next Steps Family Support program provides resources to promote early intervention, including education and training opportunities in order to enhance life quality and family fulfillment. The Healthcare Provider and Educator Preparation program provides Evidence-based training to increase level of care and treatment outcomes for families served, along with mentoring programs to build service capacity in underserved populations.
The Nevada Division of Aging and Disability Services has Regional Centers which provide services to children and adults who have an intellectual disability, developmental disability, or other closely related condition. There are three regional centers serving various areas of the state. Desert Regional Center (DRC) serves Southern Nevada including Clark, Lincoln and Nye Counties. Sierra Regional Center (SRC) serves Washoe County. Rural Regional Center (RRC) serves the remaining Nevada counties. Services provided or funded may include service coordination; respite; counseling; jobs and day training; supported living arrangements and a family preservation program.
NvLEND is supported through a federal grant with funds from the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (Autism CARES Act) administered through the Health Resources Services Administration and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The NvLEND is a cooperative project led by the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED) housed in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno. As an interdisciplinary statewide project, the NvLEND is conducted in collaboration with faculty from University of Nevada, Reno, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the community. Contact information and participating faculty is listed under Contacts and Participating Programs.