Integrated Pediatrics

05/05/2026

HB 5225 is moving through the Illinois legislature. It promises faster autism identification for children birth to three, but it creates no new services, no new funding, and a diagnosis that schools and insurance companies will not recognize after age three.
Families deserve more than a label. They deserve a process that holds them through the EI journey and beyond. After 25 years in Early Intervention, it is important to recognize what this bill will actually mean for families in practice.
If you are an Illinois resident, please act before May 6th:
1. Contact your state Senator
2. Submit a Witness Slip in opposition to HB 5225
Our families deserve accurate, equitable, family-centered policy. This bill is not it. Let’s come together to find a better solution for Illinois families, one that supports them through the EI journey and beyond.

03/02/2026

Applications are now OPEN for Educators' Neighborhood 2026-2027!

We are excited to welcome a new cohort of educators to this year-long, virtual professional development program inspired by Fred Rogers' legacy. This program is designed for any educator who works with children, youth, or families, whether in a classroom, library, afterschool program, or other setting. It’s a space to learn, connect, and reflect with a community of like-minded professionals from around the world.

Educators' Neighborhood includes 30 learning hours eligible for CEUs, and Pennsylvania educators are also eligible to receive ACT 48 credits. Although there is a participation fee, we’re pleased to offer scholarships, thanks to generous support, to help reduce the cost for many participants. We’re excited for another year of shared learning and growth.

Learn More & Apply: https://www.fredrogersinstitute.org/educators-neighborhood

03/02/2026

https://www.the74million.org/article/social-media-is-toxic-when-it-comes-to-tough-issues-schools-can-help-kids-cope/

Katz & Levine: 3 ways teachers can encourage students to talk through uncomfortable differences, think, listen and connect with ideas and one another.

02/08/2026

Tip Sheet Series-
This resource from the PROGRESS Center is a series of tip sheets that explain IDEA disability categories, how they may impact students, & strategies for success.
https://promotingprogress.org/resources/idea-disability-category-tip-sheet-series

02/04/2026

Join us on February 19th, from 12–1 p.m. (EST) for "Compassion Over Shame: Setting Loving Limits with Media at Home" with Emma Swift-Lee of the Fred Rogers Institute, Erin Walsh of the Spark & Stitch Institute, and special guest Jenny Radesky from University of Michigan Medical School.

This is the third event in our multi-part Symposium Series, "Toward Intention with Technology: Engaging Technology with Curiosity and Meaningful Boundaries in Homes and Schools." This free, virtual series explores what the latest research tells us about technology use for children and young people, what we can learn from Fred Rogers’ intentional use of a new form of media, and how caring adults can navigate all of the options, messages, and opportunities related to technology and media in young lives.

If you are unable to attend live, registration is still encouraged. Everyone who registers will receive a link to the recording to watch at a later time.

Register Today: https://ow.ly/eKUW50Y58BC

01/28/2026

In the news: The American Academy of Pediatrics released an updated version of their screen time guidance. Some of the highlights:

• An emphasis on the quality of the media kids are engaging with on screens (replacing an emphasis on the amount of time kids spend on screens)
•An emphasis on co-viewing and joint media engagement with adults
• A reminder to caregivers to avoid using screen time to help kids regulate their emotions
• A reminder to caregivers to consider what screen time is replacing (sleep, exercise, socializing with family and friends, etc.), and to make time for those other activities
• A call for children’s media and technology creators to design child-centered technology with children’s well-being in mind
• A call for policymakers to enact systemic changes to take the burden of navigating screens off of individual families

Read the full report here:
https://bit.ly/3Z00bQ0

Graphic via American Academy of Pediatrics.

01/24/2026

Understanding the New AAP Digital Media Guidelines for Screen Time and Social Media

Learn how to implement the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new digital media guidelines with insights from Dr. Jenny Radesky. Discover how child-centered design and socio-ecological systems shape healthier screen use and social media habits for children and teens.

12/05/2025

12/04/2025

12/03/2025

The EI Collective: Attuned and Intentional brings Illinois EI professionals together to share experiences, explore reflective practices, and build connection across the state — applications are open until Dec 5

💬 “Growth happens in community.”

The EI Collective: Attuned and Intentional brings Illinois EI professionals together to share experiences, explore reflective practices, and build connection across the state.

🕒 There’s still time—applications are open until Dec 5!

➡ Learn more https://emails.illinois.edu/newsletter/87/717698387.html

🗓 Apply by December 5 → https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EICAI-Spring2026