Seongnam Medical Center Successfully Holds "World Autism Awareness Day" Symposium... Sharing Treatment Paradigms

Seongnam Medical Center Center for Behavioral Development Promotion and Korea Association of Applied Behavior Analysis Specialists Co-host
"2026 World Autism Awareness Day" Commemorative Symposium Held
Academic Exchange on "The Present and Future of Diagnosis and Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder"
From AI-based Diagnostics to the Role of Parents: Proposing the Latest Treatment Paradigms and Practical Solutions

The "2026 World Autism Awareness Day" commemorative symposium, co-hosted by the Seongnam Medical Center Center for Behavioral Development Promotion and the Korea Association of Applied Behavior Analysis Specialists, was held successfully on the 6th at the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center International Conference Hall.

The Behavioral Development Promotion Center of Seongnam Medical Center and the Korean Association of Professional Applied Behavior Analysts held a symposium commemorating the "2026 World Autism Awareness Day" on the 6th at the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center International Conference Hall. Provided by Seongnam Medical Center

This symposium, themed "The Present and Future of Diagnosis and Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder," was organized to share evidence-based information amid the rapidly changing medical environment and explore optimized support strategies for individuals with developmental disabilities. The event drew significant attention, with many families of people with developmental disabilities, behavior therapy experts, and staff from related organizations attending in person.

In his congratulatory remarks, Seongnam Medical Center President Han Hosung stated, "We will strive to be a reliable pillar that enables people with developmental disabilities and their families to live proudly as members of the local community," and added, "I hope this symposium will go beyond academic discourse and become a practical platform for exchanges that can be immediately applied in real treatment settings."

The symposium consisted of two main sessions, each featuring in-depth presentations.

In the first session, Professor Yoo Heejeong of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital gave a lecture titled "Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder from a Medical Perspective." Professor Yoo emphasized the critical importance of early intervention, and highlighted that individualized approaches and strength-based perspectives, tailored to the unique characteristics of each patient rather than uniform treatments, are essential principles in therapy.

In the second session, Doctoral Researcher Lee Hoo-myeong, BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) at Seoul National University College of Medicine, re-examined the role of parents. Researcher Lee delivered the message that, rather than striving to replace professional therapists, it is important for parents to maintain their own identity and provide integrated support for their children, which resonated strongly with family attendees.

Seongnam Medical Center Behavioral Development Promotion Center and the Korean Association of Applied Behavior Analysis Experts held a symposium commemorating the '2026 World Autism Awareness Day' on the 6th at the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center International Conference Hall. Provided by Seongnam Medical Center

Following this, Professor Jung Kyungmi of the Department of Psychology at Yonsei University presented on "Assessment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the AI Era," introducing the latest trends in AI-based diagnostic support tools and digital therapeutics (DTx), and suggested innovative directions for the future of clinical practice.

Meanwhile, Seongnam Medical Center was designated as the nation’s first "Developmental Disabilities Hub Hospital and Center for Behavioral Development Promotion" among public medical institutions in July 2021, and was re-designated in July 2024. The center continues to provide specialized and comprehensive medical services to people with developmental disabilities and their families in Gyeonggi Province, leading efforts to establish an inclusive community free of prejudice.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.