Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:00am CDT

The Care Map: Mastering Medical Advocacy at Every Stage of the Epilepsy Journey

Friday July 17, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

When a child faces epilepsy surgery, the medical world becomes a permanent part of a family’s life. But how do you manage a complex medical team as your child grows and their needs change over time?
In this session, Katie Taylor, CCLS, provides a masterclass in medical advocacy for every stage of the journey. This isn’t just about surviving a hospital stay; it’s about understanding the "Multidisciplinary Team" as a lifelong resource. Whether you are preparing for an upcoming procedure, navigating the transition to outpatient care, or managing years of long-term follow-up, you will learn how to coordinate the experts, track the "big picture" of your child's care, and protect their emotional well-being.

Moderators

Amy Alaniz

Parent Support Navigator, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Speakers

Katie Taylor, CCLS

Director of Psychosocial Care, AngelEye Health, CEO and Founder, Child Life On Call

Katie Taylor has been a certified child life specialist for over 15 years and has supported thousands of families through their most challenging healthcare moments. She created Inside the Children's Hospital (formerly Child Life On Call) in 2018 to amplify the voices of families navigating... Read More →

The Care Map Mastering Medical Advocacy at Every Stage of the Epilepsy Journey (Taylor) pdf

Friday July 17, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Behavior & Trama

11:00am CDT

Mapping the Mind: Neuropsychological Evaluation and Tracking Progress After Epilepsy Surgery to Inform School Interventions

Friday July 17, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

When a child undergoes epilepsy surgery, families are often told they need neuropsychological testing, but many aren't sure what it actually measures or how to use the results to support their child's education. This session pulls back the curtain on neuropsychological evaluations to help you find clarity, track cognitive changes, and advocate effectively in the classroom.

Dr. Rosalia Costello and Dr. Karen Evankovich will walk you through the clinical evaluation journey:

Before Surgery: Learn how initial assessments help the medical team "map" your child’s cognitive strengths and risks to inform the final surgical decision.
After Surgery: Discover how cognitive skills like reading, focus, memory, and processing speed evolve as your child grows, and why repeat testing is crucial to tracking long-term progress.
School Advocacy: Get practical guidance on how to translate complex neuropsychological data into actionable IEP goals, 504 plans, and vital school accommodations.

You will leave knowing exactly what questions to ask your clinical team, how to interpret test scores, and how to confidently advocate for your child's academic and long-term cognitive growth.

Moderators

Audrey Vernick

Director of Patient and Family Advocacy, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Audrey Vernick is the Director of Patient and Family Advocacy for the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. Her journey into advocacy began with her son, Bennett, who suffered an in utero stroke leading to unrelenting infantile spasms. After failing multiple anti-seizure medications... Read More →

Speakers

Karen Evankovich, PhD

Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Dell Children's Medical Center

Karen Evankovich, PhD, is a pediatric neuropsychologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin. Additionally, Dr. Evankovich is an associate professor in the Dell Medical... Read More →

Rosalia Costello, PsyD

Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Dell Children's Medical Center

Rosalia Costello, PsyD, is a pediatric psychologist with UT Health Austin who practices at Dell Children's in Austin, Texas. Dr. Costello specializes in diagnosing and treating behavioral and mental health disorders in children and adolescents, including substance abuse, self-harm... Read More →

Mapping the Mind Neuropsych Eval and Tracking Progress After Epilepsy Surgery (Evankovich Costello) pdf

Friday July 17, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

School & Learning

2:00pm CDT

Sib Shops (for tween sibs only)

Friday July 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

For siblings ages 8-12 only. 20 children max. Sorry, no exceptions.

Celebrate the unique, complex, and vital role of being a sibling to a child with a disability. This 2-hour Sibshops session is a dynamic workshop that recognizes the “real” sibling experience - the good, the tough, and everything in between. We believe siblings are each other’s best resource, so we’ve designed a nurturing, fun, kids-only environment where siblings can connect, reflect on their experiences, and support one another. Through a mix of games and peer-led discussions, participants find community and fun in equal measure.

We gratefully acknowledge the Vernick family, whose generous donation made this workshop possible.

Speakers

Alyssa Geis, MPH, CCLS

Child Life Clinical Specialist, Texas Children's Hospital

Alyssa Geis, MPH, CCLS, has extensive experience in child life services, beginning with a role as Outpatient Surgery Certified Child Life Specialist at The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center from September 2010 to June 2018. In this position, Alyssa provided developmentally... Read More →

Friday July 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Recovery

4:00pm CDT

A Lifetime of Support: Building Your Child’s Financial Safety Net

Friday July 17, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Most parents are the "engine" that keeps their child’s world running, but what happens when you are no longer there to steer the ship? Vital government benefits like SSI and Medicaid provide a foundation for healthcare and housing, allowing your child to live a full, independent life. Without a formal plan, a simple inheritance or savings account can accidentally disqualify them from this vital safety net. This session cuts through the jargon to show you how tools like ABLE accounts and special trusts work with the system to protect your child’s money and medical benefits, ensuring the care and support they need are always there, no matter what.

Moderators

Audrey Vernick

Director of Patient and Family Advocacy, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Speakers

Mary McDirmid, ChSNC

Co-Founder, Special Needs Financial Planner, All Needs Planning

When Mary isn’t helping families navigate the world of special needs financial planning, she is being a wife to Jay and a mom to Charlie and Ruth. In addition to her leadership role at All Needs Planning and a volunteer advocate for kids with rare diseases. She takes the title “Mom... Read More →

260617 ANP Support Your Family Mary pdf

Friday July 17, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Transition to Adulthood

10:00am CDT

Medical Trauma in Families Affected By Brain Injury and Neurosurgery

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Brain injury, and in some cases epilepsy surgery, can affect far more than a child’s physical recovery. These experiences can leave lasting emotional effects on the entire family. This session will explore how medical trauma can show up in parents, caregivers, siblings, and children after hospitalizations, surgeries, emergencies, and ongoing care. Attendees will learn to recognize common signs of trauma, understand how trauma can affect coping, relationships, and decision-making, and hear practical ideas for supporting healing, resilience, and family well-being over time.

Session times are placeholders for now. Final times will be set once we confirm clinician schedules.

Moderators

Audrey Vernick

Director of Patient and Family Advocacy, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Speakers

Jennifer Bommer, M.A., LPC

Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Texas Neurotrauma Counseling

Jennifer is a licensed professional counselor and brain injury specialist (CBIS) based in Austin, Texas. She is the founder of Texas Neurotrauma Counseling and a dedicated advocate for advancements in the brain injury system of care. Jennifer also holds a certification in concussions... Read More →

Understanding Medical Trauma.key zip

Medical Trauma in Families Affected By Brain Injury and Neurosurgery (Bommer) pdf

Saturday July 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Behavior & Trama

11:00am CDT

Seeing Success After Epilepsy Surgery: Practical Vision Tools for Everyday Life

Saturday July 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

After epilepsy surgery, many children have vision changes like hemianopia, CVI-related characteristics, eye movement problems, or visual fatigue that can make school and daily life harder. This session will explain these issues in plain language and focus on practical tools and strategies.

We’ll look at common situations (reading, copying from the board, moving around safely, using screens) and explore environmental changes, low- to high-tech tools and questions you can bring to your child’s IEP or school team You’ll leave with concrete ideas and language to help you advocate for the vision supports and assistive tools that fit your child and your family.

Moderators

Lisa Guthrie

Parent Support Navigator, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance

Speakers

Carrie Gillespie

Outreach Assistive Technology Consultant, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Carrie Gillespie currently works as an Outreach Assistive Technology Consultant at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. With over twenty-eight years in education, she has experience as a teacher, an Instructional Technologist, an Assistive Technology Specialist, and a... Read More →

Lynne McAlister, M.Ed.

VI Educational Consultant- Outreach, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Lynne McAlister is a Visual Impairment (VI) Educational Consultant with the Outreach department at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). With extensive expertise in educational strategies and behavior guidance, she serves as a key contributor to the Texas Deafblind... Read More →

HandoutCVIOverview pdf

CVI Flowchart for Families (1) pdf

CVI Resources (1) pdf

Saturday July 18, 2026 11:00am - 11:45am CDT
Salon C 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

Recovery

2:00pm CDT

How to Advocate For Your Child In School

Saturday July 18, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm CDT

Salon C @ 3001 Kalahari Blvd, Round Rock, TX, USA

This session will give parents and caregivers practical tools to advocate for their child at school with more confidence and clarity. It will cover how to prepare for IEP and 504 meetings, ask for appropriate supports and accommodations, communicate effectively with school staff, and address concerns related to seizures, learning, behavior, attendance, and safety. Families will leave with a better understanding of their role, their child’s needs, and how to speak up in a way that is informed, organized, and effective.

Speakers