Full Course Description
Autism Assessment Across the Spectrum: Strategies for Recognizing Functional Differences and Closing the Gender Gap
Current diagnostic criteria for autism continue to be based on how autism looks in boys and men.
To make matters worse, it relies almost exclusively on observable behavior while many other conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders, have included the personal experience of “felt perspective” of the individual being evaluated.
These traditional approaches contribute to the under identification of autistic people, especially in those who camouflage well including girls and women and those considered “high-functioning.” To improve recognition of autism, a paradigm shift is needed.
In this recorded session, view Drs. Aspy and Grossman, as they guide you through strategies for acknowledging personal experiences of autistic individuals and minimizing the impact of masking during the assessment process. You’ll learn how to effectively:
- Assess functional skills in the areas of communication, social, sensory processing, and motor skills
- Increase the recognition of autism in girls and women
- Integrate the client’s personal perspective into the assessment process
This session incorporates core elements from their award-winning Ziggurat Model, a framework designed to meet underlying needs while capitalizing on strengths.
Program Information
Objectives
- Design an evaluation plan for assessing functional skills and support needs of people across the spectrum using formal and informal instruments.
- Create a strategy for increasing the recognition of girls and women through the assessment process used in your current employment setting.
- Revise current evaluation strategies to integrate the client’s personal perspective into the assessment process.
Outline
Autism Imperfectly Defined
- How the DSM and IDEA define autism
- Adverse impact/Clinically significant impairment in functioning
- Not a cookbook: A special note on Social (pragmatic) Communication Disorder
History of the Problem
- Over fifty years of “If I don’t see it then it doesn’t count”
- Relying on data from boys and men – creating the gender gap
- Common myths of autism evaluation versus reality
- Failure to recognize that experienced transdisciplinary teams using clinical judgment are the “gold standard”
Strategies Including Informal and Formal Instruments to:
- Integrate the client’s personal perspective into the assessment process
- Get beyond the mask and recognize canned language and scripting
- Design an evaluation plan for assessing functional skills and support needs
- Increase recognition of autism in girls and women
- Revise current evaluations to integrate the client’s personal perspective into the assessment process
Target Audience
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- School Administrators
- Teachers/School-Based Personnel
- Case Managers
- Nurses
- Addiction Professionals
Copyright :
04/20/2023
Autism: De-Escalate Meltdowns and Diffuse Explosive Behaviors in Children and Adolescents
Do you work with children and adolescents with autism who exhibit explosive behaviors that interfere with their ability to effectively and efficiently navigate their environment? They appear willful, obnoxious, over reactive, and unfeeling. They lose control of their ability to cope or regulate their behavior, which can send them spiraling into a gut wrenching meltdown.
Watch autism expert Joe’l Farrar, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, BCBA, for this training and learn proven strategies and techniques to help children and adolescents with autism de-escalate before a full blown meltdown ensues, develop self-control and self-management skills to prevent future meltdowns and learn appropriate/replacement behaviors. Dozens of strategies will be taught through dynamic video case examples and demonstrations. “Teach them in the way they learn” will be a mantra throughout the training.
Walk away with these interventions and more:
- Breathe card and emotions chart to develop self-control and self-management skills
- Surprise cards, change of schedule cues, and transition markers to alleviate anxiety
- Video modeling and role playing to improve social/emotional communication
- First person stories and visual cues to promote positive behavior
- Visual cues, music, and software designed to increase attention and focus
- Social stories, social scripts, and emotions charts to develop self-regulation
- SOCCSS, keychain rules, and t-charts to target challenging behaviors
Program Information
Objectives
- Discriminate functions of behavior during a tantrum vs. meltdown.
- Analyze the connections and breakdowns between communication, social skills and behaviors.
- Employ a breathe card and emotions chart to develop self-control and self-management skills.
- Design optimal therapy/classroom structure to prevent overstimulation and sensory breakdowns.
- Employ SOCCSS, keychain rules and t-charts to prevent, intervene or consequate targeted behaviors.
- Utilize surprise cards, change of schedule cues and transition markers to alleviate anxiety.
Outline
Functions of a Meltdown
- Tantrum vs. meltdown
- Stages of a meltdown
- Sensory issues vs. behavior issues
- Meltdown intervention video
Sensory Strategies
- Easy-to-use sensory tools and apps to calm
- Overstimulation and sensory breakdowns
- Therapy session and classroom structure for optimal learning
Executive Functioning Strategies
- Visual cues, music, and software designed to increase attention and focus
- High interest areas to strengthen motivation and engagement
- Visual reminders for routines and predictability
- Visual structures to promote organization
Self-Regulation Strategies
- Video modeling, t-charts, social stories, social scripts, emotions charts to develop self-control
- Tools that promote self-monitoring of behavior
- Power cards and visual checklists as powerful incentives to change behavior
Social/Emotional Communication Strategies
- Social scripts and social stories to develop social interaction
- Video modeling and role playing to demonstrate appropriate interactions
- First person stories for positive behavior changes and affirmations
Explosive Behavior Strategies
- Recognize the warning signs of a meltdown in order to prevent it
- Surprise cards, change of schedule cues, and transition markers to alleviate anxiety
- Visual cues to depict expected behavior
- Converting the verbal to a visual
Techniques for After the Meltdown
- Strategies for instructional consequences
- Chart appropriate/inappropriate behaviors
- Activities for reviewing behaviors when calm
- Cartooning to facilitate feedback
- Strategies for providing systematic feedback
- Reinforcement for communication strategies
- Identify feelings and review behavior
Hands-on Activities
- Demonstration video of child having a meltdown
- Appropriate and meaningful replacement behaviors for physical aggression
- Instructional consequences for a meltdown
Target Audience
- Speech-Language Pathologists & Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Special & General Educators
- School Guidance Counselors
- School Administrators
- Educational Paraprofessionals
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- School Psychologists
- Physicians
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Physical Therapists & Physical Therapist Assistants
- Other Helping Professionals that Work with Children
Copyright :
11/03/2023
Alternative Learners and "Outside the Box" Thinkers: Innovative Interventions for Kids & Teens with ADHD, Autism, and Learning Differences
With remote and hybrid learning on the rise, students who are considered “alternative learners” – those with ADHD, Autism, and learning disabilities – are facing unprecedented challenges as they pivot to meet the demands of this new educational era.
Watch Dr. Sharon Saline in this recording that dives into practical, collaborative tools for addressing the educational and mental health concerns of kids who learn differently. Packed with insight and concrete strategies, this program will prepare you, your clients/students, and their families for a successful school year, including how to:
- Navigate remote, in-person, and hybrid learning models that aren’t designed with them in mind
- Increase motivation, goal-directed persistence, time management, and organizational skills
- Identify potential mental health issues related to learning challenges for non-neurotypical children and adolescents
- Support families — create effective daily routines, manage stress, and build connection
If you work with kids and teens, this training is a must!
Program Information
Objectives
- Assess for potential mental health issues related to learning challenges for non-neurotypical children and adolescents.
- Utilize interventions to help alternative learners improve motivation, goal-directed persistence, time management, and organizational skills.
- Determine appropriate levels of scaffolding to best aid student learning and improve engagement.
Outline
Who are Alternative Learners?
- “Outside the box” thinkers: So many strengths!
- Issues related to unequal access for services and learning.
- Co-existing conditions and how to intervene (especially anxiety)
- What the research tells us about alternative learners and related diagnoses
Executive Functioning (EF) Skills
- How to identify EF skill deficits
- Strategies to improve EF skills at home and school
- Motivation, procrastination, and disorganization
Hybrid Learning: Interventions for Virtual and In-Classroom Education
- Challenges specific to alternative learners and their families
- Parent v. student roles with homework, responsibility, and monitoring
- Reduce conflict and improve connection within families
- Tools for collaboration, consistency and communication
Target Audience
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Educators
- School Psychologists
- School Counselors
- School Social Workers
- Educational Paraprofessionals
- School Administrators
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Nurses
- Case Managers
- Other Helping Professionals Who Work with Children
Copyright :
08/21/2020
Social Skills Intervention for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: Helping Clients Overcome Today’s Obstacles in Social Skills
In this video session, autism expert Jay Berk, PhD, will provide valuable insight into the unique social skills challenges faced by children, adolescents, and young adults with autism in today’s world relating to the pandemic, emergence from the pandemic, digital impact on social skills acquisition, and challenges associated with co-occurring disorders, such as social anxiety.
Attend and learn how to adeptly teach your clients with autism how to:
- Navigate social interactions online and in person, in any setting
- Use “in person” approaches from “on-line” responses to social situations
- Effectively manage their preservation of high interest areas
- Reduce misinterpretation of social cues
- Understand appropriate/inappropriate content for discussion topics
Dr. Berk will explore Code Switching, i.e. understanding how environments change related to online, in person, small group, individual and other aspects for daily interactions.
Register today!
Program Information
Objectives
- Determine the unique challenges faced by children and adolescents in today’s digital and pandemic world.
- Choose the best strategies to implement upon return to school or their clinical setting.
- Design strategies for use when obstacles arise in social skills acquisition.
Outline
- The Unique Social Challenges Clients with Autism Face Today
- The pandemic and digital world’s impact on social skills acquisition
- Specific skills individual with autism need to learn in this new world
- Social Skills Strategies to Help Clients with Autism:
- Navigate social interactions online and in person, in any setting
- Use “in person” approaches from “on-line” responses to social situations
- Effectively manage their preservation of high interest areas
- Reduce misinterpretation of social cues
- Understand appropriate/inappropriate content for discussion topics
Target Audience
- Case Managers
- Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Psychologists
- School Administrators
- Social Workers
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Teachers/School-Based Personnel
Copyright :
03/09/2021
Navigating Autism with a Strengths-Based Mindset: Empowering Clients to Find and Develop their Strengths and Thrive!
In this recording, Temple teaches you the strength-based mindset you need to help your autistic clients (children to young adults) reach their full potential! In the first 45 minutes of this recorded interview-style keynote, Temple covers a variety of topics, such as the importance of and need for:
- Whole-person approaches that honor each child’s uniqueness
- Moving beyond “label-locking”
- Teaching basic life skills, stretching and giving choices
- Exposing clients to career options before high school
- Looking at the brain-gut connection to address stress and anxiety
- And so much more!
At the end of the keynote, Temple answers audience questions! This invaluable session will empower you with effective interventions to help your neurodivergent clients become exposed to life, find and develop their strengths, and thrive!
Program Information
Target Audience
- Addiction Counselors
- Counselors
- Marriage & Family Therapists
- Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Social Workers
- Teachers/School-Based Personnel
- Other Mental Health Professionals
Copyright :
04/22/2022