Autism Certification for School-Based Professionals

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

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

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