High-Functioning Autism: Proven & Practical Interventions for Challenging Behaviors in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults

Credit

Speaker

Stacy M. Stefaniak, PsyD, LPC Related seminars and products

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Stacy M. Stefaniak Luther, PsyD., LPC, is a post-doctoral resident at the Behavioral Health Clinic of Wausau and Plover and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. She specializes in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder for individuals of all ages. Dr. Stacy has over 15 years of experience working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum in addition to working with families in a variety of settings. She works directly with educators, medical professionals, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, and mental health professionals. Dr. Stacy leads social skills groups for children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disorders and symptoms that cause social difficulties for individuals of all ages. She has experience with Applied Behavior Analysis, social-emotional developmental approaches, and with adapting traditional evidence-based practices for therapeutic intervention for individuals on the spectrum. Dr. Stacy has worked with individuals with a variety of co-occurring conditions, intellectual abilities, varied sensory needs, and individuals who are non-verbal. She especially enjoys problem solving to resolve or decrease aggressive and other maladaptive behaviors. Dr. Stacy is known for providing individualized care that emphasizes social-emotional development. She presents complex information in an understandable and useable fashion that is based on experience in addition to research. Dr. Stacy has experience presenting information to audiences with a variety of backgrounds, interests, and expertise levels. She received her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Capella University in 2018 and holds degrees in education and development.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Stacy Stefaniak Luther has an employment relationship with Behavioral Health Clinic of Wausau, LLC. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Stacy Stefaniak Luther is a member of the Wisconsin Psychological Association, the Wisconsin Autism Society, Postpartum Support International, and the Postpartum Support International.

Additional Info

For live CE credit, you must watch the live webcast in its entirety at its scheduled time and complete the CE quiz and evaluation within one week. You will have access for 90 days after the program for review.

Please note: There will be a lunch and two 15-minute breaks; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunch and break times will be announced by the speaker and at their discretion. A more detailed schedule is available upon request.

Objectives

1. Employ interventions to teach children/adolescents diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) the skills to independently manage their own regulation, anxiety and fears.
2. Design effective strategies to approach transitions and routine life challenges for children/adolescents diagnosed with HFA.
3. Utilize specific interventions to improve long-term social-emotional success for children/adolescents diagnosed with HFA.
4. Appraise specific sensory-based calming techniques to reduce anxiety for children/adolescents diagnosed with HFA.
5. Assess the potential side effects of psychotropic medication that can mimic or cause behavioral issues related to HFA.
6. Design specific behavioral interventions to reduce frequency, intensity and duration of difficult behaviors in children/adolescents with HFA.

Outline

• Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder
• Impact on service delivery (school/community)
• Successfully link home, school and therapy
• IEP/504/Do they qualify for school services?
• Co-morbid disorders: Why the difference is important

• Improve social skill deficits
• ”Kid Cop” behaviors and why other kids get angry
• How to get peers to recognize them in positive ways
• Group activities
• Early intervention strategies that can deliver long-term success

• Conflict resolutions that are effective in multiple settings
• Help peers and family members relate
• Verbal interventions that overload processing
• Pragmatic language and other abstract issues

• Self-stimulation (appropriate & inappropriate)
• Sensory strategies to avoid
• Coping/calming techniques that reduce meltdowns
• Sensory diet

• Anxiety-reducing activities
• How anxiety impacts rigidity
• Help them “self-regulate”
• Successful transitions

• Impact on flexibility and change
• Therapy that works for people with HFA
• Emergence in adolescence
• Solitude vs. loneliness

• ADHD vs. hyper-focus
• Commonly prescribed medications and possible benefits and side effects
• Specific triggers and what fuels the rage
• Reduce aggressive and disruptive behaviors
• Mistakes that escalate defiant behaviors
• Overcome refusals to comply with even simple requests

• What to do when they become stuck on high interest areas
• Specific medication interventions
• Impact on socialization and behaviors

• Reduce Internet and electronic addictions
• Changes in technology, school systems and mental health delivery
• Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) for mood and anxiety

• Differentiate among common medications
• Medications that mimic difficult behaviors
• Side effects and off label use

• Case studies that demonstrate specific interventions for aggressive and non-compliant behaviors
• iPad® apps for social success, behavioral changes and speech and language
• Staff training techniques to experience what an individual on the spectrum might

Target Audience

• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
• School Administrators
• Special Education Teachers
• General Education Teachers
• School-based Personnel
• Social Workers
• Counselors
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Behavioral Intervention Specialists
• Psychologists
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Educational Paraprofessionals
• Nurses
• Youth Leaders
• Probation Officers
• Other helping professionals who work with children/adolescents/young adults