School evaluation specialists are increasingly expected to be proficient in diagnosing children with suspected autism across the age and abilities spectrum. This one–day course provides practical tools to effectively integrate multiple sources of information into a compelling individualized narrative. Topics include evaluation methods with students, differential diagnosis and co-morbid conditions, discussing the diagnosis with parents and teachers, and linking the evaluation findings to practical educational interventions.
PLEASE NOTE: THE WORKSHOP DATE HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON THE FLYER THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED IN AUGUST 2015.
Course Goals and Objectives:
Through the course of the full-day training session participants will develop the following skills and proficiencies:
- Use an organizational framework in line with the DSM 5 criteria to recognize the full range of autism spectrum differences in children and adolescents
- Learn to use descriptive language in explaining autism spectrum differences to parents and teachers
- Recognize how to integrate narrative therapy techniques into the parent interview process
- Collect and interpret qualitative, descriptive behavior samples through the use of sensory-based diagnostic interview with the child
- Practice the development of individualized autism spectrum behavioral profiles across the range of ability levels from functionally nonverbal to verbally fluent children
- Integrate the use of a “neuro-atypical conversation into the standardized battery of the ADOS-2 modules and current best practice autism checklists
- Recognize differential diagnosis and comorbid conditions
- Develop a bank of therapeutic and educational strategies to include in autism evaluation reports
- Learn to write individualized narrative descriptions of students as part of the district autism evaluation summary report.
This workshop includes didactic lecture, guided group discussion while viewing clinical interviews, group discussion to promote the application of the diagnostic language and sample tools introduced during the lecture portion of the session, and access to the resources packet provided to each participant as part of this workshop session. The initial portion of the session will consist of the introduction of key concepts, followed by clinical application of those concepts as the participants view sample clinical interviews and discuss behavior observations. Participants will then be provided with examples of key intervention strategies while referencing where they can learn more about the strategies in their resource packet.
5.5 NASP CPDs available
TSHA Credits have not been approved for this workshop