Seminar Descriptions

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Adapting Teaching Materials and Strategies

Seminar Description:  This two-hour seminar provides practical techniques to maximize the academic success of students with autism spectrum disorders in the classroom. The first part of the presentation focuses on the unique characteristics and learning styles of children with ASD.  The second part of the presentation provides participants with a variety of adaptations for the classroom, the material, and the presentation of the curriculum.

Learning Objectives:      

1.  To understand the cognitive characteristics and associated learning styles common for children with ASD and to recognize the challenges that emerge with these unique characteristics.

2.  To become familiar with multiple examples techniques to facilitate effective learning, including successful homework completion and test-taking support techniques.

3.  To be able to describe and implement a self-guided learning system

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for general and special education teachers, administrators, and in-home caregivers.

Asperger’s Disorder

Seminar Description: This two-hour seminar provides an overview of proven and practical strategies to support students with Asperger’s disorder in the classroom.   Attention will also be given to the description of typical characteristics of a student with Asperger’s disorder, and how these characteristics manifest themselves in everyday interactions with others. 

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the core and associated features of Asperger’s disorder

2. To be familiar with wide variety of social and educational supports and interventions for students with Asperger’s disorder

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for general and special education teachers, educational support staff, related-service providers (SLP, OT, PT, counselors, social workers and school psychologists), support coordinators, in-home caregivers, and school administrators.

Autism Spectrum Disorders:  A Brief Overview

Seminar Description:  This two-hour seminar provides an introduction to the core and associated characteristics of autism spectrum disorders and how these characteristics manifest themselves within a learning environment. The seminar also covers a description of possible causes of autism spectrum disorders. Attention is given to understanding the current treatment methods, ranging from evidence-based strategies to the more controversial and alternative approaches.

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the core and other associated characteristics of autism spectrum disorders. 

2. To recognize possible causes of autism spectrum disorders.

3. To be familiar with evidence-based and non-evidence-based interventions used to treat autism spectrum disorders

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for general and special education teachers, educational support staff, pre-school and kindergarten teachers, support coordinators, in-home caregivers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, and school administrators.

First Responders Autism Awareness

Seminar Description:  Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are 7 times more likely to come into contact with police than their typical peers; therefore, it is imperative that first responders be able to recognize persons with this disorder.  This 2-hour seminar provides an introduction to the core and associated characteristics of ASD and how these characteristics may manifest within the community environment.  This training also includes appropriate strategies for responding as well as methods for first responders and parents/caregivers to work together to keep individuals with ASD safe.

Learning Objectives:

1.  1. To understand the core and associated characteristics of ASD

2.   2. To be familiar with reasons a first responder may be called to a scene involving an individual with ASD

3.   3. To learn strategies on how first responders and parents/caregivers can work together to keep individuals with ASD safe.

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for police, EMS, firefighters and parents/caregivers.

Functional Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior Support

Seminar Description:  This two-hour seminar provides participants with a systematic strategy for assessing and understanding difficult behaviors in students with autism spectrum disorders in the classroom and other environments. Based on the assessment and understanding of causes of behavior problems, evidence-based strategies geared toward decreasing problem behaviors and increasing functional replacement behaviors are introduced. 

Learning Objectives:

1.  To understand why problem behaviors develop and what is maintaining them (i.e., functional assessment).

2.  To become familiar with developing and implementing a behavior intervention plan.

3.  To recognize strategies for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the behavior intervention plan.

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for general and special education teachers, educational support staff, related-service providers (SLP, OT, PT, counselors, social workers and school psychologists), support coordinators, in-home caregivers, and school administrators.

How to be an Effective Paraprofessional in the School Environment

Seminar Description: Paraprofessionals play a crucial role in their daily work with students with autism spectrum disorders. Over the years, the duties of paraprofessionals have significantly increased and today they are facing many responsibilities. This 2-hour seminar provides the paraprofessional with the tools needed to successfully support students with autism spectrum disorders in the classroom. The core characteristics of autism spectrum disorders and effective educational supports are presented. 

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the core cognitive characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorders and to recognize the challenges emerging from these unique characteristics.

2. To be familiar with a wide variety of classroom supports, including successful behavioral support strategies.

3. To identify an effective and positive support style for the student, in contrast to problematic support strategies.

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for educational support staff, other school personnel, related-service providers (SLP, OT, PT, counselors and social workers), in-home caregivers, and school administrators.

Mealtime and Children with Autism

Seminar Description:  This two-hour seminar addresses the various eating problems found in children with autism spectrum disorders. The assessment of underlying or co-occurring medical issues is presented. The focus will be on behavioral and environmental problems that affect feeding and eating, and attention will be given to successful strategies for addressing problems in these areas.

Learning Objectives:

1.  To understand the nature eating and feeding problems as well as factors influencing their development.

2.  To become familiar with strategies for improving the eating habits of a child with an autism spectrum disorder.

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for support coordinators and in-home caregivers and anyone interested in learning more about this topic.

Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Classroom

Seminar Description: Children with autism spectrum disorders need and deserve a carefully planned and highly structured learning environment. This two-hour seminar discusses the strengths and deficits that affect the learning of students with autism spectrum disorders. With these characteristics in mind, the participant will be introduced to effective environmental and organizational strategies for the classroom to help students become successful learners. 

Learning Objectives:          

1.  To understand strengths and deficits that affect student learning.

2.  To recognize environmental and organizational classroom supports that address student deficits, in order to facilitate success in the classroom.

3.  To become familiar with skill-building strategies that teach students essential skills for successful classroom participation.

Waking Up to a Better Day

Seminar Description:  The effects of prolonged sleep difficulties can have serious consequences not only to a child with an autism spectrum disorder, but to the entire family. This two-hour seminar covers the nature of sleep and common sleep problems.  Attention will be given to effective interventions to improve even the most difficult sleep behavior.

Learning Objectives:

1.  To understand the nature of sleep problems as well as factors influencing the development of sleep difficulties.

2.  To become familiar with strategies to assess sleep problems.

3.  To learn a variety of strategies for reducing sleep difficulties.

Target Audience:  This seminar has been designed as a basic course and is appropriate for support coordinators and in-home caregivers and anyone interested in learning more about this topic.