Professional Development and Parent Seminars (PDPS) disseminate information on effective programs for individuals with autism.
The target PDPS audience is school personnel, including general and special education teachers, administrators, related-service providers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and paraprofessionals, working with students with autism spectrum disorders, as well as parents and family members.
We offer these sessions at no cost to participants living in New York State through a grant provided by the New York State Education Department. Funding is administered by The Research Foundation for the State University New York. There is a $ 5.00 registration fee per session for each CEU selected. There is a $15 registration fee for out-of-state registrants. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be made 24 hours before the start of the event to receive a refund of CEU payments. Please send cancellation request to [email protected]. We do not allow same-day cancellations.
Upcoming Date:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
9 - 10:15 a.m.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Unmasking Anxiety in ASD
Participants will better understand how anxiety can manifest in individuals with ASD.
Participants will be able to recognize the impact of anxiety on autism.
Participants will become familiar with how to treat symptoms of anxiety through a Cognitive Behavioral approach.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, NYS LMHC, NYS Psychologists, and CTLE
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Creating and Using Visual Supports for Students with Autism
Participants will develop a basic understanding of why students with autism spectrum disorder benefit from the use of visual supports.
Participants will understand that visual supports can and should be individualized to students’ needs.
Participants will be able to identify steps for creating effective visual supports.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, CTLE, and NYS SW
1 - 2:15 p.m.
Unlocking Engagement: Effective Strategies for Enhancing Attention and Motivation in Students with ASD
Participants will recall the research and theories regarding attention and engagement in students with ASD and how these attributes may differ from typically-developing students.
Participants will be able to describe antecedent and reinforcement-based strategies that can be used to increase attention and engagement.
Participants will be able to explain how to reinforce attention & engagement as well as develop strategies to move students toward greater self-management.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, NYS LMHC, NYS Psychologists, and CTLE
Past Sessions:
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
9 - 10:15 a.m.
Building Bridges: Enhancing Social Connections Among Students with Autism and Their Peers
Presenter: Erica Davis, LMSW
- Participants will be able to explain how the core characteristics of ASD affect the development of their peer relationships.
- Participants will be able to identify research-based interventions for developing, maintaining and understanding relationships.
- Participants will be able to select one strategy that is appropriate for their student with ASD.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, NYS LMHC, CTLE, and NYS Psychologists
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Thinking Differently: Social Cognition and Social Motivation in Students with ASD
Presenter: Jane Ann Worlock, MS Ed
- Participants will be able to describe research relevant to the way individuals with ASD process social information and engage socially.
- Participants will be able to identify differences in processing information that contributes to challenging behavior.
- Participants will be able to describe strategies to teach autistic students adaptive behaviors to replace their challenging behaviors.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, and CTLE
1 - 2:15 p.m.
Beyond Behavior: Promoting Emotional Well-being in Autistic Students
Presenter: Melissa L. Rinaldi, PhD
- Participants will be able to describe the unique mental health challenges commonly experienced by autistic students.
- Participants will be able to articulate why explicit instruction in coping and emotional regulation skills is important for autistic students.
- Participants will be able to identify and describe a range of evidence-based coping strategies and problem-solving techniques suitable for implementation in school settings.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, NYS LMHC, NYS Psychologists, and CTLE
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
9 - 10:15 a.m.
Promoting Flexibility in Students with Autism
Participants will better understand cognitive flexibility and its impact on everyday tasks.
Participants will be able to recognize how cognitive inflexibility can affect students' success.
Participants will learn strategies to teach flexibility to students with autism.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, NYS LMHC, NYS Psychologists, and CTLE
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Helping Students with Autism Overcome Challenging Behavior
Participants will better understand how the core and related characteristics of autism lead to the incidence of challenging behavior in some of our students with autism.
Participants will be introduced to the process of Positive Behavior Support and the function of an autistic student’s behavior.
Participants will learn strategies to teach students replacement and prosocial behavior to use in place of their challenging behavior.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 CTLE, NASP, and SW Contact Hour Available
1 - 2:15 p.m.
Behavior Contracts: A Powerful Tool to Assist Students with ASD in Reaching Their Goals
Participants will be able to describe what a behavior contract is and the steps to successfully implement the tool.
Participants will be able to identify appropriate goals and motivators to select for their student’s behavior contract.
Participants will be able to identify common errors made when implementing behavior contracts and recognize ways to troubleshoot problems that may arise.
CEUs offered for this session (registration fee required): 1.25 contact hours for NASP, NYS SW, NYS LMHC, NYS Psychologists, and CTLE
Continuing Education Credits:
CARD Albany is an approved provider for the following continuing education:
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education
CARD Albany is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved provider of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.
School Psychologists
CARD Albany is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing education for school psychologists. CARD maintains responsibility for the program.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors
University at Albany, SUNY, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0194.
New York State Social Workers
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, SW CPE, is recognized by the New York State Education Department State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed master social workers # 0292.
New York State Psychologists
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is recognized by the New York State Education Department State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists in NYS #PSY-0083.
There is a $5 registration fee per session for each CEU selected. CEUs can be selected during registration and payment can be submitted online with a credit card or purchase order.
Each organization/entity uses their own calculation to determine the number of CEUs based on contact hours. As with all continuing education, the attendee should verify CEU requirements by their professional organization and/or state licensure board.