Autism Spectrum Disorders
From A to Z

Barbara and Emily can present together or individually.
Emily can present all material in Spanish. 
Choose from these topics, or contact us for more subjects:

Topic 1
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders and Diagnostic Terms

• Simple, clear and explanations of Autism, Asperger Syndrome and PDD.
• Why use the term ASD? 
• Comparison of Autism and Asperger Syndrome 
• ASD and ADD/ADHD/ Hyperlexia: understanding the subtle, qualitative differences
• Waiting for the law to catch up with what we are learning about ASD

Topic 2
The Impact of ASD: Understanding Learning Strengths and Challenges to Teach Effectively

• Why it is important to identify autism spectrum disorders in a person with another diagnosis, such as cognitive impairment, Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, hearing/vision impairments, giftedness or other special needs.
• Seventeen reasons why staff and families should speak up if they suspect a child has an unidentified special need.  SHARE

Topic 3
Diagnosis Du Jour: More and Better Diagnosis, or More ASD?

• Are autism and ASD being over-diagnosed or are these disorders increasing in incidence?
• Early indicators of autism spectrum disorders in young children
• Theories of the causes of ASD: an overview of the current genetic, biomedical and environmental theories with a short summary on immunizations and research

Topic 4: From Diagnosis to Daily Life: Working Together for a Wonderful Future!

• How parents may react to the diagnosis and how to help
• What parents and staff can do: hope, learning, organization, networking and mental health
• Some supports that families need and how everyone can help 
• Supporting staff and schools: how parents can help shape school services and advocate for all children 

Topic 5: Successful Assessments:  Understanding the Strengths and Needs of People with ASD to Create E ffective Programs

• Components of a thorough assessment: What do we need and why?
• Challenges in assessment: how the features of ASD impact the assessment process and strategies for staff and families to use to improve the process of assessment for everyone
• Use of personal histories in the assessment process and how to report information objectively
• The importance of studying what the person already knows and how it was learned

Topic 6: Assessments, Measurements and More!

• Types of assessments and what they measure
• The math of measurements: how scores and results are reported and the importance of the interpretation of results

• Speech and Language: assessing strengths and needs at the heart of autism spectrum disorders
• What to know about Assistive Technology and ASD 
• Using chapter five as an on-going resource for formal and informal assessments, selection of test instruments, tracking progress, and selecting goals

Topic 7: Sharing Information about ASD- with the person who has it and with others who need to know.

• Why, when, and how to talk about autism disorders to the child, siblings, relatives, classmates and others

Topic 8: Changing Society's View

• How to change society’s view of people with special needs by changing what we say and do: personal empowerment to create a more inclusive world