WORKSHOPS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS - 100 SERIES
SEMINAR DESCRIPTIONS FOR WORKSHOPS PROVIDED BY THE WNY REGIONAL CENTER FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
WORKSHOP 101
View Schedule and Register for WorkshopsUnderstanding Autism Spectrum Disorders and evidence-based treatments
Seminar Description: This two-hour training provides up-to-date information on the clinical and associated features of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), including Asperger’s Disorder and PDD-NOS. Attention will be given to how these features manifest themselves and present unique instructional and learning challenges within education settings. The training goes beyond the core features of the disorders and covers evidence-based strategies for helping children and adolescents with ASDs.
Learning Objectives:
1. To understand how the primary and associated characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders manifest themselves within educational settings and impact learning.
2. To differentiate between evidence- and non evidence- based interventions, in order to promote the use of strategies and intervention techniques that have proven to be effective.
3. To recognize the need to evaluate the individual effectiveness of current intervention strategies.
Target Audience: General and special education teachers, related service providers (speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, social workers, and school psychologists), administrators, CPSE & CSE Chairpersons, and 1:1 and classroom aides.
WORKSHOP 102
View Schedule and Register for WorkshopsInclusive programming for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Seminar Description: This two-hour seminar provides school personnel with practical and evidence-based intervention techniques to maximize the development and success of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) within public education settings. The training will include how to foster the initial transition of a student into a new educational setting/class, as well as offer school-based strategies to enhance the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of students with ASDs. Guidelines to facilitate success with inclusion in general-education settings will be offered.
Learning Objectives:
1. To have a comprehensive understanding of what needs to be known prior to gaining a student with an ASD, to foster a successful transition
2. To become familiar with instructional, environmental, and behavioral techniques that should be used to facilitate successful inclusive programming for children with ASDs within public education settings.
3. To gain knowledge as to how to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of used strategies.
Target Audience: General and special education teachers, related service providers (speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, social workers, and school psychologists), administrators, CPSE & CSE Chairpersons, and 1:1 and classroom aides.
WORKSHOP 103
View Schedule and Register for WorkshopsDeveloping and fostering social development for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders within public education settings.
Seminar Description: A review of typical school-based practices suggests that school districts are falling short in facilitating the social development of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This two-hour seminar highlights and explains the social interaction difficulties children with ASD commonly experience and provides school personnel with evidence-based approaches to enhance the social development of these students within public education settings.
Learning Objectives:
1. To understand the social interaction difficulties commonly experienced by students with an ASD.
2. To gain an appreciation of the shortcomings of many school-based approaches for building social skills and to recognize the need to foster social development through a targeted, systematic, and comprehensive approach.
3. To become familiar with evidence-based approaches for enhancing the social development of students with ASDs in public education settings.
Target Audience: General and special education teachers, related service providers (speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, social workers, and school psychologists), administrators, CPSE & CSE Chairpersons, and 1:1 and classroom aides.
WORKSHOP 104
View Schedule and Register for WorkshopsEffective school-based strategies for dealing with challenging behaviors demonstrated by students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Seminar Description: This two-hour seminar provides school personnel with a conceptual framework for assessing and understanding challenging behaviors exhibited by students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The training goes beyond determining what is causing and maintaining challenging behaviors and will emphasize evidence-based strategies to decrease maladaptive behaviors, increase adaptive alternative behaviors, and evaluate the effectiveness of intervention plans.
Learning Objectives:
1. To understand why challenging behaviors occur and reoccur, by considering the fundamental
principles and methods of Functional Behavioral Assessments.
2. To become familiar with evidence-based strategies to reduce problematic behaviors and build
adaptive alternative behaviors.
3. To recognize all needed in developing a comprehensive behavior intervention plan, including
means for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of behavior plans.
Target Audience: General and special education teachers, related service providers (speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, counselors, social workers, and school psychologists), administrators, CPSE & CSE Chairpersons, and 1:1 and classroom aides.
SEMINARS FOR SERVICE COORDINATION - 200 SERIES
SEMINAR DESCRIPTIONS FOR WORKSHOPS PROVIDED BY
THE WNY REGIONAL CENTER FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Medicaid Service Coordination and Early Intervention
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intervention: Evidence-based information for directing consumers/families towards accurate assessment and use of what works.
Seminar Description: This two-hour training is geared toward providing Early Intervention and Medicaid Service Coordinators with up-to-date and empirically-supported information regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) so that they can guide consumers/families towards early and accurate detection and use of appropriate treatment strategies. Attention will be given to highlighting the characteristics of ASD, dispelling common myths associated with the disorder, reviewing the evidence for appropriate and popular intervention methods, and understanding important considerations for facilitating key transitional periods (e.g., Early diagnosis—now what; EI to preschool; preschool to school-age; school-age to adulthood)
Learning Objectives:
1. To become familiar with the early warning signs and primary/associated characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
2. To understand the components of a valid and informative assessment
3. To differentiate between evidence- and non evidence- based interventions, in order to promote the use of strategies and intervention techniques that have proven to be effective.
4. To recognize the challenges that emerge with various transitional periods and consider the strategies that can be utilized to facilitate the consumer’s/family’s successful navigation through these periods.
Target Audience: Service Coordinators.
SEMINARS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS - 300 SERIES
SEMINAR DESCRIPTIONS FOR WORKSHOPS PROVIDED BY
THE WNY REGIONAL CENTER FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Understanding Austism Spectrum Disorders: Strategies for Managing Maladaptive Behaviors
Seminar Description: This two-hour training is geared towards providing caregivers of children/adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders with empirically supported information regarding understanding and addressing challenging behaviors. The focus is to have participants recognize the factors contributing to the manifestation of maladaptive behaviors and to learn a series of strategies for reducing challenging behaviors in the home and community. Attention will be given to the importance of utilizing systematic approaches to shape and develop adaptive alternative behaviors.
Learning Objectives:
1. To gain an understanding of the function and the precipitating and maintaining causes of challenging behaviors.
2. To learn environmental and behavioral strategies to avoid/reduce the manifestation of challenging behaviors.
3. To become familiar with strategies to develop and foster the use of adaptive alternative behaviors.
4. To recognize the need to evaluate the individual effectiveness of used strategies.
Target Audience: Parents/Guardians/Caregivers.
