AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: GUIDE TO EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS

You can download the guide here. 

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Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Practical Strategies toImprove Processing - Missoula / Butte / Billings - Sept. 26 / 27 / 28,2012

Children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders present numerous challenges for therapists and educators. They have significant processing deficits that impact their functioning across domains, and can stretch the knowledge and resources of even experienced practitioners. Often viewed through the lens of "behavior," the symptoms these children display are more accurately described as manifestations of inefficient and ineffective processing. Understanding how information processing deficits impact these children paves the way for applying a new generation of strategies designed to address core processing problems and promote meaningful skill development. Objectives include: Describe the connection between information processing deficits and symptoms in autism/related disorders. Differentiate between methods that promote rote behavior and those that develop meaningful thinking. Explain how to adjust the pacing of activities to improve processing, communication and behavior. Discuss communication modifications that support processing speed and effectiveness. Describe how processing problems impact behavior and hot to respond in ways that diffuse behavior more quickly. Explain the importance of nonverbal communication development for overall communication and thinking abilities.

 Click here for more information. 

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Exploring the Proposed DSM-5 Criteria in a Clinical Sample

The potential effect of the change from DSM IV to DSM 5 has generated quite a lot of interest within the autism community. Yes, I realize that is an understatement. In her presentation to the IACC, Sue Swedo (chair of the neurodevelopmental disorders work group for the DSM 5) stated that comments to the DSM 5 committee are running 10x higher for autism than any other diagnosis. This week another study on the potential changes caused by the change to DSM 5 was published: Exploring the Proposed DSM-5 Criteria in a Clinical Sample. This from York University in Toronto, Canada. This study points, as others have, to the DSM 5 not diagnosing children who would meet the autism criteria under DSM IV. 19% of children studied with autistic disorder under DSM IV would not be picked up by DSM 5, according to this study. A much larger fraction–83%–of those with DSM IV PDD-NOS diagnoses would not receive ASD diagnoses under DSM 5 (again, according to this study).

 Source

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Autism/Aspergers Disorde Fall Conference September 2012

When: September 28 & 29, 2012

The ChildWise Institute is collaborating with the State of Montana's Office of Public Instruction to present this Fall Conference. Day 1 (Sept. 28th) we are very excited and thrilled to have two wonderful presenters:

 Patricia Wright, Ph.D.,MPH: National Director of Autism Services for Easter Seals Ellen Notbohm, BS: Nationally-recognized, bestselling author of "Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew" and several other books that have been written in eleven different languages and sold all over the world.

 Day 2 (Sept. 29th) will consist of six breakout sessions on topics including: The School's Responsibility Communication Strategies Transition into Adulthood (with several local/state agencies offering insight into their respective services) Nutrition & Brain Chemistry, presented by Nutritionist Julia Turner,MMSc, RD,LN. Insurance Providers: Q & A Ellen Notbohm presenting round table discussions on her current books and newly released book due September 2012 -- right at the time of our conference

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An 8 step guide to insurance coverage for autism

Health insurance can be an invaluable resource for families with children with autism to help make the often high-cost and high-frequency treatments for their child more affordable. However, making sure that services and providers are covered can be confusing and time-consuming. Below are some tips for how to make the process more manageable and to maximize coverage.

 Click here to read more. 

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Person First: An Evolution in Thinking

As John Robison points out in his book Be Different, when we talk about people having something, it’s something bad. He has cancer. He has a cold. He has the flu. When was the last time you heard someone say, “He has intelligence?” or “Wow, she really has giftedness and talentedness?”So when we say, “has autism” aren’t we conveying a message to our kid that what they “have” ain’t good? Click here to read more.

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Catch Me If You Can

When Robert Wood Jr. disappeared in a densely forested Virginia park, searchers faced the challenge of a lifetime. The eight-year-old boy was autistic and nonverbal, and from his perspective the largest manhunt in state history probably looked like something else: the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. This article describes the difficulties of doing Search and Rescue for someone with autism.

See more here:

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