Day 1 - Social Communication (Pragmatics) - Participants will increase their understanding and improve their ability to evaluate social-communication deficits in students suspected of having autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or with ASD. Participants will also learn about the different types of formal and informal assessments that evaluation personnel may choose to use as part of their evaluation to identify social communication deficits commonly found in students with ASD.
Day 2 – Linking Assessment to Intervention - Participants will gain an increased understanding of and improve their ability to treat social-communication deficits common to students with ASD and/or those with a pragmatic disorder. Participants will also be able to identify academic issues facing these students and learn how to link assessment results and recommendations to interventions used in the classroom and therapy settings. Participants will have the opportunity to review several social skills curriculums, manuals and books during this session.
This workshop is designed for assessment personnel who conduct evaluations of students suspected of having autism spectrum disorders, language and communication disorders and related disorders. The second day is also appropriate for those professionals (teachers, counselors, social workers, and others) who provide direct intervention and support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or communication disorders.