|
| First 3 Months of Behavioral Intervention for Children With Autism: A Developmental Perspective |
| Saturday, May 26, 2012 |
| 8:00 AM–11:00 AM |
| 602 (Convention Center) |
| Area: AUT/DEV; Domain: Service Delivery |
| CE Instructor: Monika M. Suchowierska, Ph.D. |
| MONIKA M. SUCHOWIERSKA (Warsaw School of Social Psychology), LINDA S. HEITZMAN-POWELL (University of Kansas Medical Center) |
| Description: The first 3 months of early intensive behavioral intervention are a crucial period for a young learner with autism. It has been recommended that the behavioral intervention take into account a developmental perspective, especially as it relates to behavioral cusps leading to autistic development. In this workshop, we will examine several related skills that may be present or absent in young children with autism: stimulus overselectivity, facial recognition, mutually responsive orientation, joint attention, social referencing, and relational framing. Based on this information, we will propose major therapeutic goals for the first 3 months of intervention, together with teaching strategies to accomplish those goals. Major challenges of the first 3 months will also be discussed. Video material will be used. The workshop will conclude with some suggestions for the next months of therapy. |
| Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this workshop, participants should be able to:
List developmental concepts that relate to early behavioral intervention
Characterize skills that are present or absent in young children with autism and that are behavioral cusps for autistic development
List major therapeutic goals for the first 3 months of intervention as they relate to the precursors of autism
Describe teaching strategies to accomplish the major therapeutic goals for the first 3 months of intervention
Plan the following months of therapy |
| Activities: During the course of the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to analyze videos of typically developing children and autistic children to search for the behavioral cusps discussed in the workshop as well as to plan—based on videos of autistic children—goals for the beginnings of their therapy. Small group activities will be organized. |
| Audience: This workshop is designed for behavior analysts who work with families of young children with autism and are responsible for programming therapeutic goals for their pupils. |
| Content Area: Practice |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |