Randolph, Mass. – During Autism Awareness Month in April and throughout the year, May Institute and its National Autism Center are committed to raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and informing the public about evidence-based treatments that can improve the lives of people living with and affected by autism.
“We have been proudly serving individuals with autism across the lifespan to increase their independence and promote their dignity since our founding in 1955,” says Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, President and CEO. “When The Autism Society of America launched the first Autism Awareness Month in April of 1970, May Institute enthusiastically joined in. And we wholeheartedly embrace this year’s theme of ‘moving beyond simply promoting autism awareness to encouraging friends and collaborators to become partners in acceptance and appreciation.’
“Making people aware that one in 68 children has been diagnosed with ASD is just the beginning,” continued Dr. Solotar. “It is vitally important that we all continue to learn more about these individuals, appreciate their gifts and talents as well as their challenges, welcome them into our schools and communities, and treat them with the respect they deserve.”
Toward that end, May Institute offers the following 30 articles about autism and related special needs from its library of resources, written in accessible and practical language by dozens of its clinical experts. These articles provide important information on a range of topics including diagnosis, early intervention, effective treatment, and everyday living strategies for individuals and families living with ASD.
A CLOSER LOOK AT AUTISM: 30 TOPICS, 30 DAYS
1. Get the Facts About ASD
2. How Is ASD Diagnosed?
3. Early Intervention
4. Evidence-based Practices
5. What Is Applied Behavior Analysis?
6. What Does That Mean? (Part 1)
What Does That Mean? (Part 2)
7. Functions of Behaviors
8. Reducing Self-stimulatory Behavior
9. Behavior Traps and How to Avoid Them
10. Communication Tools for Children with ASD
11. Collaborative Communication
12. Addressing Different Needs of All Children
13. Taking Turns
14. Helping a Child with ASD Prepare for Change
15. Helping a Child with ASD Adjust to Change
16. Colds and Flu
17. Seven Steps to Building Respectful Teaching Relationships with Children (Instructional Control)
18. Homework: from Stress to Success
19. The Pros and Cons of Using Prompts
20. Welcoming a Pet into the Family
21. Coming of Age with a Developmental Disability
22. Helping a Young Adult with Special Needs Develop Dating Skills
23. Helping People with Communication Disorders Make Themselves Understood
24. Managing Sensory Overload
25. Turning 22 and Autism
26. Helping Individuals with Autism Develop Friendships
27. Vacationing with an Adult with Intellectual Disabilities
28. Anxiety Disorders in People with Intellectual Disabilities
29. Aging Adults and ABA
30. Celebrating the Special Qualities of Individuals with ASD
Implementing Evidence-Based Practices Through Family-Provider Partnerships
Friday, September 30, 2016, 9:00am – 4:30pm
Featured keynote address by Deidre Donaldson, Ph.D. (Chief Clinical Officer, May Institute), who will present on “Evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD: The National Standards Project, Phase 2.”
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, one of the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit providers of behavioral healthcare, announced it will host its first autism conference, Autism A-Z: Beyond the Puzzle, in partnership with Autism Delaware. The conference is Friday, September 30, 2016 from 9:00am – 4:30pm at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. Autism A-Z will bring together leading industry experts, educators, medical professionals, social workers and families to share the latest insights, innovations and best practices in the study and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“Advancing the care, treatment and support of those with autism spectrum disorder is a pillar of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health’s mission to change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential in people living with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences,” said Robert Q. Kreider, President and CEO. “This conference embodies our philosophy of care and commitment to supporting families, physicians and caregivers of individuals with autism.”
Featuring keynotes by Deidre Donaldson, Ph.D. (Chief Clinical Officer, May Institute) and Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D. (EPIC School), the event’s format will allow participants to select from more than a dozen workshops led by industry experts. These sessions will cover a range of topics including education, technology, nutrition, behavior management, medication, housing, social skills and more. The conference will serve as a one-stop shop for those looking to advance their expertise in all aspects of ASD. CEUs/CMEs will be available for physicians, psychologists, teachers, BCBAs and social workers.
“Autism affects one in 68 children and is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the U.S.,” said Marilyn B. Benoit, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. “This conference will bring together leading voices on the care and treatment of those with autism. At Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, we recognize the importance of working collaboratively to bring to bear educational opportunities such as this conference.”
Registration is required and open through September 23. Space is limited. For more information, please visit the Autism A-Z conference website, http://www.devereux.org/AutismA-Z.
About Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is one of the nation’s largest non-profit organizations providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912 by Helena Devereux, the nonprofit operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational, and employment programs and services that positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of children, adults and their families every year. Focused on best practices emerging from a new understanding of the brain, its unique approach combines evidence-based interventions with compassionate family engagement. With nearly 7,000 employees working in programs across the nation, it is a recognized partner for families, schools and communities, serving many of our country’s most vulnerable populations in the areas of autism, IDD, specialty mental health, and child welfare.
Programs are offered in hospital, residential, community and school-based settings. They include: Assessments; Interventions and Support; Transition and Independent Life Services: Family and Professional Training; Research and Innovation; and Advocacy and Public Education. For more than a century, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health has been guided by a simple and enduring mission: To change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences.
“May Institute’s National Autism Center, considered to be among the very best resources regarding evidence-based treatment of autism, found in both 2009 and again in 2015 in its National Standards Project that there is ‘little or no evidence in the scientific literature.’”
Read the Atlantic’s full article
By: Marisa Petruccelli Morelos, Psy.D
Worries about language delay are often among the first concerns parents raise when they bring their child in for an autism assessment. There can be many reasons for a language delay, such as a language disorder, an intellectual disability, a hearing impairment, or even trauma or neglect. It can also be an early indicator of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
When: October 21 & 22, 2014 | 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Rascon Training Room | 2481 Llewellyn Avenue | Fort Meade, MD 20775
Pre-Registration Required, Contact: Allison Judd, LCSW-C | Tel: 301-677-8086 | Email: allison.m.judd.civ@mail.mil
This FREE two-day seminar is designed for military parents or caregivers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Presented by Dr. Hanna C. Rue, Executive Director, National Autism Center, and V.P. of Autism Services, May Institute.
DAY 1 ] Assessing and Managing Challenging Behaviors
DAY 2 ] Choosing and Using Evidence-based Practices for the Treatment of Children
Download the Fort Meade Pathways Training Flyer