Autism Continuing Education Courses

Recent studies indicate that the prevalence rate for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is 78% higher than just 10 years ago. The pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) category, also commonly referred to as ASD, represents one of the fastest growing disability categories in the world. In the United States, ASD is more prevalent in the pediatric population than cancer, diabetes, spina bifida, and Down syndrome. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 1 in 88 eight year-old children have an autism spectrum disorder. Research indicates that the outcomes for children with ASD can be significantly improved by early identification and intensive intervention. How can you be better prepared to help these students be successful? This continuing education course prepares psychologists, special educators, general education teachers, speech/language pathologists, paraprofessionals, administrators, and parents for working with this special population.

Offered as a book-based independent course, Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention, provides professionals and parents with a step-by-step guide to screening, assessment, and intervention for children with this complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Written by Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson, a practicing school psychologist with extensive experience in the assessment of ASD, this award-winning authoritative, yet accessible book fills a critical void in the practice literature. Grounded in the latest research, special features include illustrative case examples and an index to 50 evidence-based best practice recommendations. The course objectives include:

• Recognize the elements and specific features in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 
• Distinguish between DSM diagnosis and IDEA classification. 
• Learn the differences between a dimensional and categorical view of ASD.  
• Identify current screening and assessment instruments for ASD. 
• Distinguish evidenced based treatments for ASD.

This book-based course allows you to earn continuing education hours from the comfort, privacy and convenience of home or office. Purchase and read the book, and then log on to access the test and other information associated with the book. This course is suitable for: psychologists, counselors, teachers, special education teachers, speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, paraprofessionals, parents, and nurses.  Take the book as a course for continuing education credit, and then continue to use it in your practice. The book is also available in Kindle and/or e-Book formats.

The course is available from CE-CLASSES.COM and PsychContinuingEd.com.

An online continuing education course, AutismSpectrum Disorders in Schools: Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment is also available. Adapted from A Best Practice Guide…, the objective of this online course is to summarize the empirically-based screening and assessment methodology in ASD and to describe a comprehensive developmental approach for assessing students with ASD. The course objectives include:

• Recognize the characteristics of the most prevalent types of ASD.    
• Distinguish between DSM diagnosis and IDEA classification.          
• Differentiate among screening, assessment, and diagnosis.  
• Identify components of a comprehensive developmental assessment for ASD. 
• Select evidence-based assessment tools.                                      

This course is available from ProfessionalDevelopment Resources.

Lee A. Wilkinson, PhD, CCBT, NCSP is author of the award-winning book, A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. He is also editor of a recent volume in the APA School Psychology Book Series, Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Evidence-Based Assessment and Intervention in Schools and author of the new book, Overcoming Anxiety and Depression on the Autism Spectrum: A Self-Help Guide Using CBT.