High Functioning Autism

Proven and Practical Interventions for Challenging Behaviour in Children and Adolescents

Presented by Cara Daily, Ph.D.

Monday, April 29, 2019 – Tuesday, April 30, 2019  |  Edmonton, ab

Date & Location

This intensive, two-day hands-on workshop provides evidence-based behavioural intervention strategies, essential treatment tools, and successful psychosocial techniques to teach new skills to children, adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA).  Dr. Daily will provide interesting case studies, demonstrations, and activities that will help you better understand high functioning autism and give you practical intervention techniques for social success, improved mood, positive behaviour changes, and overcoming challenging co-occurring behaviours.

Join autism expert and author, Cara Daily, PhD, BCBA, and learn how to integrate the latest research on brain development, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and behavioural interventions in your work with children with autism (0-25 years). You will walk away with up-to-date evidenced-based strategies to teach new skills and behaviours related to co-occurring deficits such as:

• Social-Communication
• Sensory
• Anxiety/Rigidity
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Meltdowns
• Psychotropic medications
• Social-Pragmatic Language Disorder
• ADHD/Executive Functions
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Sex Education
• Depression
• Self-Help Skills

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: All education and mental health or healthcare professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors, Learning Assistance/Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers • All other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers and Community Police Officers.

Agenda

DAY 1

Diagnostic Criteria
ICD-10 vs DSM-5®

• Social (pragmatic) communication disorder
• Comorbid disorders: Conceptual framework
• Screening and assessment tools

Brain Function:  How the Brain with Autism Works

• Latest research in ASD brain development
• Enhanced versus impaired abilities
• Information processing:  Typical brain versus brain with autism
• Activities: Experience how an individual with ASD processes tasks

Social-Communication Interventions

• Visual systems to improve communication
• Teach turn taking and pragmatic language in conversations
• Programs to assist in generalizing social skills
• Video modelling and role play to teach social rules
• Social stories and social autopsies

Challenging Topics in Sex Education

• Body awareness, exploration of self, and puberty
• Steps to dating and sexual relationships
• Education on masturbation and pornography
• Decrease stalking behaviours

DAY 2

Sensory Interventions

• Appropriate self-stimulatory behaviours
• Exposure therapy
• Strategies to Avoid

Interventions for ADHD and Executive Functioning Deficits

• Staying on-task and motivation
• Schedules, time-lines, web diagramming
• More preferred tasks
• Creating Home Base

Noncompliance and Oppositional Behaviours

• Applied behavioural analysis techniques
• Token Economy Systems
• Functional Behavioural Assessments

Ethical Challenges in Autism

• Welfare of the individual
• Informed consent
• Use of restraints
• Time-out vs. seclusion

Psychosocial interventions for Depression, Anxiety, and OCD

• Cognitive-behavioural therapies
• Mindfulness-based therapies
• Social and vocational programs
• Family therapy

Psychopharmacological Interventions

• Commonly prescribed medications
• Medication efficacy
• Risks versus benefits

Learning Objectives

• Screen and diagnose autism using DSM-5® and ICD-10.
• Differentiate between abilities that are intact versus impaired in the brain with autism.
• Compare and evaluate empirically validated strategies for children with high functioning autism.
• Evaluate and change your communication style to improve back and forth conversations with your clients with HFA.
• Address sexualized behaviours by teaching your students/clients developmentally appropriate sex education.
• Suggest sensory based relaxation techniques to your students/clients with HFA to reduce anxiety.
• Promote visual strategies to assist with executive functioning deficits, such as planning and organizing.
• Determine the 2 major functions of a behaviour using case examples.
• Reevaluate certain punishment techniques and the ethical dilemmas in using them.
• Recognize and understand psychosocial interventions for anxiety, depression, and OCD
• Recognize the potential side effects of psychotropic medication that can mimic or cause behavioural issues related to HFA.

Your Presenter

Cara Daily, Ph.D.

Cara Marker Daily, PhD, BCBA, is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience providing assessment and treatment for children, adolescents and young adults with autism in the home, school, hospital and community settings. She works directly with educators, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, BCBAs and other professionals. Dr. Daily is the president and training director of Daily Behavioral Health, a leading behavioral health provider in northeast Ohio specializing in assessment, consultation, and treatment of autism, anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders. She is the founder and executive director of the Building Behaviors Autism Center, which has received numerous grants to provide free and reduced cost applied behavioral analysis services to individuals with autism.

Dr. Daily has written several cognitive-behavioral and behavioral-based curriculums focusing on teaching daily living skills to children with autism and published a peer-reviewed journal article supporting evidence for success of these programs. She has presented nationally on topics of autism, disruptive behaviors disorders, anxiety and chronic health conditions in the pediatric population. Dr. Daily has been featured in radio, television, and other media platforms in northeast Ohio. She is the author of The Key to Autism: An Evidence-Based Workbook for Assessing and Treating Children and Adolescents (April 2016, Publishing & Media).

Dr. Daily received her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of South Carolina, and completed an internship in Pediatric Psychology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at The Children’s Hospital at The Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Daily is a member of the Department of Pediatrics at Fairview Hospital at the Cleveland Clinic, the American Psychological Association, the Ohio Psychological Association, and the Christian Association of Psychological Studies.

 

Testimonials

“Hands down the best workshop I have attended on any subject. All the things I wanted to know, were covered, in the right amount. Every teacher should have to take this workshop”
– Edmonton, AB | April 29 – 30, 2019
 

“Dr. Daily was engaging, well-spoken, and very knowledgeable. Learned a lot – thank you”
– Edmonton, AB | April 29 – 30, 2019

“An excellent workshop done with realistic, relatable examples and plenty of strategies to take back to me work team and environment”
– Winnipeg, MB | May 2 – 3, 2019

“Extremely knowledgeable, entertaining, down – to – earth. This has increased my interest in working this population as I now feel more comfortable in my understanding of Autism and the seasoning behind many of the common behaviours.”

– Calgary, AB | April 18, 2018

“Instructor very knowledgeable, smart and up to date on information. Very down to earth and give many examples to make it relatable to everyone. I am a visual learner, this met those needs. Taught me a lot to take back to my facility! Great work, and thank you!”

– Calgary, AB | April 18, 2018

 

“I attended as a grade 6/7 teacher, a counsellor in a community agency, and parent of a six-year-old recently diagnosed with ASD. I found the workshop useful in all these areas. Thank you so much, Cara. “

– Vancouver, BC | April 20, 2018

“Cara is able to unlock diagnosis and supports for individuals with autism in an extraordinary manner. Technical definitions are interspersed with anecdotes in a lively presentation. I am inspired to continues learning more. I can use the insights and practical strategies tomorrow! Cara is open and responsive to one to one questions! Amazing!”

– Vancouver, BC | April 20, 2018

“Awesome workshop; Should be mandatory for every EA in BC school district! Ministry of Education, please get this workshop in schools!”

– Vancouver, BC | April 20, 2018

Registration & Fees