High Functioning Autism

Proven & Practical Interventions for Challenging Behaviours in Children & Adolescents

Presented by Meghan Barlow, Ph.D.

Friday, October 27, 2017  |  London, on

Date & Location

This intensive, full-day workshop provides proven intervention strategies, essential treatment tools, and behavioural techniques to help you analyze behaviours and actions, identify consequences for behaviours, and teach new skills to children, adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA). Walk away with practical intervention techniques for social success, behaviour changes and overcoming challenging co-occurring behaviours that deliver success through adulthood.

The challenging co-occurring issues to be addressed are:

• Social Skills & Communication Deficits
• Sensory
• Anxiety/Rigidity & Depression
• Meltdowns, Outbursts, and Non-Compliance
• ADHD&OCD
• Psychotropic Medications

Gain valuable insight into how information processing, communication, and social skills deficits lead to difficulty in the home, school, occupational, and social settings. Learn how to prioritize a plan for intervention and implement strategies in order to improve functioning across all areas. We will explore HFA and the new DSM-5® diagnosis of Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder. You will receive the necessary tools to gain effective collaboration between clinicians, educators and parents.

Through case studies, video clips and class participation you will leave this workshop with an improved understanding of HFA and the confidence to develop and implement effective treatment plans. Don’t just manage these individuals; provide interventions that lead to successful independence into their adult years

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors/Psychologists, Learning Assistance/ Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers. All other professionals who support students 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, Police Officers, and Early Childhood Educators.

Parents, Caregiver, Foster Parents, Grandparents, and Extended Family raising a child.

Agenda

DSM-5® and ICD-10 Updates

• Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder
• Impact on service delivery (school/community)
• Successfully link home, school and therapy
• IEP/504/Do they qualify for school services?
• Co-morbid disorders: Why the difference is important

Social Skills Interventions

• Improve social skill deficits
• “Kid Cop” behaviours and why other kids get angry
• How to get peers to recognize them in positive ways
• Group activities that have a proven track record

Communication Interventions

• Help peers and family members relate
• Verbal interventions that overload processing
• The importance of incorporating visuals in communication
• Pragmatic language and other abstract issues

Sensory Interventions

• Self-stimulation
• Coping/calming techniques that reduce meltdowns
• Sensory diet

Anxiety Interventions

• Anxiety-reducing activities
• How anxiety impacts rigidity
• Help them “self-regulate”
• Successful transitions

Depression Interventions

• Assessing for mood disorders
• Therapy that works for people with HFA
• Solitude vs. loneliness

ADHD Interventions

• ADHD vs. hyper-focus
• Commonly prescribed medications and possible benefits and side effects
• Specific triggers and what fuels the rage
• Reduce aggressive and disruptive behaviours
• Mistakes that escalate defiant behaviours
• Overcome refusals to comply with even simple requests

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Interventions

• Differences between ASD and OCD
• Specific medication interventions
• Impact on socialization and behaviours

Learning Objectives

1. Explain how the DSM-5® updates impact service delivery
2. Utilize several social skill interventions to improve long-term success for children/ adolescents with HFA
3. Employ specific coping and calming techniques for children/adolescents with HFA
4. Identify medication side effects that can mimic behavioural issues and may even cause behavioural issues
5. Design effective strategies for successful transitions for children/adolescents with HFA
6. Select specific behavioral interventions that target the most difficult behaviors in children/ adolescents with HFA

Your Presenter

Meghan Barlow, Ph.D.

Meghan Barlow, Ph.D., is a licensed pediatric psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum. She also has a wide range of experience working with children who have a variety of anxiety disorders, developmental disorders, attention deficit disorders, mood disorders, behavioral concerns, genetic and metabolic syndromes and acute or chronic medical conditions. Dr. Barlow is the owner of a private practice, Meghan Barlow and Associates, where she provides assessment, treatment and group therapy services for children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Barlow has developed trainings and workshops for parents, school professionals, and mental health providers on topics related to social skills, autism spectrum disorder, depression and anxiety. She speaks in a variety of settings offering education and practical strategies for managing children’s behaviour, facilitating social skills and navigating developmental transitions. Dr. Barlow earned her Ph.D. from Kent State University

 

Testimonials

“Excellent speaker – engaging and able to differentiate teaching/information to suit the needs of a very diverse group (teachers, parents etc.)”
– Angie Reichenbach | London, ON | October 27, 2017

“Excellent presentation. Dr. Barlow is knowledgeable, extremely engaging and provided very helpful, practical examples and strategies. Thank you very much Dr. Barlow!”
– M.Pasma | London, ON | October 27, 2017

“Meghan Barlow presented her workshop with passion and interest in her field. She used real-life cases and stories that she has experienced first-hand to help others understand the concept she is teaching. Great workshop and wonderful instructor who has a terrific way of sharing knowledge in the field of autism.”
–Teija O | Oakville, ON | October 26, 2017

“Very good information. DSM updates were well explained. Useful descriptions and examples. I even wrote down phrases – the language to use with teachers + parents. This helped me think from the student with autism. I loved the slides + presentation –  great way to learn the info + also to reflect. Now we have useful narratives to with staff.”
– Anonymous | London, ON | October 27, 2017

“This was very helpful + practical for both professionals and families. It was reassuring to hear that some of the strategies were things that were easy to understand + implement. It was excellent.”
– Sarah Mellet | Oakville, ON | October 26, 2017

Registration & Fees