Through its Extension of Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Autism program, the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD) of Children’s National Hospital is offering a clinic for educators and care providers with the aim of enhancing education, evaluation, behavioral supports, family engagement and treatment service delivery for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Clinic sessions will increase participant knowledge and competencies related to best practices in identification, treatment and education of children with ASD. The six-month series of biweekly sessions will address topics such as developmental monitoring, ASD screening procedures, behavioral and educational support strategies, targeting social learning and social communication weaknesses, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluation and strategies, management of emotional-behavioral challenges, partnering with families and referral processes/connection to community resources.

A total of 18 professional learning units (PLUs) will be offered over the six-month series. Each session is 90 minutes. PLUs will be awarded after each session upon completion of the post-clinic survey.

In this session, participants will identify risk and protective factors that impact outcomes for children with ASD, describe what is meant by “autism-ready” schools and communities and identify how to effectively plan and develop the individualized family service plan (IFSP) or individualized education program (IEP) with all of the child’s current team members, including caregivers. Participants will also learn how to support skill building, self-esteem, learning and family resilience.

This course addresses the following age band(s):

• Early childhood - early (birth-36 months)
• Early childhood - middle (36-60 months)
• Early childhood - late (5-8 years)
• School age (5-12 years)