Heather Dukes-Murray – High-Functioning Autism: Proven & Practical Interventions for Challenging Behaviors in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults

Outline

DSM-5® Changes & Autism

• DSM-IV® and DSM-5®criteria comparisons
• Social (pragmatic) communication disorder
• Impact on service delivery (school/community)
• Successfully link the home, school and therapist
• 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” behaviors and why other kids get angry How to get peers to recognize them in positive ways Group activities Early intervention programs that can deliver long-term success

Communication Interventions

• Ways to work out conflicts that are effective in multiple settings
• Help peers, siblings and parents relate
• Verbal interventions that overload processing

Sensory Interventions

• Self-stimulation (appropriate & inappropriate)
• Sensory strategies to avoid
• Coping/calming techniques that reduce melt downs
• Sensory Diet

Anxiety Interventions

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

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 behaviors
• Mistakes that escalate defiant behaviors
• Overcome refusals to comply with even simple requests

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Interventions

• What to do when they become stuck on high interest areas
• Specific medication interventions
• Impact on socialization and behaviors

Interventions for Specific Difficult Behaviors

• Reduce Internet and electronic addictions
• Changes in technology, school systems and mental health delivery

Psychopharmacological Interventions

• Differentiate among common medications
• Medications that mimic difficult behaviors
• Side effects and off label use
• Impact of eating, sleeping and hormones on medication effectiveness

Case Studies, Demonstrations & Activities

• Case studies that demonstrate specific interventions for aggressive and non-complaint behaviors
• “Reminder video” technique: A way to facilitate behavioral rehearsal
• iPad® apps for social success, behavioral changes and speech and language
• Staff training techniques to experience what an individual on the spectrum might