This course is offered as a one-week intensive session featuring international, national, and regional experts in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is open to community teams and the families they serve in Vermont and interdisciplinary teams across the New England area. Participants represent several disciplines, including speech-language pathologists, special educators, general educators, medical professionals, family members, administrators, early interventionists, paraprofessionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, child care service providers, and community resource parents. The content emphasizes best practices in joint attention, social thinking, interpersonal development and pharmacological interventions for individuals with ASD. In addition, understanding the cultural context for diagnosis and implications for the new DSM-V will be discussion. The primary goals will be to: 1) explain the diagnostic criteria for ASD and the implications for changes in the DSM-V; 2) describe levels of social interaction strategies to improve peer play; 3) discuss the active ingredients of early intervention that support language and social communication; and, 4) identify strategies to teach socially nuanced behaviors and recognize how peers interpret social information.

Students are expected to: a. attend all classes b. participate in daily facilitated discussions and reflections c. read all assigned readings d. complete a critical article review e. develop an applied assignment f. complete a pre- and post-assessment of knowledge and skills in ASD

Attendance, facilitated discussions and written reflections are worth 20% Critical article review is worth 30% Applied assignment is worth 50%