Maximizing Behavioral Observations to Strengthen Autism Assessments

(Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants.)

Intended Audience: School psychologists, Speech-language pathologists, Educationally related mental health services (ERMHS) assessors

This training is intended for school-based personnel who conduct autism assessments on a regular or infrequent basis. The primary focus is to sharpen and expand assessors’ ability to operationalize and collect observational data as part of a comprehensive assessment. This training will build capacity to identify and document obvious and subtle social and behavioral features of autism. Participants will be shown how to integrate observational data as evidence into reports.

Participants Will:
• Understand the value of diagnostic criteria to determine autism educational eligibility
• Anchor behavioral observations with key indicators of autism
• Identify varying degrees of autism-related behaviors
• Strengthen school-based autism assessment reports

Presenters: Scott Schwartz, Ph.D., Ed.M., M.A., LEP and Natalie Jocic, M.S., LEP, ABSNP (In partnership w/ the Diagnostic Center North; held jointly with SE SELPA)