A Strengths-Based Approach to Supporting Autistic Kids
In this 2.75-hour live virtual or in-person training, OTs, SLPs, and other professionals will learn a concrete, repeatable process for developing relevant, effective, strengths-based interventions with more confidence and less guesswork.
What You'll Learn
The Autistic Neurotype
Dive deep into what we know about how Autistic people think and learn, drawing on the latest research alongside the lived experiences of Autistic people.
We’ll explore the challenges Autistic clients are likely to experience as neurodivergent people in a world not designed for them, including the ways that environmental and contextual barriers can affect participation.
We’ll also examine the limitations and potential harms of traditional behavioral approaches and explore how identifying and building from clients’ strengths can lead to more relevant, person-centered, and effective intervention.
This portion is taught live by OT and LPT Founder Meg Ferrell, with recorded contributions from various Autistic professionals and self-advocates.
Interpret Learning Needs, Write Hypotheses and Generate Interventions
Next, you’ll learn a concrete process for turning this knowledge into clinical action, together with Meg and your other live participants.
First, Meg will walk you through the process step-by-step using a case study. The case might involve a child who throws toys during free time, doesn’t transition inside after recess, or wanders around the classroom during circle time.
You’ll see how to use what we know about the Autistic neurotype - together with what we know about the individual child - to develop relevant hypotheses and generate specific strengths-based supports, contextual changes, and interventions.
Then the learning gets hands-on.
Using a true-to-life case study, participants will work through the process together in real time, with Meg’s guidance. Rather than simply hearing about a strengths-based approach, you’ll practice using it to make clinical decisions.
Participants are often surprised by the unique hypotheses and intervention ideas this process helps them develop - and by how much more possible it feels to create individualized, strengths-based supports once they have a concrete process to follow.
By the end of the training, participants will have a practical framework they can return to when they’re faced with a new clinical challenge: a way to move from observing a client’s needs to developing thoughtful, strengths-based hypotheses and interventions.
This interactive training will
transform your treatment planning process
You'll learn how to confidently create strengths-based treatment plans using strategies that are already in your tool bag. It's all about understanding authentic well-being for your Autistic clients and shaping your interventions to reflect respect for their strengths and how they think and learn.
You'll develop strengths-based support plans you can apply in your practice right away.
Investment
Access
Virtual or In-Person
Disability accommodations available.
Continuing Education
This course will be registered for .6 AOTA CEUs (6 contact hours), .6 ASHA CEUs, and 6 NBCC hours.
This course is
for you if...
- You are tired of the idea that the purpose of a child's behavior is to "get attention" or "get out of something," and want to learn to look deeply at a behavior through a nuanced, neurodiversity-affirming lens
- You want to support your Autistic clients to find more authentic joy and connection in their everyday routines and activities
- You want to learn and practice a concrete process for strengths-based, individualized treatment planning, not just learn more theory or cookie-cutter strategies
This immersive experience provided a hands-on learning opportunity, putting theory into practice. Having this experience will immediately shift my practice.
This course was extremely helpful and informative! After finishing it, I felt empowered and prepared to utilize a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach in my daily practice. I was equipped with tools to help validate, uplift, and support the Autistic children I work with. The course was also easy to access and fun to participate in!
I loved this course! The information was easy to digest and understand. The format made it easy to share ideas in a low pressure environment. I walked away with tangible tools that I can use in my own practice as well as to positively influence those around me.
This course is a must see for anyone who cares for and supports autistic individuals. Meg listens to and helps others learn to integrate authentic voices from the autism community to better inform therapeutic and supportive best practices. Meg's positivity and joy for her work shine through and the time flies when taking the course as it is so enjoyable to experience.
The whole course/topic was truly educational especially for me as an OT, currently working in private clinics with just about a year working experience. It made me even realized how POWERFUL it is to focus and shift our attention into seeing the child's strengths. We, OTs, are here to make our kids life more enjoyable and for them to be independent in their daily lives--not just for them to feel the need of meeting everyone's expectations.
This course really packs a punch. I learned so much within a couple hours. Often times continuing education can feel vague and can be difficult for me to take action on. Meg provided content and a framework that is concrete and easy to take actionable steps to incorporate into my occupational therapy practice immediately, and I know the skills I take away from this course will help me to be more strengths-based and neurodiversity-affirming in my approach.
This course provided a clear path forward to connect students with their authentic selves and in doing so access their curriculum. Meg was very clear about the benefit of being specific and following the workbook in order to expand possibilities for intervention and to develop teamwork in support of all students. Fantastic course; I'll be recommending it to all my peers
This is has been the most concrete, beneficial course on using strengths-based approaches and working with autistic individuals. Bravo.
I have been a pediatric OT for almost 20 years, and Meg's course is the only one I've ever attended that I feel is absolutely spot on and the best approach to working with autistic clients. It gives me hope for our profession!
Course Objectives
- Critique traditional models of behavior problem solving using the framework of the Double Empathy Problem and research on the mental health outcomes of masking
- Develop six or more specific hypotheses about how a child's difficulty participating in a learning activity or routine may be related to their neurotype
- Generate six or more intervention strategies to teach new skills and adapt the learning environment based on specific client’s strengths
FAQ
What types of professionals is this course appropriate for?
This course is developed for occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and mental health providers. It is also appropriate for any professional working on real daily skills with Autistic kids. This is not a course designed for parents. This course is targeted at the intermediate level.
What ages does this course apply to?
This course is appropriate for professionals working with kids from early intervention through adolescence. Case studies for conferences can be tailored to the audience and their setting.
Can I use this course for continuing education?
This course is available for .25 AOTA CEUs and .25 ASHA CEUs through Learn Play Thrive. It is not approved by any physical therapy associations, but check your state board to see if it meets the requirements. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
How do learners get a certificate of completion?
If Learn Play Thrive is providing certificates, in-person learners will need to sign in within the first 10 minutes of the training and sign out within the last 10 minutes. Virtual participants will need to self-attest that they attended the training in its entirety.
7. What is the cancellation policy?
**Cancellation by Client** If the training is canceled by Client more than 14 days before the scheduled live Program, Client will receive a refund of amounts paid, less a cancellation fee of $100 or 3.25% of the amount paid, whichever is greater. If Instructor has already incurred non-refundable or non-creditable travel or other expenses in connection with the Program, those expenses will also be deducted from the refund. If the Program is canceled by Client fewer than 14 days before the scheduled live Program, no refund will be issued. At Instructor’s discretion, Client may instead be offered the option to enroll learners in a comparable virtual training. No refunds or fee adjustments will be made based solely on changes in the number of learners attending the training. **Cancellation or Inability to Perform by Instructor** If Instructor cancels the training for reasons within Instructor’s control, Client will be offered the choice of a full refund or the opportunity to reschedule the training for a mutually agreeable date. If Instructor is unable to provide the training due to illness, injury, emergency, travel disruption, flight cancellation or delay, severe weather, government action, natural disaster, or another circumstance beyond Instructor’s reasonable control, Instructor will notify Client as soon as reasonably practicable. Instructor and Client will work in good faith to reschedule the training or, if rescheduling is not reasonably possible, Instructor will issue a full refund of amounts paid for the training. Instructor will not be responsible for Client’s additional costs, including conference expenses, travel expenses, accommodations, lost revenue, or other consequential or incidental costs, arising from Instructor’s inability to provide the training due to circumstances beyond Instructor’s reasonable control. If Instructor has incurred non-refundable travel expenses in connection with a training that cannot take place due to circumstances beyond Instructor’s reasonable control, such expenses will not be reimbursed by Instructor unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties.
What about disability accommodations?
Accommodations will be made to support all learners in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The conference organizer will be responsible for handling accommodation requests for the physical space.
I have another question or a complaint, how can I contact you?
You can email admin@learnplaythrive.com