In the eight years that Charlene Green has spent with Nevada’s Clark County School District, she’s seen the number of children with autism spectrum disorders in her charge increase from 96 to more than 1,000. Green, the associate superintendent for student support services in the Las Vegas-area district, oversees those children’s education–an expensive, complicated task.
As adults living with autism begin to transition out of the classroom it seems that there is more data that shows that those adults are heading towards “social isolation”. Across the spectrum adults with autism are “left out” and excluded from social encounters and gatherings.
People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior. They are able to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health.
Every week I receive emails about new discoveries and studies within the field of autism–which is really encouraging! It really gets me excited, I’m sure you can relate. There are many valuable resources for children with autism on all different parts of the spectrum. The reality is that those same children grow up to be adults. It is just as crucial that we have valuable resources for our adults with autism.
STETSON & ASSOCIATES, INC., an education consulting firm, has been awarded the IBCCES Blue Ribbon Award as a certified program that offers teachers and paraprofessional’s online courses that will improve the quality of instruction for all students. Stetson & Associates was selected for the company’s focus on supporting staff that work with special needs students and is among only a select group of programs operating throughout the United States.
Among the many professionals who work with people on the autism spectrum, social workers have moved to the forefront in the areas of case management, community interaction, and social skills training. Although speech-language pathologists (SLPs) often teach social skills, social workers can also provide these services, applying their unique knowledge of community related issues that confront people with autism.
Apex Behavior Consulting has been using TeachMe since February 2011 as our evidenced-based skills acquisition and behavior management real time data collection tool. Currently, there are over 100 clients served by 50 therapists and staff that use TeachMe Skills as the sole form of data collection.
In their roles as clinicians, scientists, teachers, and community members, mental health professionals can make a difference in the way our society responds to child trauma. Because child trauma exposure is so pervasive, it is important for all mental health professionals to have basic knowledge of its nature, effects, and appropriate initial responses.
The International Board of Credential and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) is proud to announce that one of our Blue Ribbon Product Providers is now partnered with Boston’s Children’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School. We couldn’t be more excited about this revolution taking place within the autism community. If you are a Certified Autism Specialist or someone that works within the field of autism you need to take a look at this product.
