HANDS in Autism Advocacy, Behavior, Diagnosis, Diversity, Mental Health, Research, Transition, Uncategorized

Videos From Autism Science Foundation Annual Day of Learning

Videos From Autism Science Foundation Annual Day of Learning

The Day of Learning at the Autism Science Foundation (ASF), is a TED-style science conference that brings together leading autism researchers to present new findings to members of the autism community. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Day of Learning was held virtually. Over 800 people from across the world took part in the event.

Below are links to recorded presentations paired with ways to learn more on topics on the INformation Network website.

Do We Need New Terms for Autism? – Dr. Catherine Lord – School of Medicine at UCLA

Dr. Lord called for a new term: “profound autism.” Announced publicly for the first time at the Day of Learning, the term is intended to help individuals with the highest level of needs gain access to appropriate services and to increase research participation by this understudied subpopulation.

Read More: What is ASD?

Autism Research in 2020: What Do We Know? What Do We Need? – Dr. James McPartland – Yale Child Study Center

Dr. McPartland explains that many of the advancements made this year amid the pandemic will benefit individuals on the autism spectrum long after the current crisis is over.

Read More: About the Diagnosis, What is Evidence-Based?

Developing Personalized Social Interventions for Adolescents with Autism – Dr. Matthew Lerner – Stony Brook University

Dr. Matthew Lerner explained how he and his team are moving toward an “evidence-based menu” of interventions to develop social skills in adolescents with autism, which will allow families to take more targeted actions to improve outcomes.

Read More: Transition

Is ABA Passe? – Dr. Melanie Pellecchia – University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Pellecchia outlined some of the historic problems of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and showed how increased knowledge of childhood development has significantly improved the practice in recent years, with a greater emphasis on fun, play-based therapy sessions and a de-emphasis on “teacher-led, didactic” sessions.

Read More: Applied Behavior Analysis

Research on Adults with Autism in Natural Settings – Dr. Vanessa Hus Bal – Rutgers University

Dr. Hus Bal argued that while support for adults with autism often focuses on the transition to adulthood and associated milestones, there is not enough being done to provide adults with ongoing support throughout their lives.

Read More: Adulthood and Aging

Robots as Autism Therapy Partners – Dr. Brian Scasselatti – Yale University

Dr. Scassellati demonstrated the powerful effect that robots can have as autism therapy partners and explained what parents should look for in evaluating these solutions.

Read More: Technology

HANDS in Autism IIACC, Research, Uncategorized

2019-2020 IIACC Annual Report

2019-2020 Annual Report is Available for Download

This report provides a year-in-review snapshot. It reviews actions of the Indiana Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (IIACC), updates about global research findings, and plans moving forward in pursuit of the 8 stated goals of the IIACC.

Download your copy today, and share with your colleagues.

IIACC Report 2019-2020_full_wDataDownload
Iryna Ashby Advocacy, Behavior, Education, Health, Mental Health, Research, Safety, Transition

Sexual Health Class Research Survey

Individuals with ASD rarely get sufficient and/or reliable information about healthy sexual behaviors from traditional sources, like at school or from parents/caregivers, which often results in an increased risk of becoming victims of sexual crimes or perceived offenders (Brown-Lavoie, Viecili, and Weiss, 2014). Reviews and research related to the sexual health curriculums used within schools or educational settings for individuals with ASD is sparse with some indication of the absence of any existing or adapted curriculum in regular use. Removal of these students from sexual health classes means they are left to obtain information from unmonitored sources.

This brief survey is designed to gain insight from a variety of stakeholders (i.e., family members/caregivers, teachers, school admin, or individuals with a disability) regarding sexual health knowledge and the programs provided within an educational setting for students with disabilities.

As a thank you for your participation, you will receive a PDF info sheet with practical strategies for providing resources and skills teaching materials related to sexual health as a step towards preventing sexual abuse or victimization of individuals with disabilities. Please consider sharing this survey with friends and colleagues alike.

Please contact Naomi Swiezy, Ph.D., HSPP, Director, HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center at nswiezy@iupui.edu or Tiffany Neal, Ph.D., Assistant Director, HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center at nealtiff@iupui.edu with any questions, concerns, or additional comments.

Iryna Ashby Advocacy, Innovation, Networking & Support, Research, Training & Learning

CRISIS? Read This

When an individual engages in negative behaviors, such as a tantrum or aggression, it is important to focus on the safety of the individual, those around them, and property.

In case of emergency, call 9-1-1!

Hotlines:

Indiana’s Adult Abuse Hotline: Report any types of adult (18+ y.o.) abuse (e.g., neglect, battery, or exploitation) who may be incapable due to mental illness or other physical or mental incapacity to Adult Protective Services. State hotline: 1-800-992-6978. For more information or to report online: www.in.gov/fssa/da/3479.htm

Indiana’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: Call 1-800-800-5556 to report child abuse (e.g., physical abuse, sexual abuse) and neglect allegations. Help is available 24/7.

Suicide hotline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a counselor at Lifeline crisis center near you. Help is available 24/7. For more information:  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service):  Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Help available 24/7. For more information: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

When to Ask for Help?

Individuals with ASD experience many challenges. However, it is important for parents and caregivers to recognize when they need to seek help:

  • Aggression, self-injury or other changes in behavior, like irritability or anxiety, are recurrent, persistent, and have strong negative impact onto those around them
  • Dangerous or unsafe behaviors that are challenging to manage or contain (e.g., elopement and wandering)
  • Threats of suicide
  • Regression in skills

 

 

 

 

Professional Learning Community

Visual

A professional learning community (PLC) is a network of groups that enable sharing and integration of diverse knowledge, experiences, perspectives, attitudes and practices.  This networking enhances creative thinking, resource development and sharing, idea generation, and program improvement. Shared passion, interest, understanding and work towards common goals fosters greater inclusion, diversity, and capacity for implementation than working in isolation.

 

While members will all bring varying levels of knowledge and experience, the value of the PLC is a safe learning environment, thriving on diversity and inclusion, in which all contribute, grow and learn. In a productive PLC, members share common interests, engage in joint activities and discussions, and exchange, critically evaluate and reflect on information.  They further develop and share resources to support and act on shared goals by developing new knowledge and tools for building capacity through dissemination and implementation leading to meaningful outcomes and progress.

PLCs are flexible, dynamic, and inclusive. They embrace learning. As a result they can create a change within an organization or larger community through:

  • New opportunities through sharing and valuing multiple perspectives
  • New solutions as a result of the inclusive environment that fosters inquiry, innovation and knowledge generation
  • Ongoing support of members to help develop capacity, innovation, risk taking, and community transformation as well as connect people, ideas, and actions towards meaningful progress and outcomes for individuals and families.

Ask for More Info or Join

Access Community Site

To access the Community Site:

  1. Submit the request to join (above)
  2. Create an IU guest account at https://ams.iu.edu/guests/GuestHome.aspx
  3. Send an email to hands@iupui.edu with the email address used for the account.
  4. Once added to the site, you will receive an automatic email invitation

Community Norms

We operate around the following governance principles:

  • participation
  • transparency
  • responsiveness
  • consensus orientation
  • equity and inclusiveness
  • effectiveness and efficiency
  • accountability, and
  • rules of engagement.

As part of the PLC:

  • Be open to all with an interest and who abide by community norms
  • Encourage the ongoing education of members and the deepening of expertise among members