Relationship-Based Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder

• • Examine the DSM-5 definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how this impacts rehab professionals
• • Outline components of relationship-based interventions and how to apply them in practice
• • Identify and count communication "circles," prerequisites, features, and events using a lab exercise
• • Discuss ASD and the latest brain research
• • Assess levels of emotional/social development to determine the appropriate intervention approach
• • Integrate approaches to engage children with ASD in play as an intervention
• • Examine a child with sensory processing issues and his/her comfort zones
• • Evaluate an evidence-base for relational therapies

Foster Growth Through Play
According to the CDC, the growing incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the developed world, reported as high as 1:88 (CDC, 2012), is a particularly disturbing and expensive trend in children's health. Causes and incidence of ASD are poorly understood, but experts agree that among the most difficult core symptoms of autism is an impaired ability to develop viable and effective relationships with other people. Oddly, many intervention approaches do not directly address this core issue. As a result, many problem behaviors of older children with ASD may be a result of this early deficit.

Relationship-based approaches have demonstrated that these children do not have fixed and limited potentials in this core area of disability. This course will give you the tools to discover a child's social and emotional developmental level and address him/her at that level through frequent, thoughtfully conducted play sessions. Foster growth in social and emotional development in ways that more structured and content focused training does not.