Strategies for SupportingYoung Children

withAutism Spectrum Disorders

Goals for Training

• Introduce good general strategies for addressing:

Everyday situations (proactive strategies)

Communication Early social and play skills Sensory Issues

Goals for Training

• Guide assessment of young children and their needs so that you can respond strategically

• Remain neutral and avoid discussing specific interventions that require much more intensive training

Training Development

This training was developed by the Virginia Autism Council, a state-wide council representing a wide

community of stakeholders, envisioning individuals with autism fully participating in every aspect

of society.

Virginia Autism Council

The Council believes that individuals with ASDs are

supported by an individualized focus on their particular strengths

and needs using effective strategies.

What are “Strategies”?

• A set of tactics or approaches - a plan

• Tools to solve problems

• Not the answer to everything or for every situation, but the way to find an answer

We Can Not . . .

• Teach you every strategy for every situation

• Teach you specific strategies that require many days of training

- Applied Behavior Analysis

- Positive Behavior Support

We Can Not . . .• Teach you specific strategies that are

‘owned’ by particular organizations – Picture Exchange Communication

System (PECS)– Social Stories

• Teach you specific methods often used with young children– Floortime– Relationship Development Intervention

We Can . . .

• Teach you ways to think about situations so that you can begin to formulate your own strategies

• Teach you sound, evidence-based strategies that support most young children with ASD

We Can . . .

Help you make a difference in the lives of young children

with ASD

Our General Approach

1. Briefly describe the challenges for young children with ASDs related to the topic

2. Discuss how to informally assess the child’s strengths and needs

3. Explore strategies to address the child’s needs

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Pervasive Developmental DisorderAsperger’s Syndrome

Classic Autism

Autism

What is it?

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition

Autism Spectrum Disorder

=

Classic Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not-otherwise Specified

www.dsm5.org

Sensory

Sensory

Goals for This Training

Address:• Everyday situations

(proactive strategies)

• Sensory issues

• Communication

• Socialization

Characteristics Web

Characteristics Identification

Social interaction

Communication

Restricted and repetitive patterns

of behavior

The Power of Words