Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-Based Screening & Assessment

Course overview

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that summarizes proven approaches to screening, assessing, and diagnosing ASD in children and young adults. Epidemiological studies indicate a progressively rising prevalence trend in the number of individuals identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over the past decade. Yet, compared with general population estimates, children, and youth with mild to moderate symptoms of ASD remain an under-identified and underserved population in our schools and communities. The DSM-5 conceptualizations of autism require professionals in clinical, school, and private practice settings to update their knowledge about the spectrum. In addition, professionals should be prepared to recognize the presence of risk factors and/or early warning signs of ASD and be familiar with screening and assessment tools in order to ensure that individuals with ASD are being identified and provided with the appropriate programs and services. The objectives of this course are to identify DSM-5 diagnostic changes in the ASD diagnostic criteria, summarize the empirically-based screening and assessment methodology in ASD, and describe a comprehensive developmental approach for assessing children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD. This course adapted with permission from Wilkinson, L. A. (2017). A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Schools, Second Edition. London & Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd. Course #31-25 | 2020 | 55 pages | 20 posttest questions