ADOS-2 Virtual Training – March 2021

Six. That’s the average age of diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. And that’s a shame. Because a reliable diagnosis can be made as early as age two. And when it comes to diagnosing ASD, the sooner, the better.

We’re thrilled to have Noha Minshawi-Patterson, Ph.D., HSPP leading this new, progressive approach to teaching clinical professionals to diagnose autism using the second edition of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2). We recognize that confidence and expertise come from practice and experience, so in addition to a three-day virtual workshop, this program includes a follow-up booster coaching session. Virtual sessions will be held on Zoom.

Training starts on Wednesday, March 10th at 8:30 am.

Because referrals can cause lengthy delays, being able to make the diagnosis yourself saves precious time. So, we’ve designed this program for professionals on the front line— psychologists, licensed professional counselors, clinical social workers and speech pathologists— empowering you to intervene at the first suspicion of a developmental delay.

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) is a semi-structured, standardized assessment of communication, social interaction, and play or imaginative use of materials for individuals who have been referred because of possible autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This three-day course teaches participants how to administer the ADOS-2 as part of a comprehensive evaluation for determining a diagnosis of ASD. The course is designed for practitioners who are experienced in working with and assessing individuals with ASD using other diagnostic tools. Through a combination of didactic training and experiential work using the ADOS-2 with an individual child, participants will gain confidence in the use of this tool. The goals of training include, but are not limited to, establishing an efficient administration of the ADOS-2 as part of a comprehensive psychological assessment.

Upon completion of the two-day workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe the essential features, and the advantages and disadvantages, of the ADOS-2 as a measure of social communication and behavior.

• Identify the variables that need to be considered in determining which module of the ADOS to use: mental age, chronological age, expressive language abilities

• Select the appropriate module to administer for a given child

• Describe the purpose of, and the focus of observation for, each of the tasks within each of the four modules

• Understand the administration the tasks within each of the four modules • Discuss how to code the child’s language and communication, reciprocal social interaction, play, stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests, and other abnormal behaviors based on the child’s performance on tasks

Because of the hands-on, interactive nature of this workshop, participation will be limited to 25 people.

You’ll learn to:

• Explain the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to your colleagues and clients.

• Use the ADOS-2 to diagnose autism spectrum disorders in clients as young as age two.

• Explain testing results to clients and caregivers and refer them to support services.

• Seek and provide support and guidance within a network of fellow practitioners.

The ADOS-2 Training Program has multiple components to provide plenty of practice and reinforcement:

– Three-day Instructor-Led Virtual Workshop (March 10, 11 and 12/ 8:30a-4:30p EST)

• Introduces participants to the ADOS-2 and ADOS-2 toddler modules.

• Allows participants to observe the administration and scoring of the assessment.

• Teaches clinical practitioners to recognize when and how to administer the assessment.

• Provides practice scoring an assessment.

– Small Group Booster Session (June 25 / 1:00p-5:00p EST)

At 3 months: Dr. Minshawi and participants will watch an ADOS administration video conducted by a participant or from training video archives. Dr. Minshawi will lead an interactive discussion on coding and provide participants with feedback on their scoring of the protocol. Format of these sessions will be individualized based on organization and participants’ needs and training goals.

***NOTES:

Registration will close on Friday, March 5th at 12:00PM EST.

***In order for training to take place, there must be at least 20 registrants.

Participants will be provided with the 5 module protocols for the training and a certificate of attendance.

Participants must have their own copy of the ADOS-2 manual and a working camera/microphone in order to participate in the training.

There will be a break to allow time for lunch on your own.

About Our Instructor:

Noha Minshawi-Patterson, Ph.D., HSPP is a licensed clinical psychologist and a certified independent ADOS-2 trainer. She has been on the faculty of Indiana University School of Medicine since 2007. Her clinical practice is focused on Applied Behavior Analysis and behavioral interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as the assessment and diagnosis of ASD and other childhood disorders. Dr. Minshawi-Patterson provides parent training in individually-designed behavioral interventions, as well as training for students and professionals on the behavioral assessment, diagnosis and treatment of ASD.

About the Organizer:

In 1995, a frustrated but visionary group of parents of children with autism started our organization to bridge the services gaps their families faced. We’re still passionate about serving people with Autism, but our mission has expanded to include systems level work for all types of developmental disabilities. Since our humble beginnings around a kitchen table, we’ve grown to an organization with a budget of $3.7 million.

It’s an exciting time at CA. We’re doing things differently. In order to amplify our impact we work in both the public and private sectors. And although we provide some direct services, we concentrate on reimagining human services systems. We focus on:

• Identifying gaps, building awareness, and creating a vision for improving systems.

• Educating, training and supporting our communities.

• Modeling and replicating best practices and services in inclusive settings.

This systems change work often takes longer, but it can be transformational, and that’s why we’re here. Every day, we work toward a future where the most vulnerable Virginians of all ages can participate in every aspect of our community and realize their full potential.

NOTE: Materials Provided:

All participants need a copy of the ADOS-2 manual and copies of all 5 module protocols to refer to during the training.