Presenter Scott D. Tomchek, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. Dr. Tomchek is an Associate Professor at the Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center at the University of Louisville, Department of Pediatrics.

The recent Occupational Practice Guidelines for Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (Tomchek & Koenig, 2016) outlines the role of occupational therapy when collaborating with individuals with ASD across the lifespan. This seminar will highlight several areas of practice applicable to early childhood, educational and work contexts. Recent changes to diagnostic conceptualization of ASD in DSM-5 (APA, 2014) will be presented to highlight relevant aspects of routine developmental surveillance, screening programs and sensory processing research for children with ASD. A brief overview of evidence-based evaluation will allow for a review of findings of recent systematic reviews related to social, play, work and activity of daily living participation, sensory processing, and family outcomes. Synthesizing findings from these systematic reviews with available widely used evidence-based intervention reviews will provide a framework for cross walking interventions to address relevant outcomes with in natural context.

Learning Objectives:

1. Outline recent changes to ASD diagnostic criteria.

2. Discuss recommended practices for developmental surveillance and autism specific screening of infants and toddlers.

3. Identify recommended evaluation and intervention practices for individuals with an ASD.

4. Identify common evidence-based themes across intervention practices yielding favorable outcomes for individuals with an ASD.

CEU’s are approved for Early Care & Education. CEU’s are pending for Rehabilitation Counseling and are in conjunction with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. CEU’s are pending in Social Work.

Registration: Electronic registration will open March 11, 2016. Visit HDI Seminar Registration to register for the seminar. For help registering, contact [email protected]