Overview:

Students on the autism spectrum and those with behavioral challenges, including NLD, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, and multiple learning disabilities, often present with difficulty regulating their feelings and interacting socially. This workshop describes how to handle meltdowns and design effective behavior plans to prevent these moments and reduce frustration and anxiety. It also details strategies to motivate students to learn, ways to teach social skills, how to generalize skills into the natural setting and increase acceptance and tolerance from peers. Information will be imparted though lecture, interactive exercises, and video clips.

Workshop Outline:

• Understanding Challenging Behaviors in children with Aspergers, Autism, NLD, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, and multiple learning disabilities
• Hierarchy of Behavior/Frustration Management Strategies:
  • Relationship building and collaborative problem solving
  • De-escalating meltdowns
  • 7 common triggers and prevention plans for each trigger
• Social Skills Training
  • Prioritizing skill goals
  • Motivation for training
  • Skill acquisition: strategies to teach skills
  • Generalization strategies
  • Peer sensitivity training
  • Measuring progress
• Q&A as time permits

Jed Baker, Ph.D., is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, an organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He is on the professional advisory board of Autism Today, ASPEN, ANSWER, YAI, the Kelberman Center and several other autism organizations. In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award-winning author of six books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome and Social Communication Problems; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior; and No More Victims: Protecting those with Autism from Cyber Bullying, Internet Predators & Scams. His work has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, Fox News, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.