What's new in Autism? Guidelines for Assessment and Affirming Neurodiversity

 Massachusetts School Psychologist Association

What's new in Autism?

Guidelines for Assessment and Affirming Neurodiversity 

Tracy L. Paskiewicz, PhD, NCSP

Friday, May 3, 2024 @ Publick House in Sturbridge, MA

The question of understanding and evaluating Autism has become increasingly salient within the school setting. This conference will focus on helping educators develop their understanding of Autism and neurodiversity and the best practices for evaluating Autism. Issues of equity with regards to understanding and evaluating Autism as well as communicating about neurodiversity will be central to the presentation.

Objectives

As a result of this conference, participants will learn about:

1. Understanding the difference between neurotype and disorder.
2. Updating the way we talk about autism in our reports (and in our practice!).
3. Learn about racial and ethnic disparities in autism diagnosis.
4. Learn about and assess subtle presentations of autism.
5. Develop a framework for school-based autism assessments that aligns with best practice.

Presenter Bio 

Presenter: Tracy L. Paskiewicz, PhD, NCSP (she/her/hers) is a clinical faculty member at UMass-Boston in the Counseling & School Psychology department, and she is a practicing school psychologist in Massachusetts. Dr. Paskiewicz consults with local school districts to build capacity of school psychologists in completing autism-specific assessments. 

A graduate of Temple University with a doctorate in School Psychology, Dr. Paskiewicz worked for ten years in the School District of Philadelphia where she founded the Autism Consultation Team, a group of psychologists with advanced clinical training on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). She is currently working on training protocols for school psychologists to become proficient and clinically reliable on this measure.

Accommodations & Other Information

The Location is handicap accessible and arrangements can be made to provide necessary accommodations.

A light breakfast and lunch is served. Please email any needed accommodations or dietary restrictions to mspawest@gmail.com at least one week PRIOR to the workshop.

Payment Information

Payment by credit card: Credit cards can be processed through the registration process on this event page.

Payment by personal check:  Complete the registration form, print invoice, and mail check (with invoice) made out to MSPA at least one week PRIOR to the event:

MSPA

C/O Dana Engle, Treasurer

10 Emerson Place, Apartment 10B

Boston, MA 02114

Payment by district-funded purchase order: Complete registration, print or save invoice, share invoice with your district, and have district email purchase order to email address mspawest@gmail.com at least one week PRIOR to the event. A request for payment will be generated requesting that the payment be sent to the treasurer's address.

Please contact Andy Koerner, WM Chapter Chairperson with any questions about Purchase Orders: 

 mspawest@gmail.com

Continuing Education Policy

The Massachusetts School Psychologists Association is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to offer contact hours. The DESE requires the completion of a pre-test, which is to be completed prior to the workshop start time. A post-test is also required and will be given at the end of the workshop. Participants must attend the ENTIRE CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP and satisfy state regulations in order to receive contact hours. Each participant is responsible for knowing and meeting the DESE licensure requirements.

CE HOURS: The Massachusetts School Psychologists Association is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to sponsor continuing education (CE) for psychologists. In keeping with NASP requirements, these are awarded in contact hours only. CE hours will be awarded at the close of the workshop.  MSPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Arriving more than 15 minutes late or failing to stay for the entire program will result in the inability to obtain a PD certificate. Certificates will only be distributed at the conclusion of the program to individuals who have arranged for payment.