Posted 9:42 a.m. Monday, July 11, 2016
A program partnership between UW-La Crosse Continuing Education and Extension and Chileda is helping the community understand Autism Spectrum Disorder.
A program partnership between UW-La Crosse Continuing Education and Extension and Chileda is helping teachers, medical professionals, social workers and many others in the community understand a developmental disability that is being diagnosed more today than ever before.
The Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Certificate Program, organized through UWL Continuing Education and Extension and Chileda, is an immersion class on the world of ASD. The program was offered June 20-24 at UWL.
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Jonathan Zinniel, director of Training at Chileda, helps coordinate the Autism Spectrum Disorder certification program through UWL Continuing Education and Extension. He also presented as part of the program.[/caption]
About one in 68 children has been identified as having autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from Center for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. Children who were previously undiagnosed or misdiagnosed are now receiving support as awareness about ASD has increased over the last couple decades, says Jonathan Zinniel, director of Training at Chileda who helps coordinate the program.
“When we better understand someone, including those diagnosed with ASD, we can adjust our lens on how we view the world and adjust our actions for all to be more successful,” says Zinniel.
Chileda started the ASD certification program as training for its employees in 2000. Within two years, every Chileda employee had completed the program, notes Zinniel. Meanwhile, Chileda had received many requests from schools and other organizations about training on ASD and wanted to share this experience with others beyond the organization. UWL seemed like a natural partner to do that.
During the program, long-standing, evidenced-based approaches for working with people diagnosed with ASD were discussed, as well as ideas on incorporating new approaches such as “MeMoves,” which incorporates mirroring, images, music and body movement. Presenters included university professors, public school professionals, Chileda professionals and parents. The week started and finished with two parents sharing their life stories of laughs, smiles and trials as parents of children with Autism.
“These presentations epitomize the program’s themes and importance of rapport, empathy, being good detectives and never giving up,” says Zinniel.
About the program:
The Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate Program offered annually covers a variety of topics ranging from Communication, Social Skills Learning, Hidden Curriculum, Executive Function Skills, Positive Behavior Supports, Visual Strategies and more. It is a continuing education certificate-based program with an option for two undergraduate or two graduate credits. Learn more at http://www.uwlax.edu/conted/autism/
Jonathan Zinniel, director of Training at Chileda, helps coordinate the Autism Spectrum Disorder certification program through UWL Continuing Education and Extension. He also presented as part of the program.[/caption]
About one in 68 children has been identified as having autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from Center for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. Children who were previously undiagnosed or misdiagnosed are now receiving support as awareness about ASD has increased over the last couple decades, says Jonathan Zinniel, director of Training at Chileda who helps coordinate the program.
“When we better understand someone, including those diagnosed with ASD, we can adjust our lens on how we view the world and adjust our actions for all to be more successful,” says Zinniel.
Chileda started the ASD certification program as training for its employees in 2000. Within two years, every Chileda employee had completed the program, notes Zinniel. Meanwhile, Chileda had received many requests from schools and other organizations about training on ASD and wanted to share this experience with others beyond the organization. UWL seemed like a natural partner to do that.
During the program, long-standing, evidenced-based approaches for working with people diagnosed with ASD were discussed, as well as ideas on incorporating new approaches such as “MeMoves,” which incorporates mirroring, images, music and body movement. Presenters included university professors, public school professionals, Chileda professionals and parents. The week started and finished with two parents sharing their life stories of laughs, smiles and trials as parents of children with Autism.
“These presentations epitomize the program’s themes and importance of rapport, empathy, being good detectives and never giving up,” says Zinniel.
About the program:
The Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate Program offered annually covers a variety of topics ranging from Communication, Social Skills Learning, Hidden Curriculum, Executive Function Skills, Positive Behavior Supports, Visual Strategies and more. It is a continuing education certificate-based program with an option for two undergraduate or two graduate credits. Learn more at http://www.uwlax.edu/conted/autism/