Course Outline:

Hour 1

• Conceptual, social and practical domains.
• 3 domains in the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
• Changes in terms: “mental retardation”, “intellectual disabilities”,
• 5 diagnoses previously listed under the umbrella term of PDD in the DSM 4
• Terms listed as neurodevelopmental disorders in DSM 5l
• Health conditions
• Mental health disorders such as OCD
• Visual disorders
• Sensory motor assessment tools
• Assessment tools of functional and adaptive skills
• Assessment tools used to evaluate communication
• Assessment tools used with individuals with dementia
• Downs syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, Fetal
• Alcohol Syndrome disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman’s syndrome

Hour 2

• Intervention models of Skill based, cognitive, behavioral based, sensory based and physical/biomechanical approaches.
• Differences between teaching generalized and splinter skills and the remedial VS adaptive approaches.
• Different ways sensory input is used as reinforcement or as part of a sensory diet
• Strategies of Grading activities, use of reinforcement, adding sensory components, success only activities’, chaining/fading prompts, group activities, use of multisensor approach, use of the 80-20 rule, how to make practice inherent in set-up, other methods to adapt materials for success.
• Pacing strategies

Hour 3

• Research by Tomchek & Smith on sensory-based interventions used with individuals with autism
• Research on efficacy of weighted and pressure vests, dynamic seating and other sensory modalities
• Research on efficacy of sensory-based strategies to reduce self-injurious behaviors
• Strategies to promote safe eating pace including use of portion control and adaptive equipment
• Use of cueing to sequence actions such as wiping face, alternating drink with food or signing for more to slow down food intake
• Lighting, strategies to reduce glare, increase color contrast
• Use of object cues and symbols with the blind deaf population
• Benefits to enlarging, raising, angling materials.
• Strategies that utilize lightboxes
• The symptoms commonly seen in individuals with autism including that impact social, communication, fine and gross motor functioning and comfort
• Symptoms of visual impairments that indicate atypical sensory processing.

Hour 4

• Symptoms that are presented in the general population
• How presentation of dementia in the developmentally disabled population differs from the presentation in the general population
• What animal-assisted therapies are and types of animals used.
• Benefits of integrating animals into therapies
• Why Apps are beneficial in general (i.e. cost, portability, socially acceptable, variety)
• How specific Apps may be used to promote communication/ social, motor skills, teach cause and effect relationships and function