Professionals that work in the field of autism can now receive internationally-recognized ABA training and certification through the International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is proven to have to have the highest rate of success in treating Autism Spectrum Disorder.
By Rachel Wise, CAS
As a school psychologist, I often hear parents asking what happened to the Asperger’s diagnosis? Asperger’s still exists, it just falls under a different name.
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-4), there were four separate diagnoses all related to autism, which fell under a broader category called Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). These four separate diagnoses included autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder (also referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome), childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD, NOS).
The International Board of Credentialing & Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) is recognizing outstanding professionals that dedicate their lives to autism during Autism Awareness Month. Throughout April, the IBCCES will feature these individuals through their Members Site for Certified Autism Specialists to recognize each day. Each week, the Outstanding Autism Specialists will additionally be featured on the IBCCES News Blog for recognition worldwide. IBCCES has selectively chosen these individuals based on their background, qualifications, achievements, and continuous work in the field of autism.
By Kelly Noda, MA, CAS kelly@ibcces.org
A few years ago, I encountered a set of notorious twins who challenged my classroom and behavior management skills honed carefully by years of teaching middle school students and parenting a “strong-willed” child. I had no formal ABA training; in fact, I was brand new to the school. I didn’t recall doing anything to merit these 15-year-old sophomores’ placement together in my class, especially in a period that ended up as the last class on Fridays. I’d been warned of their tendencies, their “attention-seeking” antics by my colleagues. Head-shaking, commiserating ninth-grade teachers wished me the perfunctory “good luck” after a disbelieving exclamation of “You have them BOTH in the same class!?” I can still see the piteous looks on their faces.
By: Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist, Author/Life Coach/Motivational Speaker
February brings to my mind cold and prickly weather, but also warm and fuzzy thoughts of Valentine’s Day. It’s a favorite holiday of mine because I think we all need to express our love and appreciation more. Okay, at home, more love and at work, more appreciation.
“Ah love, it’s a grand thing,” Lady Cluck wistfully observes, while gazing at the dreamy Maid Marion in Disney’s Robin Hood, and I truly agree with her.
For years, our home rang with the delightful music and scenes from that show and many Disney classics, because Heidi, our beloved little girl with Down syndrome, adored all things Disney. A few years later her sweet personality shifted into anxious and baffling behaviors (before most had even heard the word autism) and our videos went from being a simple joy — to a deep need of Heidi’s to collect and constantly carry with her.
City/State: Silver Spring, MD
School/ Organizations: Private psychotherapy practice; Autism Resource Services, Silver Spring International Middle School (Montgomery County Public Schools)
December 9, 2015, VIENNA – Melanie Trojan is the first in Austria to complete a training and certification program resulting in the designation of having her Autism Certificate by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). With the rate of autism diagnosis rapidly increasing worldwide, the need for credentialed and licensed autism-related service providers continues to grow every year. According to the World Health Organization there is an estimated global prevalence of autism at 2 to 6 in 1000.
Country: Maldives
School/ Organizations: Maldives Autism Association
By Elayne Pearson, Special Needs Preparedness Specialist – Author/Life Coach/Motivational Speaker
It’s dawn. The sun sprinkles glorious golden bronze glitter on the navy blue ocean out beyond our little time-share balcony, or lanai, as they call it here in Hawaii. My husband, Rod, and I love the Islands, because they transport and replenish us. We love the cultures, foods, and people here.
I’m supposed to relax, but it’s kind of hard, because for over 25 years on any vacation with Heidi, our beautiful daughter with Down syndrome and late-onset autism, it honestly was not relaxing for our family. We had to watch her constantly. Thank goodness (out of real desperation) I searched and gradually found drug-free solutions to calm her accelerated central nervous system and level out her baffling emotions.
City/State: Providence, RI
School/Organizations: Providence Public School Department District Autism Team (School Psychologist), Northeast Behavioral Associates, South Eastern MA Region (In-Home Behavior Therapist)