Certification Course on Autism in Association with Adelphi University, USA: Traditional Therapies and Art Modalities
Introduction
This 5 day course is designed meticulously by the experts from Adelphi University, USA to equip professionals, school teachers, parents and individuals from different countries with updated and evidence-based interventions in managing people with autism and other special needs. It will focus on scientific reasoning about the applicability of various traditional therapies that are being used in the world and provide hands on training of the emerging paradigm of Expressive Arts and Sensory Integration as Autism Intervention.
Course outline
1. Get trained as professionals and individuals to recommend and use appropriate modality like ABA, RDI, TEACCH, and FLOOR TIME through scientific reasoning.
2. Learn how Expressive Arts Therapy with Movement and Music when delivered in an inclusive setting increases the opportunity for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be with their neuro-typical peers, and also stimulates the lobes of the brain where learning takes place.
3. Learn how Expressive Arts Therapy allows siblings as well as parents to join in the therapy and create pleasant environment.
4. Learn why art is a preferred activity in autism and how it supports inclusion and communication to meet individual’s needs in a broader way.
5. Learn why and how Expressive Arts Therapy helps parents to respond to their children with greater flexibility; and encourage their children to be more flexible as well.
6. Learn how Structured Expressive Arts program leads to stimulation of the cerebral cortex resulting in improved speech and language, and decreased in unwanted behaviors.
Expected outcome
After completing the course, participants are expected to -
• Provide Expressive Arts interventions to individuals with autism and related disorders.
• Apply music & movement techniques at practice
• Explore art materials and processes for sandtray play
• Coordinate music, movement & art to perform expressive art
• Learn about resources and assessment of sensory challenges
• Think autism to an ability based model
• Understand and perform sensory integration strategies
• Improve partnership between families and professionals
Eligible participants
• School teachers
• Mental health professionals: Psychologist
• Physicians and allied health professionals
• Therapists - Speech & language, occupational, expressive art therapist, physiotherapists
• Special educators
• Art & music teacher
• Music and Dance professionals
Course duration
Five (5) days (daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm local time, Bangladesh)
Facilitators
Highly experienced faculties from different universities of USA.
Course fee
The course fee is BDT 30,000 (Thirty Thousand Taka) for national candidates and USD 600 (Six Hundred US Dollar) for international participants to cover the cost of training materials, faculty time, snacks and lunch costs during training. However, travel costs, accommodation, and meals are not included in the course fee.
How to pay?
The preferred method of payment is Online using Credit or Debit Card or Mobile Banking (e.g. BKash, DBBL). Participants can also make wire transfer or bank draft in favour of icddr,b; details will be provided in the acceptance letter.
Selection and admission of participants
The participants will be selected based on eligibilty criteria and first come first serve basis. Only selected participants will be notified by email or SMS or over telephone. The admission of participants will be confirmed only when the fee is received.
Certification for the course
After successful completion of the courese, each participant will receive a certificate jointly awarded by icddr,b, SOCH India and faith Bangladesh.
Further opportunity for gaining 3 credit hours (graduate level) from Adelphi University, USA
Participants who wish to carry out further coursework and be certified by Adelphi University will require:
• Successful completion of the International Course on Exploring Autism: Traditional Therapies and Art Modalities
• Payment: Adelphi University charges USD 1,150 per credit which will be waived down to USD 650 per credit making the total tuition fee of USD 1950.
• Successful completion of coursework as instructed by Adelphi University, USA
Bio-brief of course facilitators
Stephen Shore: Diagnosed with "Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies" and "too sick" for outpatient treatment, Dr. Shore was recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until four, and with much support from his parents, teachers, wife, and others, Stephen is now a professor at Adelphi University where his research focuses on matching best practice to the needs of people with autism. In addition to working with children and talking about life on the autism spectrum, Stephen is internationally renowned for presentations, consultations and writings on lifespan issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure. His most recent book “College for Students with Disabilities” combines personal stories and research for promoting success in higher education. A current board member of Autism Speaks, president emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England, and advisory board member of the Autism Society, Dr. Shore serves on the boards of the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association, The US Autism and Asperger Association, the Scientific Counsel of OAR, and other autism related organizations.
Joanne Lara: MA, CTC M/S Education Specialist is the founder of Autism Movement Therapy and Executive Director of Autism Works Now! She is an author of “Autism Movement Therapy Method: Waking up the Brain!” & co-author of “Teaching Pre-Employment Skills 14-17 Year Olds: The Autism Works Now Method”. Ms. Lara is a core adjunct faculty at National University in Los Angeles. She was the autism expert for the Fox show Touch and produced the documentary “Generation A: Portraits of Autism & the Arts”.
Jane Richardson: Jane Ferris Richardson is a Board-Certified Art Therapist, Registered Play Therapist and Play Therapy Supervisor, and mental health counselor. She is an Associate Professor and core faculty member in art therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She holds a doctorate from Boston University, where she was managing editor of the Journal of Education, and a master's degree from Lesley. She is also an exhibiting artist who has studied in New York and France, and with the Japanese painter Kaji Aso in Boston. Her work with expressive “languages” for children with autism has led her to collaboration nationally and internationally, in Africa, Asia, and Europe. She has published and presented her work on autism and art therapy, play therapy and autism, and the importance of multiple languages for expression. Her practice of art therapy focuses on children, including children on the autism spectrum, and their families. Her most recent publication is the chapter on autism in the Wiley “Handbook of Art Therapy” in 2016.
Manish Samnani: Manish Samnani is a Certified Sensory Integration Therapist from University of Southern California, USA. He is also Certified Neuro-Developmental Therapist from NDTA, USA. Mr. Samnani received Gold Medal for academic excellence for masters in Paediatric Occupational Therapy by Smt.Sonia Gandhi. He is a Clinical Advisor to In-Sync, Hyderabad and Managing Director of SOCH, Gurgaon. He teaches postgraduate students and conducts research work since 2005.
Karen Howard: Karen S. Howard is a Registered Music Therapist, Certified Expressive Arts Practitioner, Piano Teacher/Vocal Coach, and the founder of META (Music and Expressive Therapy Associates). Her skills and areas of expertise include piano, voice, movement, songwriting, poetry, acting and storytelling, and group facilitation. She has degrees in Music Therapy and Music Performance, as well as Psychology, a Teaching Credential, an advanced certification in Expressive Arts, and certification as an Autism Movement Therapy provider; additionally, she is an instructor with UCLA’s Arts and Healing Social-Emotional-Arts program. She is a member of the International Women's Leadership Association, the American Music Therapy Association, and the Western Region Music Therapy Association. As a master teacher and co-director with Elaine Hall’s The Miracle Project, she spent 10 years collaborating and creating over 20 musicals for children and teens with autism and other challenges. Recently, she has joined the Board of Directors for Spectrum Laboratory, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting teens and young adults on the autism spectrum in the creation of original works of film, music, and music videos. Through the use of the expressive and creative arts, Karen inspires and motivates individuals of all gifts and challenges, to connect with self and others, find joy in success, and feel the embrace of belonging.
