Workshops

:: UPCOMING WORKSHOPS ::

Half-Day Workshop

Seminar: Managing Challenging Behaviour in Children with Severe Autism (ASD - Level 3)

Challenging behaviour, including for example hitting, kicking, pushing, shouting, biting, head banging and other forms of self-injury, is distressing for the person with autism, as well as for their families and people who work with them. These behaviours can result in a number of social problems including unsafe home, school and work settings, exclusion from school and community events, and burn-out for parents, carers and professionals. The presentation focuses on children and adolescents with severe autism and provides an explanation and strategies with regard to repetitive behaviour, emotion management and the development of effective communication systems for emotions. The application of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to children with severe autism to manage emotions is also discussed and how it can be applied in everyday life. The presentation will include strategies to help with self-injurious behaviour and the improvement of social understanding and coping with change.

* Please note that this topic is regarding severe/classic Autism – which is now categorized under the DSM-5 as ASD – Level 3.

Speaker: Professor Tony Attwood

Tony is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in Autism Spectrum Disorders since he qualified as a clinical psychologist in England in 1975. He currently works in his own private practice, and is also adjunct professor at Griffith University, Queensland and senior consultant at the Minds and Hearts clinic in Brisbane. His book Asperger’s Syndrome – A Guide for Parents and Professionals has sold over 500,000 copies and has been translated into 27 languages. His subsequent book, The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome, published in October 2006 has sold over 300,000 copies and has been translated into 18 languages, and is one of the primary textbooks on Asperger’s syndrome, otherwise known as Autism Spectrum Disorder – Level 1. He has written several other books on emotion management, relationships and sexuality, and general advice for autistic children and adults.

Tony has been invited to be a keynote speaker at many Australasian and International Conferences. He presents workshops and runs training courses for parents, professionals and individuals with Asperger's syndrome all over the world and is a prolific author of scientific papers and books on the subject. He has worked with many thousands of individuals of all ages with many expressions of autism.

Course Objectives

• Identify the seven factors that contribute to challenging behaviour in autistic children and adolescents with ASD Level 3 in their everyday life. The seven factors are:
• Communication difficulties and to identify how behaviour is used as a means of communication and strategies to communicate thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
• The unusual cognitive and learning profile associated with autism that needs to be accommodated in the classroom and at home to facilitate learning and reduce frustration and agitation.
• How social experiences can cause confusion and distress and how adaptations to social interactions can facilitate emotional stability.
• To recognize the sensory profile associated with autism and how this can lead to challenging behaviour, especially avoidance behaviours and meltdowns.
• Explore the application of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to learn how to moderate and regulate emotional expression and behaviours due to high levels of anxiety and coping with change and transitions.
• Identify and accommodate the movement disorders associated with autism.
• How medical factors such as pain and epilepsy can affect the behaviour of autistic children and adolescents and contribute to specific behaviours such as self-injury.

Who Can Benefit?

Parents, family members, carers, disability care agencies, health and educational professionals who see children and/or adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 3 as part of their practice, including psychologists, teachers, teacher’s assistants, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, GPs, paediatric psychiatrists and paediatricians.

Course Fees & Closing Dates

Registration Type	Closing Date	Fees (S$)/pax
	30 Jul 2022	230
Normal	Till Full	260