Course Descriptions

ASD 602/702 Autism Spectrum Disorders

This course will provide participants with an overview of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Participants will become familiar with what is considered “evidenced-based practices” when working with individuals with ASD, and why applied behavior analysis (ABA) qualifies as science-based treatment for these individuals.  The instructor will present core concepts in intervention when working with individuals with ASD and a rationale for using the basic tenets of applied behavior analysis when designing interventions.  Also, the course will provide an introductory overview of characteristics, causes, assessment, and diagnosis of ASD.

ASD 603/703 Assessment and Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders I  

The course will focus on clinical application of empirical research foundations for enhancing communication for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Students will first learn how to use specific tools for assessment. Selection of target behaviors based on these assessments will be discussed.  Students will then learn to design intervention strategies for these targeted behaviors, including how to teach initial speech sounds, articulation training, and training of pragmatic skills.  Generalization and maintenance strategies will be discussed, including training and support of all the key people in the individual’s environment.  Barriers to communication acquisition will also be addressed, including problem behavior and over-selective responding. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on data collection systems in each of these aspects of communication intervention.

ASD 604/704 Assessment and Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders II

This course will focus on the diagnosis and characteristics of learners with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); etiology, prevalence, assessment and education placement options; and evidence-based practices. A significant emphasis will be placed on ethical considerations including: Training and development of competence, consent for treatment, evaluation of interventions, confidentiality, and health and safety of the client. Interventions designed to reduce the frequency of behaviors will be discussed in detail as a part of training in the functional analysis of behavior. Intervention packages developed as a result of a functional analysis are typically reinforcement based and proactive in nature—focusing not only on decreasing aberrant behavior, but also on increasing appropriate replacement responses. During the later part of the course, specific applications and appropriate uses of behavior contracts and token economies will be reviewed. Applications and benefits of self-management strategies developed using principles of applied behavior analysis will be discussed.

ASD 605/705 Positive Approaches to Behavioral Interventions in ASD

This course will focus on strategies that will be used to achieve desired behavioral change with individuals with ASD.  Areas covered will include: errorless learning, prompting shaping chaining, use of reinforcement, ecological intervention, visual strategies and teaching functional communication alternatives.  Models of evidence-based intervention programming and an overview of augmentative and alternative communication options will also be provided. 

ASD 610/710 Research and Experimental Design

The course will focus on research foundations and research studies for treating autism spectrum disorders.  Students will learn foundations of single subject research, including improving and assessing the quality of behavioral measurement and displaying and interpreting behavioral data.  Then, students will learn basic concepts in the analysis of behavior, including components of experiments, experimental designs, social validity, and threats to internal and external validity. Students will then study the foundational single-subject research studies in the treatment of autism, and then provide critical analysis of current research studies.

ASD 675/775 Classroom Applications

This course will focus on classroom applications of evidenced-based practice for students with ASD, and will be conducted in live classrooms. Topics will include communication intervention, functional analysis of problem behavior, positive behavioral supports, programming for generalization and maintenance, ethical issues, and program evaluation.  This course will be held at the River Street Autism Program at Coltsville in Hartford, CT or at the River Street School, in Windsor, CT.  Prerequisite:  CSD 630, CSD 634, ASD 604, ASD 605.

ASD 676/776 Practicum I

This supervised experience will take place at the River Street Autism Program at Coltsville in Hartford, CT or at the River Street School, in Windsor, CT.   This experience provides students with a graduated sequential program intended to develop clinical/teaching skills necessary for working with children with autism. Prerequisite:  CSD 630, CSD 634, ASD 604, ASD 605, CSD 675 and permission of Dr. Dyer.

ASD 677/777 Practicum II

This supervised experience will take place at the River Street Autism Program at Coltsville in Hartford CT or at the River Street School, in Windsor, CT.  This experience provides students with an advanced program aimed at refining clinical/teaching skills required for working with children with autism.  Prerequisite:  CSD 630, CSD 634, ASD 604, ASD 605, CSD 675, CSD 676 and permission of Dr. Dyer.

ASD 678/778 Offsite Practicum II

This practicum is an extension of practice in speech language pathology/education.  This experience provides students with an advanced program aimed at refining clinical/teaching skills required for working with children with autism.  This supervised experience will take place at the worksite of the student.  Prerequisite:  CSD 630, CSD 634, ASD 604, ASD 605, CSD 675, CSD 676 and permission of Dr. Dyer.

ASD 679/779 Practicum III

This experience provides students continued experience with an advanced program aimed at refining clinical/teaching skills required for working with children with autism.  This supervised experience will take place at the River Street Autism Program at Coltsville in Hartford CT or at the River Street School, in Windsor, CT.  Prerequisite: CSD 630, CSD 634, ASD 604, ASD 605, CSD 675, CSD 676, CSD 677 and permission of Dr. Dyer.