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Virtual CE Program Autism Evaluations
Saturday, April 10, 2021, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM PDT
Category: Continuing Education Event

LACPA's 2021 CONTINUING EDUCATION SERIES 

Autism Evaluations:
Using the MIGDAS-2 Diagnostic Process in Clinical Practice
 

Presented by 
Marilyn Monteiro, Ph.D.

 
Saturday, April 10, 2021 - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Will be held virtually via Zoom
Advanced Level Course for 4.0 LIVE CE Credits 

This program will not be recorded.
 

Pre-registration ends Thursday, April 8th at 11:59 PM PST

LACPA Member $120   
LACPA Student/Post-Doc Pre-License/Disabled Members $20 (No CE Credits)
Non-Member $140   
Student Non-Member $35 (No CE Credits)


 

Seating no longer available - the course has reached capacity as of 4/2/21.

Abstract:

Clinicians increasingly face the challenge of recognizing autism spectrum differences and engaging individuals in productive diagnostic interviews. This workshop introduces participants to the MIGDAS-2 sensory–based diagnostic interview system. The session highlights the use of the MIGDAS-2 visual framework and descriptive language to individualize the diagnosis of autism spectrum differences in clinical practice settings. Topics include gaining proficiency in structuring the sensory-based diagnostic interview, creating a positive individualized narrative, and differential diagnosis considerations.

The current autism spectrum prevalence rate of 1 in 54 children reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes it a certainty that most clinicians will face the challenge of correctly identifying and planning for clients with autism spectrum brain style differences in their therapy practices. Even though clinicians often receive training on the diagnostic criteria, the language used to identify autism spectrum differences is negative and deficit-focused by design (APA, 2013). This training leaves the clinician ill prepared to construct a nuanced and positive behavioral profile of individual clients as they complete the autism evaluation process. Behavior rating scales and diagnostic instruments are designed to identify autism cut-off scores and the absence of neurotypical behaviors and skills without systematically identifying and describing areas of strength and abilities that coexist with autism spectrum developmental differences.

This creates several dilemmas for the clinician to resolve. When evaluating children with significant levels of autism spectrum differences, the clinician can readily identify the disorder, but does not have the descriptive language or organizational framework to create a positive narrative that is reflective of the child’s relative or emerging strengths. This gets in the way of being able to support parents when discussing the diagnosis, and leads to a written report that highlights deficits and negative behaviors. When evaluating children with verbal fluency and strong cognitive abilities, the clinician often finds conflicting behavior rating scale information from parents and teachers, and is vulnerable to ruling out autism spectrum differences by explaining away those differences or attributing them to other conditions, such as attention or emotional challenges. The clinician then writes a report that explains away the behaviors that are characteristic of the milder, high-functioning presentation of the autism spectrum, leaving parents confused about what this means and which interventions to pursue to alleviate behavior concerns. When evaluating adults with verbal fluency, the key aspects of the individual’s autism spectrum neurodiversity are often masked, leading the clinician to identify emotional, behavioral, and personality diagnoses while missing the key underlying presence of autism spectrum brain style differences This significantly affects the way in which the clinician structures clinical interventions and therapy, making the pathway to positive change for that individual significantly more challenging.

This 4-hour session introduces clinicians to the MIGDAS-2 qualitative interview system. This set of test protocols provides clinicians with a visual framework and descriptive language to identify and describe the clients they evaluate in positive, nuanced, and accessible terms. Participants are taught to change the language they use from the language of deficits to the language of relative areas of strength, contrasted with areas of differences. They will be given examples of how labeling behaviors as different instead of as deficits or weaknesses leads to a positive narrative as well as leading to creative ways to develop supports and interventions.

Participants will be taught how to use the visual framework and descriptive language to discuss the diagnosis with parents in positive and accessible terms. They will be given sample behavioral profiles that highlight autism spectrum strengths and differences for individuals across age and ability levels to use in their work when diagnosing similar clients in their clinical practices. Three key areas will be highlighted to identify autism spectrum strengths and differences across age and ability levels: language and communication; social relationships and emotional responses; and sensory use and interests. Participants will learn to organize their autism spectrum evaluation findings into this organizational framework to create an individualized and positive narrative about the client.

 

 

 Marilyn Monteiro, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and licensed specialist in school psychology, is an expert in the area of autism spectrum brain style differences. She is the author of the MIGDAS-2 test protocol and maintains a practice specializing in supporting individuals with autism spectrum differences and their families.  Dr. Monteiro provides national training for clinicians in the areas of autism evaluations and family therapy techniques to support individuals with autism spectrum brain style differences.

 

 

 

Course Goals and Educational Objectives:

After attending this session, attendees will be able to:

  • Apply the MIGDAS-2 system and protocols to engage children, adolescents, and adults in interactive clinical interviews that highlight areas of strengths and differences

  • Identify essential tools to conduct a sensory-based diagnostic interview with individuals whose communication skills range from verbally fluent to functionally nonverbal using the MIGDAS-2 system and protocols

  • Utilize the MIGDAS-2 system to organize diagnostic observations and describe individuals in positive and descriptive terms

  • Integrate the use of the MIGDAS-2 process with the use of at least three additional measures, such as autism-specific behavior rating scales and the ADOS-2

  • Learn to develop individualized Brain Style Profiles across age and ability levels

  • Prepare to discuss the autism spectrum diagnosis to parents and adults using a visual framework and positive language

 

Course Outline:

8:55-9:00 

LACPA representative opening introduction

9:00-11:00 

Introduction to the MIGDAS-2 Descriptive Triangle and Visual Framework

Application of the visual framework in breakout groups

Large group discussion

Overview of the MIGDAS-2 Interview Protocols

Parent Questionnaire

Teacher Questionnaire

11:00-11:15 

Break

11:15-12:45

Diagnostic Interview Protocols across age and ability levels

Application of the protocols to interview samples

Differential diagnosis issues

12:45 - 1:00

Question and Answers 


 

The Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. LACPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This presentation may be taken to satisfy the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) continuing education requirements.
It is important to note that APA continuing education rules require that LACPA only give credit to those who attend the entire presentation.  An evaluation of the presentation must be completed. Those who arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time or leave before the session is complete will not receive CE credit. Partial credit may not be given. 
Program is subject to change.

 


Contact: LACPA at [email protected] or 818-905-0410