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Theme music Beautiful Dreamer  written by Louis Nevins and performed by Fumes.

Theme music Beautiful Dreamer  written by Louis Nevins and performed by Fumes. Christmas on the Moon  written by Louis Nevins and performed by Malone.

From a very young age, we all desire independence. The same is true for individuals with autism. While it may take time to learn certain skills, individuals with autism can live positive and fulfilled lives. In this episode, we will learn ways to help support autistic individuals gain independence and live their best life.

The beginning of an individual’s autism journey starts with an autism evaluation. The evaluation process requires specific assessments and trained individuals to give the assessment. Because of this intricate process, it can take some time to get an appointment. In this episode, we explore the barriers of the waitlist to receive an evaluation, including what causes the waitlist, what do to while you wait, and what is being done to shorten the wait.

ADOS-2 Clinical Training  The Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders offers Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) clinical and research trainings. All trainings will be conducted by an independent trainer. See below for more information on upcoming trainings.  ADOS-2 - Thompson Center (missouri.edu)

2022 MU Thompson Center Autism Conference - https://tcautismconf.com/    

Autism Spectrum Disorder, also referred to as ASD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect an individual's communication skills, emotional development, learning, memory, and self-control. The characteristics of ASD can be mild to severe, which is why many refer to autism as a spectrum. Through the work of doctors, researchers, and self-advocates our understanding of autism is rapidly evolving. Today, Dr. Benjamin Black, MD from the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center will be joining us to myth bust some common mistruths that are often said about ASD.

https://www.bcfr.org/our-services/eligibility/ DMH Eligibility Information: https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/individual-family-guardian-info Office of Autism/Autism Project info: https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/autism/projects Map of Missouri Association of County Developmental Disability Services (MACDDS). Some County Boards contract with DMH to provide county based Targeted Case Management services (like BCFR).  You can click on the yellow counties and it will take you to that County Board’s website.   https://macdds.org/services/member-county-boards/

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Shawna Shelton, registered nurse and nurse clinician at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, discusses common causes and treatment approaches for constipation.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Cortney Fish, a licensed behavior analyst at the Thompson Center, discusses the debate of using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Common concerns related to the use of ABA are explained and misperceptions clarified.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Jaclyn Benigno, STRIVE Program Coordinator and Cortney Fish, Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Training Core Manager at the Thompson Center, share about the program Self-Determined Transition Readiness Through Individual Vocational Experiences (STRIVE). Benigno and Fish provide information about the program, discuss its success, and share additional transition resources.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Luke Daily, a licensed social worker and Assistant District Supervisor at Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), discusses how VR provides individuals with disabilities support towards employment goals. He provides an overview of the services available through VR, information on how and when to access those services, and additional resources to consider while preparing for transition.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Dr. Chad Rose, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri and Director of the Mizzou Ed Bully Prevention Lab, discusses bullying, bullying prevention, and response. Dr. Rose shares his expert knowledge, including advice, information, and resources to both prevent bullying and support students who have experienced bullying.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Shawna Shelton, registered nurse and nurse clinician at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, discusses common sleep challenges of children with autism. She provides practical advice to families on both strategies to try and who to turn to for additional support.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Dr. Benjamin Black, Director of Medical Services and Assistant Professor of Clinical Child Health, discusses what we know about the COVID-19 vaccination, and implications for children with autism. He further dives into explaining where misinformation about vaccines and autism originated from. Additionally, Brittany Schmitz, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, provides helpful tips on how to prepare a child for a vaccination.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Kerri Nowell, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Missouri's Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment discusses anxiety in children with autism. Dr. Nowell shares the range of symptom presentation and discusses the evaluation process and treatments.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Michelle Dampf, MA, CCC-SLP and Megan Henzel, MOT, OTR/L, ATP discuss the use of Augmentative, Alternative, Communication (AAC) with children with autism. They share about AAC readiness, myths of using AAC, and what to expect during the evaluation process.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Jennifer Weyman, PhD, BCBA, LBA, shares about the Severe Behavior Clinic at the Thompson Center.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Brooke Barnes, MA, Special Educator and Training Specialist and Jena Randolph, PhD, Assistant Professor in Special Education discuss the use of the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS), an assessment tool developed by the National Professional Development Center to assess the quality indicators of education programs for youth with autism. They discuss the trends in classroom settings and how these patterns have informed the trainings offered by the Thompson Center.

In this episode of Supporting the Spectrum, Dr. Benjamin Black, Director of Medical Services and Assistant Professor of Clinical Child Health, discusses pediatric medical support for children with autism. He provides information on the Thompson Center’s medical clinic, and how it differs from services provided by primary care physicians. Discussion and resources are provided on common medical concerns related to medication, sleep, behavior, and more.