Description: This is a modular workshop spread out over 4 weeks. What will be covered:

• The current theory and statistics of Autism
• Application of sensory integration and DIR/Floortime Method in Autism
• Specific look at how Trauma impacts Autism and their life experience as Trauma
• Multiple videos regarding intervention stretching from high functioning to severe profiles
• Many tips and ideas to discuss problem scenarios such as stimming, behavior, intrinsic motivation, social participation and more
• Application to your cases and work through three live discussions

Why should you attend?

• Autism numbers are still rising, and effective intervention is not always to be found. Getting updated will enhance your skills to a mastery level in ASD
• This is a comprehensive series that will support your clinical reasoning in theory and practice
• If you work in clinical practice, your support of families with tools, tips and ideas will be strongly impacted, as you also inform your clinical practice
• If you are an educator, you will benefit from adapting your classroom, your view of each individual profile, and planning your educational curriculum
• If you are a psychologist, you will benefit from adding the developmental continuum to your battery of clinical understanding to support effective outcomes.

How does it work?

• Recorded webinar sessions 1 thru 4 released on May 23 (4 hours)
• Live session on Wednesday June 4 from 8.30 to 12.30am (3.75hours)
• Recorded webinar sessions 5 through 8 released on Wednesday June 4 (4 hours)
• Live session on Wednesday June 11 from 8.30 to 12.30am (3.75 hours)
• Recorded session 9 through 12 released on June 11 (4 hours)
• Final live session on Wednesday June 18 from 8.30 to 12.30pm (3.75h hours)

Outline / Agenda:

May 23, 2025: Recorded webinar sessions           

Understanding the diversity of Autism

Autism Theories Expanded    

The Sensory Experiences of Autistics

How does Trauma feature?   

June 4, 2025: Live Session 1

Exploring DIR/Floortime as respectful option of intervention

Long term Journey of one Autistic    

The Dance: Attunement and Joint Attention

The Door: Regulation and Modulation

June 11, 2025: Live Session 2  

The Drama: Imagination and Communication

The Deep: Emotional Sense of Self                                        

The Detail: Executive Functioning Skills

The Dragon: Social Skills

June 18, 2025: Live Session 3

Learning Objectives:

Participants will:

1. Review at least two prominent theories related to Autistics
2. List the 6 developmental levels of Dr. Stanley Greenspan
3. Outline 4 major intersections of the experience of Trauma in the Autistic adaptive response
4. Discover the reasons for stereotypical behaviors through the lens of sensory processing and early development
5. Recognize the importance of considering Theory of Mind (ToM) when planning intervention related to social perspective taking
6. Consider at least 6 executive functions that are important to negotiate when targeting functional independence in everyday activities, including school occupational function
7. List 5 basic principles of impacting on joint attention through intrinsic motivation
8. Combine emotional regulation and sensory modulation to effectively gain availability and access to learning
9. Discover 6 principles of building imagination through using verbal and non-verbal skill
10. Consider the impact of emotions as both a constrictor and a mobilizer of skill during the intervention process.
11. Create intervention strategies for 10 prime executive functioning skills
12. Consider 3 aspects of empathy and related aspects that would be needed to enter the social world with skill

Provider Name: Bridging Talents

Speaker: Maude Le Roux, OTR/L, SIPT, DIR/Floortime International Trainer

Bio: Maude Le Roux is a veteran OT with 39+ years of experience and has experience in multiple methodologies that she has used successfully in autistic care. She has formed her own work from multiple exposures to other thought leaders and included this in her eclectic approach to Autism. Maude is a highly skilled therapist and has been training professionals and parents globally in her methods since 2007. She co-authored her book “Our Greatest Allies” with Lauren O’Malley (parent), which reflects the journey of one child as he went through the process at her center. She is a sought-after speaker at international conferences, including the annual ICDL conferences. Her unique understanding of autistics is rooted in research completed in the DIR/Floortime method and Sensory Integration, to which she adds her own flavor of “getting into the mind of a child”. Maude understands children and she is frequently heard to say: “If the child could, he/she would”!

Target Audience: Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Educators

Educational Level: Intermediary to Advanced

Number of Participants: Unlimited

Instructional Methods: PowerPoint, Group Discussion, Video

Contact Hours: 24 hours