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Interdisciplinary Autism Support
Graduate Certificate Program
Interdisciplinary Autism Support
Certificate Program
One in 54 children are diagnosed with Autism. That number is projected to increase in the next five years. Additionally, the number of young adults and adults with Autism continues to rise. But there are limited resources and programs diedicated to addressing community living and occupations for this population.
The Interdisciplinary Autism Support Certificate Program is designed to train professionals to address the needs and issues faced by these individuals and their communities and help them to solve real-world problems.
This certificate is ideal for occupational therapists, teachers, special educators, therapists, health care professionals, counselors, and any professionals wishing to expand their perspectives on understanding the latest research related to Autism, intervention approaches, particularly with children, adolescents, and adults with Autism, and then addressing the identified needs of this population through an interdisciplinary approach.
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Program Formats:
Online
Credits Required: 12
Tuition:
- $525/Credit
- 10% Alumni Scholarship
Program Outcomes:
-
Appreciate, understand the complexity, and compare autism strengths and challenges across the lifespan, from diagnosis through adulthood.
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Implement evidence based interoception assessments and interventions to improve sleep, eating, toileting, education, emotional regulation and social participation individually and in group settings.
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Use evidence based lifestyle (focus on food choice) assessment and interventions to improve sleep, eating, toileting, emotional regulation and social participation individually and in group settings.
- Design and create programs and environments that support individuals with autism in their homes, schools, at work and communities.
Certificate
Requirements
The Interdisciplinary Autism Support Certificate Program requires 12 credit hours of academic work.
Sample Progam Schedule:
Click on the course below for the description:
Sample Progam Schedule:
| TERM: | Fall II | Spring I | Spring II | Summer I |
| COURSE: |
ASC 500 Autism Across the Lifespan |
ASC 510
Interoception Assessment and Intervention
|
ASC 520 Lifestyle Modification with Autism |
ASC 530 Developing Responsive Programs for Autistic Community |
Click on the course below for the description:
This course focuses on understanding autism across the lifespan. Understanding the physical, cognitive and social skill limitations and strengths in each phase of life. Case studies will be the primary learning tools, with students developing a long-term intervention plan for an individual on their current or future caseload based upon the concepts discussed. (3 credits)
This course discusses evidenced based interoception awareness tools used by professionals in the field to assess and intervene to improve sleep, emotional regulation, toileting, eating, education and social participation. Emphasis is given to the various types of assessment and intervention techniques that yield outcomes in individual and group settings. (3 credits)
This course discusses evidenced based lifestyle tools used by professionals in the field to assess and intervene to improve sleep, emotional regulation, toileting, eating, education and social participation. Respecting sensory differences with regard to lifestyle modification, especially eating, will be discussed. Emphasis is given to the various types of assessment and intervention techniques that yield outcomes in individual and group settings. (3 credits)
The course is the capstone experience of the certificate. Students integrate previous coursework, knowledge, and skills. The course is designed around each candidate working with a case study (ideally current client) to create a final summative project where a program or environment is designed to maximize strengths in a community setting. This course is the final course taken in the certificate. (3 credits)
Are you ready to enhance your skills and make a difference? Get started today with the Interdisciplinary Autism Support Certificate Program at Elizabethtown College!
Career Outlook
In-demand specialized skillsets for Occupational Therapists, teachers and other health/human services professionals:
| Skill | Postings | Projected Growth |
| Autism Diagnosis/ Treatment/ Care | 4,447 | 23.50% |
| Behavioral Health | 683 | 21.66% |
| Applied Behavioral Analysis | 664 | 47.96% |
| Behavior Analysis | 538 | 50.99% |
Meet Your
Program Director
Dr. Kerri Hample
Dr. Hample has significant clinical experience working with children, young adults, and adults with Autism. She conducts therapy using a family-centered and person-centered approach and has focused her work around functional health/ medicine and Interoception Awareness and Processing.
Dr. Hample, along with Kelly Mahler (adjunct faculty) and OT graduate students, have conducted various scholarship projects over the past 4 years with increasingly strong evidence for the implementation of select strategies to improve Interceptive Awareness and of resulting improved function as it relates to participation in school, social events, and eating/ toileting with children. This scholarship has been presented at local, regional, and national occupational therapy conferences and has been received with great enthusiasm from the occupational therapy community. This research has also resulted in an international group of occupational therapy practitioners who are invested in using these strategies and participating in current and future scholarship opportunities. Based on the response of the OT community, including the international OT practitioners involved in the latest research project, we believe that there is a need and desire for such courses within the greater, global, occupational therapy community.
717-361-1411One Alpha Drive
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298© 2019 Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298© 2019 Elizabethtown College
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