5 Reasons Why Autism Certification Is Vital For Occupational Therapists

As Autism Diagnosis Rates Grow, So Does Demand for Certified Professionals

The prevalence of autism is growing across the US, as is the demand for professionals who are qualified to work with people with autism. Becoming a Certified Autism Professional (CAS) has a host of benefits for the students, the OT, and their colleagues.

Here are 5 of the reasons for an OT to pursue an autism certification, with many of them straight from practicing OTs who have already earned the CAS credential themselves.

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3 Reasons Why Autism Certification Is Important for Speech Language Pathologists

SLPs Commonly Work with Autistic Individuals (With or Without Autism Training)

Since autistic individuals typically have difficulty communicating, it is natural that autism and SLPs go hand in hand. With a rising diagnosis rate of autism, it is extremely valuable for SLPs to consider specializing in this area, or to at least receive specific training, in order to support individuals who are on the spectrum.

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Top 5 HIPAA Compliant Teletherapy Platforms

Choosing the best teletherapy solution can be tricky. Here are a few questions to consider with choosing a platform or software that is HIPAA compliant. The goal of using these platforms is to ensure continuity of services, additional telepractice certification options are available through IBCCES to provide best practices to provide optimal virtual services. Continue Reading →

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The Magic of Better Speech & Hearing Month

By Kerry Magro, Self-Advocate, National Speaker, and Author

When we think of the impact of Autism Awareness Month in April, we sometimes forget May’s Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) that had an impact on those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Organizations have spearhead efforts to start a conversation for those with these communication challenges.

This month has a special connection to me as I was diagnosed with autism at four. Being in special education settings, I was often in classes with students with a wide range of speech, language and hearing disorders. Our supports were very challenging in our public school setting due to limited funding going to special education. Until 4th grade, before moving to an out of district school for those with learning disabilities, we only had one special education class ranging of students from the ages of 6-14. I often think about how this month could have truly benefited me as a student but also our educators. It’s the same way that I never knew about Autism Awareness Month in April as a child because it was never introduced to me or my classmates.

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Listen-Up: May is Better Hearing and Speech Month

What? Can you repeat that, please? Yes, May is Better Hearing and Speech month. Let’s participate by celebrating the two projections on the side of our head that do so much despite being so little. The importance our ears play in activities of daily living is often overlooked or taken for granted. From infancy, we utilize sounds to get our needs met and learn about the world around us. Hearing loss can have detrimental impacts on a child’s ability to learn and develop speech and language, as well as safety concerns.

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The ABCs of Early Intervention

By Taveesha Guyton, Social Worker

As a young child, I remember being dropped off at grandmother’s house and sitting and watching black and white movies of The Three Stooges on a floor model television in the living room. I remember watching the Price is Right and clapping my hands because I saw the audience do this on TV. Now we have IPADS which help children with eye- hand coordination, Leap Frog which helps children read and other assistive technology.

As a Social Worker, I am always concerned with the growth and development of my children. I often, compare my kids’ growth to the milestone chart given by the pediatrician to see if my client is developing according to the benchmarks. The questions are, what happens if children are below where they need to be and are there anything parents can do to help? What is Early Intervention? How does it help families? And what happens if a child has a diagnosis as being developmentally delayed at a young age?  

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