# Welcome! #### Thank you for joining us! The webinar will begin shortly. ### Finding and Using Online Information about ASD: Tips for Families and Professionals Presented by Rebecca J. McCauley, Ph.D. ## Webinar Tips 1. Close any applications that use bandwidth or resources on your device. 2. To submit a question, click “Questions” in the webinar panel and type in your question. 3. To minimize the webinar panel, click the orange arrow in the upper left of the panel. 4. If you experience computer audio issues, you can switch to “Phone call” in the “Audio” section of the webinar panel and use the dial‐in information provided. --- ### Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Second Edition To work effectively with individuals who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), SLPs and other practitioners need in‐depth knowledge on choosing and implementing interventions for communication and social challenges. The second edition of this bestselling textbook gives professionals the foundation they need to evaluate and compare today’s widely used interventions—and determine which ones will promote the best outcomes for the people they serve. [https://bpub.fyi/TreatmentofASD2e](https://bpub.fyi/TreatmentofASD2e) ## Giveaway We’re giving away 3 FREE copies of Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Second Edition! --- ### Survey At the end of the webinar, you’ll be prompted to complete a short survey. Let us know what you thought, and you could win a free book! Certificates of attendance are available for all webinar viewers. --- ### Objectives At the end of our brief time today, audience members should be able to: - Evaluate websites for their likely accuracy and impartiality about ASD - Identify reliable online resources families can use or share - Identify additional sources for SLPs (as well as educators, OTs, PTs, and physicians) --- ## Evaluating Information Sources ### Especially Regarding Treatment Websites as Sources of Information **Pros** - Presentation of wide‐ranging perspectives - User friendly writing **Cons** - Overwhelming in number - Misleading or even untruthful - Little or no way to track information over time --- --- ### Website Content Should Be “CUTER” Criteria based on DISCERN developed for consumer health information (discern.org.uk), NIH (2011); Rogers, Dawson & Vismara (2012) - **Current**: Can you find dates for specific sources of information contained in the website? If you can, are they current? - **Unbiased**: Does the website present multiple points of view or identify possible options rather than focus on only a single point of view? - **Trustworthy**: Was the website created and is it maintained by an individual or organization that seems likely to have the best interests of the users at heart? Does it contain content that seems designed primarily to sell you a product, assessment or treatment? - **Evidence‐Based**: If the website claims to be evidence based, does it provide references to research so that you can review any research claims that are made? Does it provide more information from systematic research than from personal testimonials? - **Reasonable**: Does the website discuss shorter‐ and longer‐term risks as well as benefits of products and interventions? Are the described outcomes sensible or practical rather than grandiose? --- ## 3 Sources for Families **Diagnosis Treatment** **What they can do Living in the community** **Transition Safety to adulthood** **Sleep Haircuts** ### First Words Project - Based on research by Woods, Wetherby and colleagues (chapter 11) - Includes many videos and downloadable documents about milestones of children’s gestural and verbal communication development and interactions with objects. Appropriate for a range of parents from those who are curious about what to expect to those who are seeking screening for their child, perhaps before pursuing contact with a professional. [First Words Project](https://firstwordsproject.com) [Baby Navigator](https://babynavigator.com) → [Autism Navigator](https://autismnavigator.com) --- ### Organization For Autism Research (OAR) - An organization with a singular focus on applied research and the quality and practical value of its resource materials of interest to people with ASD, parents, and professionals. - Kits for kids – Materials designed to facilitate learning in elementary and middle school for children with ASD. - Eight Life Journey into Autism Guidebooks and some associated websites. [Research Autism](https://researchautism.org/resources) --- ### National Autism Association - A parent‐run advocacy group whose mission is “responding to the most urgent needs of the autism community.” Special attention to safety, abuse, crisis prevention, and autism‐related wandering prevention and response. - [NAA Big Red Safety box](https://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red) – Designed for parents, educators, and first‐responders. --- ## 3 Sources for SLPs - Evidence is pre‐evaluated, summarized, and when possible available for viewing. **ASHA: American Speech‐Language‐Hearing Association** - Evidence‐maps‐Autism - Background, clinical roles, assessment, treatment in an informal style with many fewer references. --- ## OCALI: Ohio Center On Autism And Low Incidence Disorders - AUTISM CENTER of OCALI - a variety of online print and video resources, primarily for educational settings but also for parents (e.g., a series of social narratives designed to support families during the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic). - AIM (AUTISM INTERNET MODULES) – 48+ modules that include online case studies, instructional videos, pre‐ and post assessments, and a glossary; Includes at least 24 modules associated with EB practices (Odom et al. 2013). - [Autism Internet Modules](https://autisminternetmodules.org/) --- ## NPDC: National Professional Development Center On ASD - Steinbrenner et al. (2020) Evidence‐based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism. (140-page report). - Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFFIRM) - 1 ½- to 2-hour modules on 27 practices identified as EBP in Steinbrenner, et al., 2020. [AFIRM](https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/) --- ## 2 Sources for Educators ### National Education Association (NEA) - Autism Resources for Teachers - Center funded to support implementation of multi-tiered supports for social-emotional competence for children from birth to age 5 at risk for or with identified developmental disabilities. [NEA](https://www.nea.org/) ### National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations - Training modules, videos, visual supports, scripted stories, forms, guides, handouts. [Challenging Behavior](https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/) --- ## Websites for Other Professionals - **Occupational Therapists** – Resources including a 2016 set of practice guidelines. [American Occupational Therapy Association](https://www.aota.org/Practice/Children‐Youth/Autism.aspx) - **Pediatricians** – Website from the American Academy of Pediatrics - healthychildren.org. [Healthy Children](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/Autism/Pages/How-Doctors-Screen-for-Autism.aspx) - **Physical Therapists** – Physical therapy guide to autism spectrum disorder. [Choose PT](https://www.choosept.com/symptomsconditionsdetail/physical-therapy-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder) --- ### Being Systematic About Searching #### A Possible Search Strategy 1. Be clear about what you are looking for – Find a focus (e.g., sleep and autism, video modeling and autism) Decide on how many locations you want to consider (1 really good one? 3 or 4 to be more comprehensive?) 2. Decide how to search - Terms you used in your search engine - What came up in your search (remember don’t necessarily look just at the first entries) 3. Keep a record of your search - Including comments on whether the site is CUTER (current, unbiased, trustworthy, evidence-based, and reasonable). --- ### References - DISCERN. Quality criteria for consumer health information. [Discern](https://discern.org.uk) - Khazzal, Y. et al. (2009). Brief DISCERN. Patient Education and Counseling, 77, 33‐37. - National Institutes of Health. (2011). How to evaluate health information on the Internet: Questions and answers. [NIH](https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/) - Odom, S. L. et al. (2013). Evidence‐based practices in interventions for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 54(4), 275‐282. - Rogers, S. J. et al. (2012). An early start for your young child with autism. Guildford Press. - Steinbrenner et al. (2020) Evidence‐based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism. - Woods, J. J. et al. (2021). Early Social Interaction in Treatment of autism spectrum disorders. --- ### Questions? Certificates of attendance are available for all webinar viewers. **Attendee's Name Watched the webinar recording Finding and Using Online Information about ASD: Tips for Families and Professionals** **Time: 1 hour** **Webinar created May 12th, 2021** --- # Thank you!