Autism Essentials: Identify, Evaluate, Support
Autistic children are four times more likely to have unmet healthcare needs than children without disabilities. Yet many clinicians report limited training and low confidence in delivering strengths-based, neuro-affirming care. This course is designed to close that gap.
Join the Notification ListWHO IT’S FOR
Medical clinicians caring for autistic youth: for example, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants working in primary care, neurology, and psychiatry.
This Autism Essentials course trains clinicians to provide comprehensive, neuro-affirming ongoing care to autistic youth — and to become confident, empowering partners for the families who depend on them.
Please note: This is a clinical care training, not a diagnostic training. While attendees will become more adept at recognizing characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and learn about diagnostic assessment, additional training is needed to perform diagnostic assessments.
Developed in partnership with the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP), the training equips you with practical tools, clinical frameworks, and national standards of care to better support autistic patients and their families — from early identification and medical evaluation through ongoing, individualized care. You’ll leave with:
- Standardized screening tools and clinical approaches for identifying when autism evaluation is indicated across developmental levels
- Individualized management frameworks for autism and co-occurring conditions that integrate therapeutic, pharmacological, and behavioral strategies
- Practical tools for addressing daily living challenges such as sleep, eating, and toileting
- Approaches for interpreting diagnostic reports and helping families advocate for supports
- Autism-friendly workflow and billing strategies you can put into practice right away.
After the training, you’ll be more confident caring for autistic youth — and better equipped to partner with their families.
This course has two components:
- A full-day interactive workshop focused on building skills and confidence in providing neuro-affirming ongoing care to autistic youth.
- Four case-based group learning calls over two months in which participants present cases from their practice to solidify their learning and put it into practice. Each call lasts one hour.
Participants can earn up to 10 CME credits for both components.
COURSE GOALS
After this course, you’ll be able to:
Identify core and varied presentations of autism across developmental levels, using standardized screening tools and recognizing co-occurring conditions such as ADHD and anxiety.
Perform appropriate medical workups — including genetic testing and neuroimaging — based on individual patient needs.
Design individualized management plans integrating therapeutic modalities (speech, occupational, and behavioral therapies), pharmacological interventions for co-occurring conditions, and practical strategies for daily living challenges.
Implement autism-friendly clinical workflows and sustainable billing practices.
Empower families by interpreting diagnostic reports and building strategies for school-based advocacy and services.
Course dates
Join the notification list to be alerted as soon as new dates are available.
Join the Notification ListAccreditation & Designation
AMA Credit Designation Statement
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
ANCC Credit Designation Statement
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences designates this live activity for a maximum of 10 ANCC contact hours. Nursing contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of program components based upon documented attendance and completion of evaluation materials.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 10 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Schedule a Group Training
REACH offers customized training for groups of 15 or more.
Visit our Group Training page to learn more.
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