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Digital Seminar

Developing Core Competencies as an Autism Specialist through a Neurodiversity Lens


Faculty:
Jeffrey Guenzel, MA, LPC |  Emile Gouws, PhD student
Duration:
2 Hours 03 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
Copyright:
Apr 21, 2022
Product Code:
POS058876
Media Type:
Digital Seminar
Access:
Never expires.


Description

In this dynamic session, watch Emile Gouws, an autistic self-advocate, educator, and researcher and his good friend Jeffrey Guenzel, LPC, as you learn the essential assessment, neurodevelopmental, communication, and social skills core competencies to be an effective professional supporting individuals on the autism spectrum.

Through the lens of neurodiversity and the experiences of autistic individuals, you’ll be challenged to develop a neurodiversity-informed professional practice. This new perspective not only will improve your effectiveness as a clinician but will forever change the way you conceptualize professional competency!

CPD


CPD

PESI Australia, in collaboration with PESI in the USA, offers quality online continuing professional development events from the leaders in the field at a standard recognized by professional associations including psychology, social work, occupational therapy, alcohol and drug professionals, counselling and psychotherapy. On completion of the training, a Professional Development Certificate is issued after the individual has answered and submitted a quiz and course evaluation. This program is worth 2.25 hours CPD for points calculation by your association.



Handouts

Faculty

Jeffrey Guenzel, MA, LPC's Profile

Jeffrey Guenzel, MA, LPC Related seminars and products


Jeffrey Guenzel, MA, LPC, has been the CEO of ICDL since 2013. Before joining ICDL, Jeff held key leadership positions in state government and served as an executive director of a very successful not-for-profit. Jeff is a professional counselor that has been providing mental health and human development services for over 30 years. In his most recent appointments prior to joining ICDL, Jeff was the deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and previously served as the director of the New Jersey Division of Child Behavioral Health. In these positions, he led many innovative initiatives including restructuring the service delivery system for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Prior to his appointments with the State of New Jersey, Jeff was the inaugural executive director of a not-for-profit agency providing wraparound care management services for children and young adults with complex behavioral health challenges. Under his leadership, the agency became one of the largest wraparound agencies in the United States, gaining him national recognition.

Jeff has been invited to speak at conferences and to teach courses throughout the United States and in countries around the world. In addition to presenting at conferences and teaching courses on clinical practice, he has also provided technical assistance on leadership and program development to organizations, schools, and governmental entities.

As a professional counselor, Jeff has specialized in children and adolescents, but he also has much experience working with adults throughout the lifespan. He has worked as a clinician at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers University) as well as in private practice. Jeff earned his BA degree in Psychology and his MA degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. Jeff is currently working towards his Doctor of Education (EdD).

Jeff has been legally blind or visually impaired for most of his life. In the 1980’s he competed nationally and internationally as a member of the USA Paralympic swim team.

Jeff provides a valuable combination of clinical knowledge and skill coupled with a proven track record of successful leadership. Underpinning this is a life-long commitment to serving others and promoting development for individuals, organizations, communities, and service delivery systems. Jeff has a deep appreciation for human diversity and has shown an unwavering commitment to creating a world where individual differences are embraced and everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jeffrey Guenzel has an employment relationship with the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jeffrey Guenzel has no relevant non-financial relationships.


Emile Gouws, PhD student's Profile

Emile Gouws, PhD student Related seminars and products


Emile Gouws, PhD student, is a 28-year old autistic self-advocate and special educator at Edu360 Integrated Education in South Africa. Emile was selected as Vice Chair of the National Executive Committee of Autism South Africa and executive committee member on the Common Wealth Disabled people’s forum where he represents neurodiversity. Emile is on the Board of Directors for the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning and has presented at conferences throughout the world.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Emile Gouws has employment relationships with EDU360 Foundation and EDU 360 College. He receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Emile Gouws is an adult who is on the autism spectrum.


Objectives

  1. Appraise at least three key aspects of neurodiversity-informed professional practice.
  2. Determine at least three common practices in many autism interventions that are not acceptable in neurodiversity-informed practice.
  3. Utilize at least three practices that are acceptable in neurodiversity-informed practice.

Outline

  • Steps to Becoming a Neurodiversity-Informed Professional
    • Awareness of perspectives from self-advocates and neurodiverse perspectives
    • Internalized appreciation of neurodiverse perspectives
    • Ways to incorporate these perspectives into your work
  • Developing a Neurodiversity-Informed Way of Being
    • Ways of knowing
    • Ways of doing
    • Ways of being
  • Developing Core Competencies as an Autism Specialist
    • Assessment: Conduct neurodiversity-informed assessments
    • Neurodevelopmental: Promote development through your relationship with the client
    • Communication: Ways to develop communication through a neurodiverse lens
    • Social Skills: Deepen engagement without imposing neurotypical standards or expectations
  • Limitations of research and potential risks

Target Audience

  • Addiction Counselors
  • Counselors
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Nurses
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physicians
  • Psychologists
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Social Workers
  • Teachers/School-Based Personnel
  • Other Mental Health Professionals

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