Resources for Providers

ECHO Autism connects providers with autism specialists to support the diagnosis, treatment and care of children with autism spectrum disorder.

It features: 

• A convenient, web-based, small-group format
• An environment to learn and share best practices for autism care, connecting with community resources and family/caregiver support
• Reduced costs for families and providers by limiting travel, creating more efficient visits and shorter wait times for care
• A long-term solution in communities, including under-resourced areas where access to autism specialists is limited, by building local capacity for autism care

The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders offers ECHO Autism clinics for primary care providers, diagnostic and treatment specialists, and educators and early care providers. Learn about each clinic below.

Educators and Early Care Providers Clinic

Dates/times: 5-6:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month beginning Jan. 12, 2023 (join any time)
Free CE hours: Earn up to 3 hours monthly

Curriculum

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 101: Features, profiles and strengths of people with autism
• Developmental Screening and Monitoring of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Specific screening tools, sources to inform developmental monitoring
• Autism Evaluation: Tools and Procedures: Best-practice measures and procedures, COVID-19 related considerations
• Communicating Concerns for Development and ASD: Educator role in communicating ASD concerns to parents about their child
• Educational Planning Considerations in ASD: Placement decisions, IFSP/IEP goal development, classroom accommodations
• Supporting Social Communication Skills: Defining concepts, speech and language communication techniques
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): Individualizing systems, communication technique
• Understanding and Supporting Executive Function Deficits in ASD: Defining concepts, educational impact, strategies
• Higher-Order Language: Defining concepts; speech and language communication techniques
• Behavioral Strategies for Working with Kids with ASD: Behavioral, speech and language communication techniques
• Supporting Parents as Partners: Review planning tools to help families identify needed supports and resources
• Supporting the Transition to Adulthood: Risks, coordination needs, role of school teams

Primary Care Providers Clinic

Dates/times: 2023 dates coming soon! 

Curriculum

• ASD 101: Red flags, variability in presentation; understanding sensory processing disorder
• Identification and Management of Comorbid Medical Problems: such as sleep, eating, toileting; genetic and neurological conditions
• Screening: AAP guidelines, Level 1 and 2 screening tools; how to manage results; responding to concerns
• Treatment Overview: Review evidenced based practices including ABA; role of providers & parents
• Supporting a Family While they Wait: Staying engaged, tracking progress, connecting to resources
• Psychotropic Medications: Review of stimulants, risperidone, aripiprazole and other psychiatric medications used in children with ASD
• ASD Evaluation 101: Time to evaluation, diagnostic process and tools, multidisciplinary teams
• Systems Navigation: Entry points and services in different systems of care; IFSP/IEP process; barriers
• How to Talk to Families About ASD: Including fielding common questions from parents like, “What do I do now?” “What does the future look like?” and “When should I tell my child?”
• Alternative Medicine Approaches: Use of supplements, cannabis; how to support families
• Supporting Medical Visits: Accommodating sensory, executive, and social communication deficits through environmental modifications, visual supports, use of technology and direct instruction on what to expect
• Supporting Transition to Adult Healthcare: Risks, coordination needs, role of healthcare providers, independence-related decision making

Diagnostic and Treatment Specialists Clinic

Dates/times: 2023 dates coming soon!

Curriculum

• ASD 101: Red flags, common profiles including strengths of people with autism
• Treatment Planning in Autism: Includes telemedicine-based interventions
• Screening: Best practices and “current state” adaptations during COVID-19 restrictions
• Recommendations for School Supports: In classroom and virtual settings
• Diagnostic Tools: Includes experimental measures used in telemedicine settings
• Community Resources/Referral Processes: Entry points and services in different systems of care; navigating systems; barriers
• Interdisciplinary Evaluations: Roles and functions across disciplines
• How to Support Positive Outcomes: Includes supporting skill building, self-esteem, learning and family resilience
• Differential Diagnosis/Comorbidities
• Supporting Families/Parents as Partners
• Delivering the Diagnosis: Includes fielding common questions from parents like, “What do I do now?” “What does the future look like?” and “When should I tell my child?”
• Treatment Focus: Behavioral, speech/language communication techniques

• Internet connection
• Front-facing camera, smartphone or tablet

• Free medical, psychology and speech-language pathology Continuing Education hours available monthly 
• Direct access to the ECHO Autism Hub Team
• Real-time case guidance with multidisciplinary team of autism experts
• Meet a network of other providers handling similar challenges

• Anne Inge, Ph.D.
• Shalinee Khurana, M.D.
• Alyssa Ware, MSW
• Colleen Morgan, MA, CCC-SLP
• Amanda Hastings, Psy.D.
• Chelsea Armour, MA
• Yetta Myrick, Parent Educator/Advocate
• Lori Kraden, Educational Specialist, Fairfax County Public Schools

Project ECHO® collects registration, participation, questions/answers, chat comments and poll responses for some teleECHO® programs. Your individual data will be kept confidential.

These data may be used for reports, maps, communications, surveys, quality assurance, evaluation, research and to inform new initiatives.