Outreach & Training

Assistant Director:

Elizabeth Stripling, EdD

About Outreach & Training:

Through outreach and training, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute addresses areas such as social-communication difficulties, that affect the lives of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families. Through various training methods, we target a wide range of community needs, from child-specific consultations to system-wide change. Our training program extends from local to international sites, benefiting children and families from many ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Outreach and training efforts incorporate a wide range of educational components, including in-service training on ASD and intervention, specific intervention strategy training, supervision strategies for the classroom, empowering and working with families, Early Achievements (early intervention) model and consultation, and consultations for classroom design and intervention programming.

Below is a list of upcoming events that will be hosted at CARD. Please check back frequently for event updates, as well as new event information.

Current Opportunities:

Current outreach and training opportunities include the following:

• When Behavior Therapy is Not Enough: Psychopharmacology of Autism Spectrum Disorders:
  Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are frequently associated with severe and impairing co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, irritability, aggression, and self-injury.  Treating these symptoms is critical to facilitating progress in in school and multidisciplinary therapies.  In this webinar, Dr. Vasa presents the evidence base for using psychopharmacological interventions to treat co-occurring psychiatric symptoms in youth with ASD. Dr. Vasa received her adult and pediatric psychiatry training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She has been treating children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities for over 15 years.
• Annual Autism Conference: This conference is as applicable to scientists and practitioners as it is to patients and families. The event brings together ASD experts to share ideas and provide updates on the latest innovations.

• Professional Training Programs: Specialized training for pre-professionals and professionals in pediatric medicine, psychiatry, psychology, and speech-language pathology.

• Immersion Training: Our evidence-based classroom model allows for intense immersion training on the Early Achievements model, which incorporates both didactic and in vivo experiences with feedback.

• Clinical Practice Workshops: Trainings on assessment instruments, therapeutic strategies, and intervention models that are designed for a wide range of practitioners from a variety of disciplines.

• Sharing Treatment and Resources (STAR) Parent Trainings: Our own experts and outside speakers discuss a variety of topics, including strategies for playing with your child and understanding behavioral challenges, at no cost to participants.

• School Consultations: Guidance to national and international programs serving children with ASD as well as assistance for school districts across Maryland in collaboration with the Maryland State Department of Education.

• Physician Training Series: "When Therapy is Not Enough -- Psychopharmacology of ASD"
  Details Coming Soon