The Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI™) at Kennedy Krieger Institute is a multifaceted, interdisciplinary program serving children, families and professionals in the autism community. The center provides a range of psychological services, including diagnostic evaluations, psychological testing, and a variety of evidence-based treatment services that focus on understanding and addressing the social, emotional and behavioral needs of autistic youth and their families. Clinical services at CASSI are delivered within a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based framework that respects each patient and their family’s unique communication style, sensory profile, and cultural background.

The CASSI clinical psychology doctoral internship features specialized training in gold standard testing instruments and empirically based intervention strategies specific to autism. Interns also receive clinical training in common associated conditions such as intellectual disability, developmental delays, genetic disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders and social-emotional disorders. The program provides interns with the opportunity to work with a highly diverse patient population ranging from early childhood to adolescence who present with a wide variety of clinical needs. Through these experiences, interns obtain solid clinical skills to prepare them for careers as psychologists and emerge as future leaders in the field of autism. 

To obtain clinical competency within the diverse autistic population, predoctoral interns on the major track at CASSI receive training in the following areas: 

  • Autism Diagnostic Evaluation: Diagnostic evaluations focus on evaluating the presence of autism as well as common co-occurring conditions including ADHD, anxiety, and behavioral concerns in children and adolescents. Interns are expected to participate in all aspects of the diagnostic evaluation process, which include a clinical interview with caregiver(s), administration and coding of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) or other standardized diagnostic measure, caregiver feedback, and report writing. Through supervised clinical practice, interns will complete an average of six diagnostic evaluation cases per month. 
  • Psychological Testing: Interns will receive training in conducting comprehensive psychological evaluations designed to evaluate cognitive functioning, attention and memory, adaptive skills, social-emotional functioning, and behavioral functioning in preschool and school-age children with diverse language abilities. Common assessment questions include determining level of developmental functioning/presence of intellectual disability, identifying school accommodations, and guiding treatment planning as well as differentiating autism from developmental delays, ADHD, mood/anxiety concerns, trauma, and behavioral disorders. Interns will receive training in the administration of a range of psychological tests including developmental, intellectual, adaptive functioning, and academic screening measures and will be exposed to tests of executive functioning, learning/memory, and language. Interns will complete an average of two psychological testing cases per month.
  • Treatment: Interns receive training in two types of therapeutic intervention: 1) parent training utilizing the RUBI Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior program and 2) cognitive-behavioral therapy protocols for autistic children targeting common psychiatric concerns such as anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and executive functioning (e.g., Facing Your Fears, Regulating Together, Unstuck and On Target). Interns are expected to carry 2-3 therapy cases at a time. Additionally, interns will have opportunities to co-facilitate a time-limited treatment group with a licensed provider focused on social skill development or specific mental health concerns (i.e., anxiety, executive functioning).