Please note: these sessions will NOT be recorded. You have to attend on the days.

Part 1: Reveal Their Story: Using the Strength-Based MIGDAS-2 Autism Assessment Process Across the Life Span

Psychologists increasingly face the challenge of recognizing the full range of autism spectrum differences and engaging individuals in productive diagnostic interviews. Participants in this 4-hour professional development session are introduced to the strength-based MIGDAS-2 qualitative interview system. This session will highlight the use of the MIGDAS-2 visual framework and descriptive language to individualize the diagnosis of autism spectrum differences across age and ability levels. Topics include gaining proficiency in structuring the sensory-based diagnostic interview using the Descriptive Triangle positive language across age and ability levels and discussing the diagnosis with parents as well as with adults receiving their autism diagnosis. The MIGDAS-2 system is designed to support psychologists in organizing their autism assessments around the respectful process of telling each individual's unique and singular story to provide a context for understanding the autism diagnosis.

Learner objectives:

This session will teach participants to:

• Use the MIGDAS-2 system and protocols to engage children, adolescents and adults in interactive clinical interviews that highlight areas of strengths and differences
• Gain essential tools to conduct a sensory-based diagnostic interview with individuals whose communication skills range from verbally fluent to functionally nonverbal using the MIGDAS-2 system and protocols
• Identify how to use the qualitative interview protocols in collaboration with other clinicians as part of a multidisciplinary team approach
• Use the Visual Framework to discuss the diagnosis with parents, caregivers, and adults in a story-based positive narrative

Part 2: Reveal Their Story: Using the MIGDAS-2 Sensory-Based Process to Write Individualized Narrative Reports

Psychologists not only increasingly face the challenge of recognizing the full range of autism spectrum differences but also writing up their results using a positive, descriptive narrative. Participants will learn to write narrative autism assessment summary reports using the MIGDAS-2 visual framework and descriptive language. Sample Brain Style Profiles and excerpted narrative report samples will be discussed across age and ability levels. Participants will be taught how to organize suggested positive supports and recommendations tailored to the individual receiving the autism spectrum diagnosis across age and ability levels.

Learner objectives:

• This session will teach participants to:
• Use the MIGDAS-2 visual framework and descriptive language to construct an individualized narrative report highlighting areas of strengths and differences
• Develop individualized MIGDAS-2 Brain Style Profiles across age and ability levels
• Practice building individualized Brain Style Profiles when provided with video samples of behavior
• Organize individualized suggested supports and recommendations using three distinctive categories

Participants will be provided with a training manual as part of this professional development course.

Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D.