Joint Attention Based Interventions for Preschoolers with ASD

Course Description:

Joint attention, the ability to share attention and engage with others in a meaningful way, is a foundational skill for social and communication development. For Autistic children, deficits in joint attention can limit progress in areas of play, learning, fine motor development, and overall participation. This 90-minute course addresses the critical role of joint attention in the development of Autistic preschoolers. It equips clinicians with easy-to-implement, take-home, evidence-based intervention strategies to enhance joint attention skills, providing a holistic purview to improve clinical outcomes.

Methods of Instruction:

Online audio/video course

Course Instructor:

Dr. Aditi Mehra DHSc, OTR/L

Dr. Aditi Mehra is an experienced occupational therapist, educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing the field of pediatric therapy through evidence-based practice and education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University in 1998 and later pursued a Doctorate in Health Sciences at Midwestern University in Illinois. Recognizing the impact of behavior on therapeutic outcomes, she also obtained a certification in Behavior Analysis to enhance her approach to addressing behavioral challenges in occupational therapy.
With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Mehra has worked in various pediatric settings, including schools and private practice, providing comprehensive therapy services to children with diverse needs. In 2016, she founded the first ABA-based tutoring company in Chicago, further bridging the gap between behavioral and occupational therapy interventions.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Mehra is passionate about education and mentorship. She has served as an adjunct professor in occupational therapy at Lewis University and Elmhurst University, guiding the next generation of therapists.

Disclosures:

Financial: The course presenter receives an honorarium from AdvantageCEUs.com. The presenter has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: The presenter has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Sponsor: It is the policy of AdvantageCEUs.com not to accept commercial support.
Content: This course does not focus solely on any specific product or service.

Target Audience:

Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants and Athletic Trainers.

Educational Level:

Intermediate

Prerequisites:

None

Course Goals and Objectives:

At the completion of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Classify the main categories of Joint Attention and recognize how they impact social skill development
2. Differentiate between the approaches of the randomized controlled trial and recognize the multidisciplinary approach
3. Analyze what sensory has to do with joint attention and how to effectively incorporate aspects into treatment and analyze the concurrent and predictive correlations between joint attention and sensor-regulatory features and how they affect language outcomes
4. Categorize the categories of the Gomes study and how to incorporate them into treatment
5. Predict parent training in the Early Start Denver Model
6. Differentiate between Relationship Development Intervention goals
7. Differentiate between Joint Attention strategies and how to organize them into a rehabilitation program to meet the patient’s/parent’s goals
8. Organize a rehabilitation program utilizing joint attention skills that will help the patient meet their desired educational and play goals

Criteria for Obtaining Continuing Education Credits:

A score of 70% or greater on the post-test