NOTE: This event is specifically for Washington State attendees who are part of the behavioral health workforce.
This session is part of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) track of the Mental Health Institute.
Given comments and discussion from previous weeks, this training has been adjusted to include information related to strategies using applied behavior analysis (ABA) and communication-based therapies that can be utilized by therapists as well as well tips related to collaboration with BCBA's and speech therapists including when to refer. This training also provides education about the importance of objective progress monitoring in therapy including providing insights into the use of progress monitoring tools that suit the experience of individuals with IDD. Participants will leave this training with skills and knowledge to help strengthen their practice, support behavioral challenges and communication skills and reduce burnout related to limited therapy progress.
Contact hours will be available for participants who attend the entire session. The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for DOH licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, chemical dependency professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620,WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.
Session is 11a-1p PT
Abbey George, PhD, BCBA-D, is a Teaching Associate at the University of Washington in the ABA program. She received her M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and is a BCBA-D. Abbey has worked in a variety of settings providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with Autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities in schools, clinics, and homes. She has helped develop several ABA programs, both here in the PNW and in Hawaii. Since 2014, her work has focused on supporting adults with disabilities in employment settings, using ABA techniques and tools to create more durable and long term employment opportunities. She currently has her own private practice, Achieve Coaching & Consulting, working alongside neurodiverse adults in identifying and accomplishing personal goals, including employment. In addition, her company consults with businesses to develop employment opportunities for the neurodiverse community. Making a more inclusive work environment for all is an expertise and passion of hers. When not working, Abbey is at home with her four young girls, who keep her very busy. She also loves to cook and watch sports with her husband.
Melissa Brooks, RN, has served as the Parent-to-Parent Coordinator with The Arc of Tri-Cities for 8 years. She worked as a pediatric nurse for 10 years before deciding to focus on home to care for her family. She is the mother of four young adult children, three of whom are on the autism spectrum. Their support levels all vary drastically; they all require very different supports. Her greatest passion besides her family is helping other families on this lifelong journey. She has been involved with helping other families ever since her children were diagnosed, for about 18 years. Her hobbies include growing her own vegetables, raising chickens, and caring for her family’s many pets.
Jim Mancini MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience working with patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities/autism and their families. He is currently the Director of the WA INCLUDE Collaborative, manages ECHO programs at the University of Washington and leads the Washington State Center of Excellence (COE) training program. He has special interest in diagnosis of autism and other developmental disabilities, building community through building relationships, parent and provider education and health equity for underserved communities. Jim loves gardening, backpacking and other outdoor adventures, music and spending time with his family.
Marie Loeb, LICSW, LMHC, CMHS, DMHS, (she/they) is an Autistic, queer, polyamorous Clinical Social Worker who is committed to serving their community through direct practice, training, and advocating for policy change. Marie is the owner of Holistic Child and Family Practice where she works with individuals and families, is a practicum instructor for the University of Washington School of Social Work, supervises clinicians in and out of the practice, and works to build community through no cost neurodiversity-affirming consult groups and trainings. Holistic Child and Family Practice has a staff that is exclusively neurodivergent, and within this environment Marie developed a new modality, Empathetic Inquiry, which is a strengths-based approach where the client is centered as the expert of their own experience and utilizes the natural hyperempathetic talents of neurodivergent providers.
Alana McVey, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Scholar jointly appointed at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Autism Center. Clinically, she provides evidence-based treatment of mental health concerns to autistic children, adolescents, and adults through the Autism Center's Mood and Anxiety Program. Dr. McVey's program of research centers on the redesign and implementation of evidence-based mental health treatments for autistic people in community settings. Her current project, funded by the Autism Intervention Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), is focused on redesigning Dialectical Behavior Therapy to treat suicidality in autistic young adults.
