Ithaca College

Facilitating Communication and Social Interaction: Implications for Theory of Mind Assessment in Autism

March 23, 2013 at Ithaca College
Patricia Prelock, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
ASHA President

This workshop will describe innovative methods for assessing Theory of Mind in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) using both parent report and broad based theory of mind measures. Case examples will be used to identify areas of challenge in theory of mind, develop goals and recommend strategies for intervention. Research in theory of mind training and the use of social stories and comic strip conversations will be explained as strategies to facilitate communication, social interaction and perspective taking in children with ASD. Videotaped examples of theory of mind assessment and intervention will be presented.

The participant will...

1. Identify valid and reliable methods for assessing theory of mind in children with ASD.
2. Develop goals for intervention based on data gathered from assessment of theory of mind.
3. Explain at least two interventions that can facilitate perspective taking in children with ASD. 

Schedule

8:00-9:00 Registration
9:00-10:00 Theory of mind: What is it and what does it look like?
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Assessment of Theory of Mind and Establishing Intervention Targets
11:30-12:30 LUNCH
12:30-1:45 Strategies for increasing social communication and perspective taking using Social stories
1:45--2:00 Break
2:00-3:00 Strategies for increasing social communication and perspective taking using Comic Strip Conversations.

Please visit the NSSLHA 2013 Conference website for additional details.  The conference is sponsored by the Ithaca College Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association, The SUNY Cortland Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association, and The New York State Speech Language-Hearing Association.