Autistic Spectrum Disorders Special Interest Group
Annual Report March 2006 - March 2007
The past year has been a busy one for the ASDs SIG Committee members with the development of the Best Practice Guidelines on Assessment and Diagnosis. It has also been an interesting and enjoyable one with seven well attended Committee meetings held. The commitment of Committee members was demonstrated both at the meetings and in work taken on between meetings.
Committee for 2006 – 2007:
Chairperson – Mark Latimer
Secretary – Aisling Whelan
Treasurer – Rita Honan
Committee members – Chriss Chapple, Aoife Kearney , Damien Connolly , Moira Kennedy , Miriam O’Donohue, Mitchel Fleming .
Over the year, some of the areas that were covered and activities engaged in were:
- Mark, Aisling and Miriam attended the National Disability Forum on ‘Transdisciplinary Approach to Assessment and Intervention’ at the Great Southern Airport Hotel. Mark and Aisling also attended the Learning Disability Special Interest Group’s workshop on ‘New Models of Assessment and Intervention’ and ‘Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment’. Feedback was given to the group on both.
- Discussions and response to: the Draft Code of Practice Relating to Admission of Children under the Mental Health Act 2001, and Draft Standards & Recommended Practices for Medical Records Management. Miriam responded, on behalf of the group, to the Department of Health and Children’s ‘Draft Standards for the Assessment of Need’.
- Mitchel Fleming gave a presentation on PSIs Policy on Psychometric Testing at the AGM.
- The group organised a symposium at the PSI Annual Conference last November entitled Social Skills, Hyperlexia, and Best Practice with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Conor Brennan presented Pivotal response training with young adult peer supporters. Aileen Minihan presented Social skills training for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Annika Fogarty presented Social Skills intervention and the mental health of young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Chriss Chapple presented An investigation of Hyperlexia with children with ASD. Mitchel Fleming and Aisling Whelan presented an open forum on Assessment and Diagnosis of ASDs – Best Practice. The symposium was followed by a general meeting.
- The group’s annual professional development day was held in Trinity College on the 23 rd March 2007 . The title of the day was ‘Biology of Autism’ and it was presented by Dr. Louise Gallagher and colleagues.
Work in progress/plans for the coming year:
- The group continue to work on the Best Practice Guidelines for the Assessment and Diagnosis of ASDs. These guidelines are based on a research of the literature in this area, changing practices over the past few years, and discussions at ASDs SIG meetings. The guidelines are currently in draft form and will soon be forwarded to the society’s divisions and special interest groups for comment. Following this, they will be amended and forwarded to Council for approval. It is the group’s intention to launch the guidelines over the coming months and to present them at the Annual Conference in November.
- Organisation of a workshop on Interventions and ASDs.
- Establish greater links with other groups within PSI, such as the Learning Disability Special Interest Group.
Aims of ASD Special Interest Group
The aims of the Group are as follows:
- To provide a forum for members to share knowledge and skills,
and to promote good professional training and practice with regard
to working
with those with an ASD.
- To promote understanding and awareness of the needs of people
with an ASD, their families and carers.
- To promote research related to ASD’s and to disseminate
findings.
- To develop and respond to policy statements on matters relating
to ASD’s.
Criteria for membership
The group is open to all graduate members of PSI.
Annual Professional Development Day 17th July 2008
The Autism Spectrum Disorders Special Interest Group present their Annual Professional Development Day on the 17th July 2008. For further information click here
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