talksbydrhenderson

Demystifying the Less Than Obvious Presentations of Autism When: Friday, May 6  2022 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pmBCASP Members: $55Non-Members: $80Dr. Donna Henderson has been a clinical psychologist for over 30 years. She earned her doctoral degree from the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University and subsequently worked as a staff neuropsychologist and then director of acquired brain injury at the Gaylord Hospital in Connecticut. Dr. Henderson joined The Stixrud Group in 2011, specializing in neuropsychological evaluations for individuals with cognitive, academic, social, and/or emotional challenges, with a particular interest in autism. Dr. Henderson is a frequent lecturer on the less obvious presentations of autism, on autistic girls and women, and on parenting children with complex profiles. She also enjoys assisting other healthcare professionals through case consultation. Over the past 20 years the prevalence of autism has risen from 1 in 150 to 1 in 44. This is due in part to our more sophisticated understanding of verbal individuals with a less obvious presentation of autism. Still, boys and men continue to be diagnosed far more frequently than girls and women (approximately 4:1). It has always been assumed that the prevalence of autistic boys is naturally greater than girls, but recent research demonstrates that many autistic females are being misdiagnosed or missed entirely. In the past ten years, there has been a burst of research on autistic girls and women, particularly those with average to above average intellectual functioning, and it has become clear that they can present differently from their male counterparts in many ways. Moreover, research demonstrates that these girls and women are highly vulnerable to multiple co-occurring challenges, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and victimization. While this less obvious presentation of autism seems to be most common in females, it can also apply to clients throughout the gender spectrum. Receiving a proper diagnosis can be life changing for this population, so it is essential that all clinicians are updated on the ways to recognize all presentations of autism.This workshop will provide that clarity:Describe characteristics of individuals with a less obvious presentation of autism.Identify ways that autistic females can present differently from autistic males.Identify components of an effective social cognition assessment. BCASP Virtual Workshop 2022 BCASP Members Registration Non-Members Registration