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Autism Educators Conference

July 17, 2025
Georgia Sports
Hall of Fame

Course will be In-Person & Live on Zoom
for Virtual Participants!

conference attendance options:

Please Select and Register for the Course Labeled "In-Person" or "Virtual" Attendance on Zoom.

Autism Educators Conference

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This year, we're diving deep into practical, evidence-based interventions that help autistic students thrive in inclusive, general education settings.

You’ll leave with:
• Ready-to-use classroom strategies
• Tools for collaboration across teams
• Insights from experienced educators, therapists, and specialists
• Resources to strengthen inclusive practices

Whether you work in general education or special education, this conference offers real-world solutions to real-world challenges.



HANDOUTS WILL BE POSTED 5 DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT

Course overview
Join us for the Autism Educators Conference, a dynamic, one-day professional learning event designed for teachers, administrators, support staff, and service providers who are passionate about creating inclusive learning environments. This year’s theme “Interventions to Improve Outcomes with Neurodivergent Students in the Least Restrictive Environment " focuses on evidence-based strategies, tools, and practices that empower all educators to better meet the needs of autistic students in mainstream classrooms. Whether you're looking to enhance collaboration, implement practical interventions, or strengthen school-wide systems of support, this conference offers meaningful insights and actionable takeaways.   Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leading experts, gain fresh perspectives, and walk away with real-world strategies to apply in your school or district.  
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Advance Your Skills
The Autism Educators Conference is focused on therapeutic interventions teachers can implement to support students in inclusion general education classroom. Our speakers will include a Board Certified Behavior Analyst to discuss how to understand behavior and use functional strategies to support the student. A Special Education Consultant will present executive functioning interventions to increase engagement and learning. The Occupational Therapist will provide information on Neurodiversity and sensory solutions for the classroom. Question and answer sessions will be included to provide a collaborative learning sessions.
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Improving Special Needs Student Performance in Inclusive Classrooms

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Assessments

Speakers, Schedule, and Course Objectives

Dr. Harriett Dumas, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, CMT, CNMT - CEO - Discovery Therapy

Speaker: Mrs. Misty Thompson, M. Ed. - Special Education Consultant

Speaker: Mrs. Takisha Reid, MA, BCBA

Schedule:

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM - Understanding Autism in the Classroom
Speaker: Dr. Harriett Dumas, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, CMT, CNMT - CEO - Discovery Therapy

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Behavior Interventions for the Classroom and School Setting
Speaker: Mrs. Takisha Reid, MA, BCBA

11:30 AM– 12:30 PM – Increasing Attention & Learning – Executive Functioning Strategies
Speaker: Mrs. Misty Thompson, M. Ed.

12:30 PM – 12:50 PM Break & Lunch (to be provided by Discovery Therapy)
12:50 PM – 1:50 PM – Understanding Sensory Processing Skills & Interventions for the Classroom 
Speaker: Dr. Harriett Dumas, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, CMT, CNMT - CEO - Discovery Therapy

1:50 – 2:00 PM Wrap Up & Dismissal


The foundational practical skills to understand and improve behavior at school and home are presented. Participants will learn how to identify the ABCs of behavior. This will assist with how to observe the behavior, begin to understand it, break down the behaviors in components. The functions of behavior are presented and discussed for participants to learn how to identify core reasons of why the behavior is happening. The use of visuals to teach and train replacement behaviors will be presented. Differential reinforcement interventions will be discussed with strategies for rewarding positive behavior. Learn how to communicate clear expectations, build structure and helpful boundaries.

Participants will understand the purpose of visual supports combined with language to provide structure, predictability, and to promote understanding of routines and social interactions.

Course Objectives:
• Define applied behavior analysis (ABA) and practical application strategies during daily routines
• Review the Four Functions of Behavior
• Define the ABCs of Behavior
• Learn how to incorporate preventative behavioral interventions and strategies
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Increasing Attention & Learning Using Executive Functioning Interventions
Speaker: Mrs. Misty Thompkins, M. Ed. - Special Educator

Participants will define executive functioning and its importance as a neurodivergent intervention strategy to support children at school and home. Examples of executive functioning activities and support activities will be observed. This presentation will increase the participants’ understanding of cognitive behavior training visuals to use to improve a student’s task initiation, focus, sustained attention, and task completion. Positive behavior intervention and support activities are presented with examples of positive language are presented. • Define executive function & Understand when to use specific visual behavior tools for the classroom and home to teach task initiation, focus, attention, and task completion
Course Objectives:
• Understand how to incorporate PBIS with positive language skills during functional activities
• Discuss examples of cognitive behavior training visual tools for first/then charts, visual schedules/routines, lanyards, work habits, and functional routine charts
• Identify task and routine transition strategies to assist students with completing daily task
12:30 – 1:45 PM - LRE & Sensory Intervention Strategies for Improving Outcomes with Exceptional Students
Speaker: Dr. Harriett Dumas, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, CMT, CNMT - CEO Discovery Therapy

Participants will learn the definition of neurodivergence as it relates to students learning in the least restrictive environment. An understanding of brain centers commonly affected in neurodivergent individuals is discussed with relevancy to classroom support strategies. Participants will define sensory processing skills. The link between the central nervous system and how sensory information is received is discussed. The peripheral nervous system will be presented for an understanding of sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) responses which results in behavioral outburst, tantrums, screaming, and running.

Course Objectives:
• Define Neurodivergence & diagnosis requiring sensory supports in the classroom
• Identify how awareness of Neurodivergent sensory supports can improve memory and learning
• Define the goal of sensory processing interventions for the parasympathetic nervous system in the classroom to promote calming responses to improve learning in the LRE
• Recognize how neurochemical messages are communicated in the body that affects sensory self-regulation resulting in meltdowns
• Identify sensory environmental supports to incorporate in the classroom daily




Powerful studying

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Lots of learning activities

We offer you a banch of learning activities. Video, ebooks, quizzes, certificates, exams and a lot more. An awesome interactive learning experience!

Flexible pathways

You can navigate freely or sequentially. Courses can also be delivered with drip feed.

Reading with note taking

Multiple ways of adding notes and highlights. We help you improve your scanning and reading strategies.
Lots of questionnaires

A sophisticated testing engine

Assignments for every need

Improve your confidence with self-improvement quizzes, formal tests, file assignments, and certificates to prove newly acquired skills.

Question banks

We have huge pools of questions connected to multiple courses and tests. All you need for secure, randomized tests for continuing education (CE) and certification programs.

Branded digital certificates

Take awards of our own digital certificates! Showcase their competencies at the end of your learning adventure.