Category Archives: SPARK

Upcoming SPARK event: “Adulting” Effectively Preparing Individuals with ASD

Events, SPARK

January 31, 2017 at 12:00pm EST, SPARK will be hosting an event called “Adulting”: Effectively Preparing Individuals with ASD. To register follow this link: Adulting.

About this event

The transition from adolescence to adulthood does not always receive as much attention as is needed. Often transition services are limited, leaving individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) without the level of preparation needed for “adulting”. We need to begin preparing individuals with ASD as early as possible for the future. The overall goal is for the individual with ASD to have the best quality of life possible. There are a number of variables that become increasingly important as a child with autism moves through adolescence and then onto adulthood. Specific areas of concern that will be discussed include: skill selection, fading of systems, prompt dependency, schedules of reinforcement, behavioral support, and dependency on 1:1 instruction.

About the presenter

Mary E. McDonald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Mary E. McDonald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA Image
Mary E. McDonald has 25 years’ experience directing programs for students with autism from early intervention through adulthood. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Specialized Education at Hofstra University and also directs the Advanced Certificate Programs, including the advanced certificate in applied behavior analysis (ABA). Dr. McDonald is serving as the Interim Associate Executive Director of Long Island Programs for Eden II/Genesis. Eden II is a nonprofit organization that supports people with autism throughout their lives to achieve their full potential through service, science and passion.
Dr. McDonald completed her Ph.D. in Learning Theory at the CUNY Graduate Center and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral Level and a licensed behavior analyst in New York State. She has published articles in the areas of self-management, social reciprocity, fads in autism intervention, and schedules to promote cooperation of vocational skills.

SPARK: UW attends the Tri-Cities 12th Annual Northwest Autism Conference

Seattle Children's Autism Center, SPARK

Last week, our SPARK study (www.SPARKforAutism.org/UW) coordinator, Emily, visited the Tri-Cities for three days to spread awareness about the SPARK project.  Her first day was spent at the ARC of Tri-Cities, where she met with ARC staff members and the ARC’s Parent-to-Parent group, which is a support group for parents of children with special needs.  Emily gave a presentation to the meeting attendees about the history of autism genetics research and about the SPARK study.  She showed families how to register for the project online and she answered questions about how SPARK intends to help families impacted by autism.

Emily spent the last two days of her trip in the Tri-Cities at the 12th Annual Northwest Autism Conference.  This conference is meant for families, providers, and educators and provides tools and information on autism.  At the conference, Emily had a vendor table and displayed SPARK materials.  Families and providers were able to approach Emily with questions about the SPARK study and about autism research in general.  She even helped some families register for SPARK on the spot!  The conference was a great success!  See below for pictures of Emily’s SPARK vendor table and of the conference poster.  If you are interested in joining UW/SCAC’s more than 600 SPARK families, go to www.SPARKforAutism.org/UW to register or call Emily at 206-987-7917.

NW Autism Con 2016 - EF and booth NW Autism Con 2016 - program

SPARK Launched!

Bernier Lab, Interviews, Research, SPARK

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If you or your child has a professional diagnosis of autism, The University of Washington Bernier Lab invites you to learn more about SPARK, a new online research study sponsored by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative. The mission of SPARK is clear: speed up research and advance understanding of autism by creating the nation’s largest autism study. Joining SPARK is simple – register online and provide a DNA sample via a saliva collection kit in the comfort of your own home. Register in person at the University of Washington or the Seattle Children’s Autism Center by contacting us at 206-987-7917 or visit www.SPARKforAutism.org/UW. Together, we can help spark a better future for all individuals and families affected by autism.