A Neurodevelopmental and Neurodiversity-Informed Approach to Supporting Children and Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum: ​Using DIR® and DIR Floortime® to
​Promote Development
**This course also meets the prerequisite requirements for professionals
to enter the DIRFloortime® Professional Certificate Program.** ​

​
Live In-Person Conference
​Wed/Th. May 17-18, 2023  Portland, Maine
​9:00 AM - 4:30 PM each day

Coastal Education Services
​is proud to bring 
​The International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) to Portland, Maine


​Conference Location
​Double Tree by Hilton Hotel
363 Maine Mall Road
Portland, ME 04106
1-207-775-6161

Across from the Maine Mall, 
1 mile from the Portland Airport with
a free shuttle to/from the Airport 24/7 and free onsite parking

The International Council on Development and Learning, Inc.

​D.I.R. Floortime® (also known as Floortime) is an intervention that is used to promote an individual's development through a respectful, playful, joyful, and engaging process. It uses the power of relationships and human connections to promote engagement, communication, positive behaviors, and thinking. It is based on the DIR® model that was developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and his colleagues. It is used around the world by teachers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, mental health professionals, parents, and many others that care for individuals with developmental challenges or other related needs. It is an evidence-based approach to promoting human development that is used with children, young adults, and even adults...especially those on the autism spectrum.


​​COURSE SUMMARY:
This 2-day, 12-hour course, will help professionals expand their understanding of autism and neurodiversity-informed practice. The course will help professionals identify specific therapeutic and educational practices that can be used to help children and adolescents develop and learn, whether the children are diagnosed with autism or are facing other developmental challenges. Although behaviorists will typically present autism as a behavioral disorder, by definition in the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, it is a neurodevelopmental disorder (or difference). Understanding autism as a neurodevelopmental difference necessitates that therapists and educators work from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Neurodevelopmental approaches are also well aligned with good quality neurodiversity-informed practices. Professionals will learn how differences in language development, sensory processing, motor processing and other individual differences can impact development. Finally, the course will introduce DIR® (also known as DIRFloortime®) principles and strategies that can be infused into a therapist's or educator's current practices to improve outcomes and support the development and learning of children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. This course also meets the prerequisite requirements for professionals to enter the DIRFloortime® Professional Certificate Program. ​
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INTENDED AUDIENCE: This training is appropriate for Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists Educators, Early Intervention Professionals, Counselors, Social Workers, Art Therapists, Music Therapists, and Mental Health treating professionals of all skill levels.

CONTENT DISCLOSURE:  The course content is focused on a specific product or service (DIRFloortime®) and there will be no mention of other products or services. ICDL does not receive any commercial support for the DIRFloortime certificate courses. If any commercial support is provided for a conference or event, it will be disclosed on the promotional material or webpage for that specific event.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE/CEU'S:  All participants can request a Certificate of Attendance documenting hours of participation and available professional continuing education credits at the time of registration. Please note that continuing education credit is only provided for direct seat time. Course preparation including readings, lectures, and mentoring is not included in the CE hour or credit total.  Participants must attend the entire course to get CE credit. Partial credit is not an option.  No partial credit is available. A link for this will be  provided during the conference.  More information is in our Continuing Education section below.  
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Registration Form,  Pricing and Payment 
​
View the Full
​2 Day Course Schedule

​
​Review  Learning Objectives
​and Speaker Bios/Disclosures​
​
ADA Requests,    Lodging Info,    & Participant​ 
      Policies
​   
Information on CEU's and Certificates of Attendance, Associations & Organizations