ECHO Autism: Allied Health Professionals - Spring 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 12:00 PM - Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 1:30 PM, Online

With increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which occurs in 1:36 children in the United States, diagnostic and treatment demands far exceed the capacity of specialty centers. Early identification, referral and effective treatment are essential for enhancing outcomes, yet children with ASD face delays in diagnosis.

By participating in Echo Autism, allied health professionals receive mentoring focused on improving their knowledge, confidence and competence in managing children with ASD in their respective practices. Participants receive direct benefits in the form of knowledge gained and continuing education credit. Ultimately, participation will benefit children with autism and their families by enhancing access to best-practice medical care in local communities. Real-time access to autism and behavioral specialists. Case-based and didactic learning for allied health professionals.

Target Audience: This course is designed for non-prescriber allied health professionals who work directly with children with autism. It will focus on behavior and session management. Suitable participants include Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP), Occupational Therapists (OT), Physical Therapists (PT), Social Workers (SW), Care Coordinators (CC), Psychologists (Psych),  Registered Nurses (RN), Teachers, School Psychologists, and Intervention Specialists.

Please note, this course is not intended for individuals who have already received specialized training, such as DDBP staff or Psychologists with specialized autism training. While participants may have some prior training, this course will cover more basic concepts than those aimed at experts.

Echo autism sessions are offered bi-weekly from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET).

Sessions are on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. 
Dates: 4/2, 4/16, 5/7, 5/21, 6/4,  6/18, 7/2, 7/16
 

Session Topics Include: 
Autism and the Neurodiversity Movement
Development Engagement
Communication Supports
ABC's of Behavior
Evidence-Based Practices for ASD
Multidisciplinary Approach to Feeding Challenges
Co-Occurring conditions
Supports & Resources

 

Featured Faculty: 
Pamela Williams-Arya, MD 
Dr. Williams-Arya is a board certified developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with clinical expertise in the evaluation of autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. She worked as a primary care pediatrician for 10 years prior to returning to pursue a fellowship in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. She also works in an interdisciplinary evaluation clinic for preschool-aged children with a history of prenatal opioid exposure and is a Maternal Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) faculty member involved in interdisciplinary training. 

Jennifer Smith, PsyD
Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a clinical psychologist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. She is a board-certified behavior analyst. Dr. Smith is the Program Director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Training Program in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s. 

Why should I participate? 
Learners access pediatric specialists for professional collaboration through regular teleECHO sessions, which are like an interactive grand round presentation. During a session, the specialist will present a brief didactic. Learners present cases to the "learning network," which includes the specialist team and other participants, to receive feedback. 

Benefits for Participating Clinicians:
Participate from the convenience of your office or home 
Face-to-face networking and collaboration with colleagues 
Sessions led by sub-specialist 
Receive expert opinions on cases 

What is “Common to Complex”?
From Common to Complex: Utilizing Telehealth to Connect Primary Care Providers to Pediatric Specialists” is a project to look at using technology and case-based learning to improve knowledge, self-efficacy and have a positive impact on care. Cincinnati Children’s will use the Project ECHO methodology to offer telehealth-based learning for primary care providers over a 6-12-month period. Project ECHO, Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, is a virtual learning network method that enables information sharing regarding best practices and access for specialty care in all areas, especially rural or underserved areas.

How Project Echo Works
Project ECHO – Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes – uses technology, Project ECHO bridges the gap between healthcare specialists and community-based clinicians. The Project ECHO model is based on four principles: 

Use technology to leverage scarce resources
Share “best practices” to reduce disparities
Apply case-based learning to master complexity
Evaluate and monitor outcomes 

During Project ECHO sessions, healthcare clinicians present cases using a case-based format using video conferencing equipment. Project ECHO specialist and other participants discuss patient cases and recommendations are made regarding a treatment plan. Specialists and community clinicians hear various case presentations, as well as follow-up and outcomes, and over time greatly increase their knowledge and experience in the evaluation and treatment of autism. 

What Clinicians and Partners say: 
“I feel more confident, and it makes providing care easier. This project allows for increased opportunities to learn, and patients to get better care.”

“Project Echo has been a valuable learning experience for me, and I have learned and incorporated new ideas into my practice as a direct result of my participation. I find that sharing in a group setting and seeing how others approach problems to be a good way of synthesizing how I would or might approach things in my daily practice. I highly recommend participation in Project Echo learning opportunities as they come available." 

1. Describe the diagnostic criteria and behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and common co-occurring conditions.
2. Apply evidence-based strategies and resources to support communication, behavior, and sensory needs in children with ASD.
3. Explain the collaborative roles of interprofessional team members in addressing the needs of children with ASD.

In support of improving patient care, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:   This activity is approved for a maximum 1.5 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours.

Clinical Counselors: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is an approved provider of professional counselor continuing education credits by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, Provider #RCX111201. This program is approved for 1.5 clock hours (per session).

Social Workers: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is an approved provider of social work clock hours by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, Provider # RSX030902. This program is approved for 1.5 clock hours (per session).

OT: OTs may receive up to 1.5 credit hours per session. Please keep proof of content (brochure, agenda, notes, etc.) and a copy of a CE certificate indicating credit and verification of participation.

SLP: This activity provides credit through Cincinnati Children's accreditation with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA). This activity can be counted towards ASHA professional development hours (PDH). Credits should be reported with a 1:1 reciprocity up to the total activity maximum of 1.5 credit hours (per session). SLPs should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Teacher: 1.5 Contact Hours of Educator Credit are provided. Final approval of Certificates of Participation will be determined by your Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC). Keep all Certificates of Participation with your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).

Psychology: Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological  Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. This activity is approved for 1.5 credit hours.

IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.5 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

 

APA Psychology Regular CE (1.50 hours), CME - Non-Physician (Attendance) (1.50 hours), Counseling (G) (1.50 hours), IPCE (1.50 hours), Nursing CE (1.50 hours), Social Work – (OH CSWMFT) (1.50 hours), Speech (1.50 hours), Teaching (LPDC) (1.50 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

No faculty are available for this activity at this time.