Exclusively for The Pharmacy Profession, Barbara offers an incredible amount of crucial information for Pharmacists who are working with families who have children, adolescents, young adults and adults living with Autism. Upon completion of this certification course, Pharmacists can be considered to be “Autism Care Specialists” with “Autism Friendly Retail Environments.”
​
Autism now affects 1 in 36, with diagnosed rates continuing to dramatically increase. Autism Spectrum Disorder is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in North America (Autism Speaks, 2023) Due to the many challenges of living with Autism, including : communication; sensory; behavior; gross motor; fine motor; daily living skills and more – this segment of the population is often unable to communicate pain, unable to maintain their own health & hygiene, show super heightened responses to sensory inputs and often cannot tolerate the “regular” retail environment. Health ailments and manifestations go undetected … and untreated … far more than the general population. This program will help understand the reasons for and preventative measures for the many common manifestations as a result of living with autism
​
Topics include:
• Autism – what it is – what it means
• Your Role as an Autism Care Specialist
• biomedical considerations
• increased safety issues = 24/7 supervision
• reinforcement, rewards, reinforcement schedules
• speech … speech and more speech
• PECS, Sign, Visuals
• OT
• sensory considerations
• social inclusion and modeling considerations
• behavior
• daily living skills / compliance at home
• eating / sleeping / toileting
• playtime therapy
• video modelling
• the environment = adapted retail environments = having an autism friendly retail environment
• working with support teams = the family / the therapy team / the school team
• advocacy … advocacy and more advocacy
• seizures
• all the way to adults with autism
• so now you’re an autism care specialist = marketing your business
• involvement and contribution in the world of autism
​
LEARNING OBJECTIVES :
-
Learn what Autism is, how it impacts the person, the family and, ultimately, your business and your role as an Autism Care Specialist.
-
​
• Learn how you can make your retail environment “Autism Friendly” with Adapted Retail Environments.
• Learn how you can increase compliance – in your retail environment -- and in your customer’s home.
• Learn how to deal with challenging behaviors and overcome communication barriers when dealing with people with Autism.
• Learn how “Video Modelling” can be used successfully with Autism.
• Learn – now that you are an “Autism Care Specialist” – now what ? Marketing your business and involvement with the world of Autism.
