Date/Time: Thursday, September 4, 2025, 10:00-11:30 am ETA
Description:
Autism affects 1 in 31 children and approximately 1 in 45 adults. Given this prevalence, medical providers are bound to encounter autistic patients, most often for care unrelated to autism. Autistic patients have higher rates of medical comorbidities than their neurotypical counterparts, yet they consistently report difficulties accessing the care they need and effectively communicating with their care providers. Similarly, providers report limited confidence regarding how they may need to modify their care delivery for autistic patients. This webinar is designed to support healthcare providers in learning how to better accommodate their autistic patients’ needs to improve provider-patient communication, enhance patient comfort during medical visits, and ultimately increase the quality of care provided.
Objectives:
At the completion of training, participants will be able to:
- Understand the unique learning styles of autistic people and list four differences in how autistic people learn.
- Identify strategies to provide appropriate, compassionate medical care that meets the learning and comfort needs of autistic patients
- Develop ideas for flexibility in care procedures and accommodations that will benefit all patients, not just those with autism
Target Audience:
This webinar is designed for healthcare providers who do not specialize in autism-related services, such as general practitioners, pediatricians, specialists, nurses, CNAs, and medical office staff who want to learn how to provide accessible healthcare to patients with different learning and communication needs. No prior training in autism or experience with autistic patients is required, though practitioners with expertise in autism are nevertheless encouraged to attend.
Presenter:
Ashley Hester, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist at the Raleigh TEACCH Autism Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the UNC Department of Psychiatry. She is a licensed psychologist and works with autistic individuals across the lifespan and their families. Dr. Hester primarily performs diagnostic evaluations for autism with both children and adults, and co-leads a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group for autistic adults. Dr. Hester enjoys training students and other professionals and helping families understand the unique learning styles associated with autism. Her background is in working with teens with psychiatric comorbidities and dangerous behaviors and she is particularly interested in how these issues may affect autism diagnosis and presentation. She is also passionate about making healthcare more accessible for autistic patients and applying principles of Universal Design to help all patients to be more actively involved in their healthcare and ensuring that their healthcare needs are met.
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