Introduction to the Science and Lived Experience of Autism (ISLEA)
Members of the autistic community aim to achieve full and productive lives and deserve to be understood for their unique abilities. Many efforts to support, serve, and include autistic individuals provide a limited perspective of the complexities of autism, or perpetuate outdated myths about the ways autistic people experience the world.
This program is designed to debunk common myths, explore recent scientific findings, and gain insight into the lived experience of those with autism. Its goal is to provide professionals in education, health, and human services (e.g., direct support professionals, 1:1 aides, nurses) with the knowledge they need to engage more effectively and humanely with members of the autistic community. Family members and caregivers of autistic individuals are also encouraged to enroll. Topics covered include clinical features of autism, managing stressful events, double empathy, social relationships, neurodiversity, and autistic culture.
ISLEA is co-taught by instructors with research/clinical expertise and lived experience, exemplifying the principle of “Nothing about us, without us.”
This program is designed to debunk common myths, explore recent scientific findings, and gain insight into the lived experience of those with autism. Its goal is to provide professionals in education, health, and human services (e.g., direct support professionals, 1:1 aides, nurses) with the knowledge they need to engage more effectively and humanely with members of the autistic community. Family members and caregivers of autistic individuals are also encouraged to enroll. Topics covered include clinical features of autism, managing stressful events, double empathy, social relationships, neurodiversity, and autistic culture.
ISLEA is co-taught by instructors with research/clinical expertise and lived experience, exemplifying the principle of “Nothing about us, without us.”
Duration: 30 hours over 9 weeks
Dates: Mondays and Fridays, May 7 - July 2, 2025, 4:30-5:00 PM EDT.
Cost:
Dates: Mondays and Fridays, May 7 - July 2, 2025, 4:30-5:00 PM EDT.
Cost:
- Without Graduate-Funding Code: $975 (group contract rates are available)
- With Graduate-Funding Code: $200
- Code: Graduate-ISLEA
- Use code at checkout to apply discount
- Trainees using the graduate-funding code will be contacted about participating in a research study about ISLEA.
- Code: Graduate-ISLEA
Last Day to Register: May 2
Learning Concepts:
ISLEA participants will:
Format:
ISLEA is 30 hours of online learning over the course of 15 weeks, consisting of:
ISLEA participants will:
- Develop a deeper, more reflective and empathic way of caring for autistic individuals,
- Learn ways to work more effectively with people across the autism spectrum,
- Gain a better understanding of the science and lived experience of autism, thereby reducing stress and burnout.
Format:
ISLEA is 30 hours of online learning over the course of 15 weeks, consisting of:
- 15 on-demand (learn on your own time) 60-90 minute sessions and
- 15 live (learn with the instructors and up to 15 other learners) 30-minute sessions
- Live sessions take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30-5:00 pm EDT.
- There will not be a synchronous session on Monday, May 26, 2025.
The upcoming ISLEA Cohort will be taught by Jacquelyn Gates, MA LBA and Jared Richards, BS.
ISLEA Co-developer and Instructor
she/her/hers BIO
Jacquelyn Gates is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University. Her research and clinical interests include better conceptualizing social experiences and developing clinical training programs aimed at improving the quality of support for autistic people. In addition, she has over a decade of clinical experience working with autistic individuals across the lifespan as both a New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst and as a clinical psychologist-in-training. These include delivering neurodiversity-affirming interventions and adapting evidence-based practices to best meet the individual needs of her clients. Jacquelyn co-developed the ISLEA training program along with Ava Gurba and Dr. Matthew Lerner. |
Instructor
they/any BIO
Jared is a third-year Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate at Drexel University. They have experience working with autistic individuals spanning in age from early childhood to adulthood within a variety of research and clinical settings. Their primary interests are largely focused on social and emotional factors related to wellbeing at the intersection of neurodevelopmental conditions (especially autism) and co-occurring mental health problems (e.g., depression). They are particularly interested in identifying and filling service gaps faced autistic individuals across the lifespan (especially in adolescence and adulthood), in part by promoting epistemic justice for autistic people (e.g., participatory research on community-derived constructs and priorities), as well as by adapting and personalizing evidence-based interventions to better support autistic individuals' unique mental health needs and goals. They are also passionate about disseminating information about autism to professional and lay audiences, and they look forward to serving as an ISLEA instructor. |
Interested in ISLEA? Click the button below to register!
For more information about ISLEA, click "Request Information" and complete the form.
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The SCTL team will follow up with you.
