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serve, and include autistic individuals provide a limited perspective of the complexities of autism, or perpetuate outdated myths about the ways autistic people experience the world.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 15 weeks
Dates: Friday, February 28 - Friday, June 13, 2025
Cost: $975 (group contract rates are available)
Microcredential Granted Upon Completion
Dates: Friday, February 28 - Friday, June 13, 2025
Cost: $975 (group contract rates are available)
Microcredential Granted Upon Completion
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 asynchronous (learn on your own time) 60-90 minute sessions and
- 15 synchronous (learn with the instructors and up to 15 other learners) 30-minute sessions
- Synchronous sessions take place on Fridays, 1:00 - 1:30 pm EST
- There will not be a synchronous session on Friday, May 23, 2025.
Click the "Register Now" button to register for the upcoming ISLEA Training.
The upcoming ISLEA Cohort will be led by:
Matthew D. Lerner, PhD
Course Director, Course Co-Developer,
& Core-Instructor he/him/his
Bio
Dr. Lerner has worked in the field of autism practice and science for nearly 20 years, having published approximately 150 articles and presented scholarly and community presentations on the science and understanding of autism many hundreds of times. He has contributed directly to the scientific knowledge base of autism, and has authored some of the authoritative works summarizing this literature (e.g., a manuscript defining how friendships emerge among individuals with autism; the APA Handbook of Psychopathology’s chapter on autism; key papers on the state and future of the clinical neuroscience of autism). |
Ava Gurba, MS
Course Co-Developer & Core Instructor
she/her/hers
Bio
Ava Gurba is a Senior Research Associate in the Social Connections and Treatment Lab (SCTL) at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. Her current research spans a wide array of topics including mental health in autism, autistic identity, stigma & prejudice in autism, neurodiversity, and neurodiversity-affirming interventions. Her work utilizes community-engaged and participatory approaches that seeks to center and uplift the perspectives of autistic people, their families, and their communities. Ava also identifies as autistic and disabled. Her disability advocacy efforts include the development and delivery of numerous training courses on autism and disability for various audiences around the world. Using both her lived and professional experience, she co-developed the ISLEA training program with Dr. Matthew Lerner and Jacquelyn Gates to help provide lay professionals, caregivers, and others gain a deeper understanding of autism and better support the autistic people in their lives and careers. |
For more information about ISLEA, click "Request Information" and complete the form.
The SCTL team will follow up with you.
The SCTL team will follow up with you.
