M-9 Differential Diagnosis: Finding Your Way through the Mental Health Diagnostic Maze
Presenter
Format and Time
- In-Person Training: 4.25 hours (8:30-12:45)
Feeling overwhelmed? Emotional Disability, Autism, Intellectual Disability—where do you even start? Many of these disorders share overlapping symptoms and eligibility criteria, making it tricky to tell them apart. But accurate differentiation is crucial for getting students the right support, crafting effective Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals, and providing appropriate services. In this 4-hour introductory training, you'll learn best practices for distinguishing between some of the most commonly confused special education categories, including Emotional Disability, Autism, Intellectual Disability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Other Health Impairment (OHI), and Language Disorders. Stop second-guessing—and start identifying with confidence.
Intended Audience
School psychologists, special education teachers, program specialists, speech-language pathologists, behaviorists, and others involved in the assessment process
Participants Will
- Understand the differences between several of the most confused special education criteria.
- Learn about best practices in differential assessment—the do's and don'ts.
- Learn about some best practices to support your identification of educationally based eligibilities.
- Understand Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria that can help you understand the nuances and implications of your eligibilities to better match supports and strategies.
