Program Description: The Diagnostic and Assessment Core/Autism Evaluation Clinic’s goal is to provide comprehensive assessment of subjects with autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disability. The staff completes comprehensive assessments with a variety of measures including the gold standard diagnostic tools (ADI-R and ADOS), standardized cognitive testing and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales 2nd Edition (VABS-II). The practicum trainee will learn and administer the standardized battery for cognitive testing, measures or parts of measures required for specific studies, and with increased familiarity with parent interviews, the practicum trainee might also learn to administer the VABS-II.
UCLA remains committed to provide state of the art clinical and research diagnostic assessments for children with autism and related disorders. The practicum trainee or trainees must have a working knowledge and eagerness, and preferably experience, working with families who are affected by autism or a related developmental disability. Individuals with autism often present with unique behavioral issues that require specific and flexible strategies to optimize their participation in cognitive assessment. Therefore, the practicum trainee’s learning experience is two-fold in learning both cognitive assessment for individuals who present with a wide range of abilities, no matter the age, and positive and flexible behavioral strategies to insure a positive experience by the research participant and his/her family. The practicum trainee will write research assessment summaries of measures administered, score related self-report research measures, and check the scoring of testing protocols completed by others (as others will check the practicum trainee’s scoring).
Current position openings: The maximum number of positions offered is two, and depends on the number of qualified candidates.
Resource Allocation: The assessments will take place in the 300 Medical Plaza Building. In the 300 Medical Plaza Building there is a 10 foot by 10 foot room for evaluation, with tables and chairs to accommodate the size of a child or adolescent for diagnostic assessment. The room has a one-way mirror for viewing from the observation room such that research assistants or supervisors, or parents may watch assessments without being seen.
The practicum trainee will be assigned a shared work space that includes a computer. The practicum trainee needs to be able to return calls or emails to supervising staff in a timely manner
Supervision: Supervision occurs individually or in a small group. Minimal expectations of supervision are one hour per week; typically a ratio of 1 hour supervision to 4 hours of direct human service delivery is expected.
Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior
