Introduction to the Science and Lived Experience of Autism (ISLEA)

Duration: 30 hours over 9 weeks
Cost: $975 (individual rate; group contract rates available.) $200 with Graduate-Funding Code
Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, May 7 - July 2, 2025, 4:30 - 5:00 PM EDT (Additional cohorts announced soon.)
Microcredential Granted Upon Completion

REGISTER HERE

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serve, and include autistic individuals provide a limited perspective of the complexities of autism, or perpetuate outdated myths about the ways autistic people experience the world.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.”

Learning Concepts:
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 9 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

    We are excited to share that one of the ISLEA developers has received funding to support her graduate work to understand the impact of ISLEA! This means two things for you: 
    1. If you participate in this project, you will be eligible for a $15 Amazon gift card as a thank you for your time and effort. 
    2. You can receive a significant tuition reduction: participation in ISLEA as part of this project will cost only $200 (that is a $795 reduction from the usual cost)! 

    We anticipate that it will take, at most, 20 minutes to complete project surveys.  

    Cost: 
    Without Graduate-Funding Code: $975 (individual rate; group contract rates available. If interested in a group rate, please email sctl@drexel.edu.
    With Graduate-Funding Code: $200 

    • Code: GRAD-ISLEA 
    • Use code at checkout to apply discount 

    The upcoming ISLEA cohort will be led by Jaquelyn Gates, MA, LBA and Jared Richards, BS. 

    Jacquelyn Gates, MA, LBA (she/her/hers): 
    ISLEA Co-developer and Instructor
    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. 


    Jared Richards, BS (they/any): 
    ISLEA Instructor
    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.

    REGISTER HERE

    For more information about ISLEA, complete the interest form, and the SCTL team will follow up with you.