ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC), which opened this month, will present a lecture on autism by Amy M. Wetherby, the L.L. Schendel Professor of Communication Disorders at Florida State University, and a workshop on the same topic Feb. 7 and 8.

Wetherby will speak on “Early Indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Identification to Intervention” on Feb. 7, 4:30-6 p.m., in the Colloquium Room, 4448 East Hall, on the U-M campus.

Her presentation will review research on the earliest indicators of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in infants, toddlers, and preschool children. She will provide a framework for linking those early indicators to goals for improving the children’s communication and social interaction in school and home environments.

The lecture, presented in collaboration with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD), is free and open to the public. Parking passes are available upon request two weeks in advance of the event. Call (734) 936-8600 or e-mail um.autism@umich.edu.

UMACC and WISD also will offer a workshop for educators and families of children with autism on Feb. 8, 8:30-11:30 a.m., at the WISD offices, 1819 S. Wagner Road in Ann Arbor.

Autism is now understood to be a developmental disorder involving impairments of social interaction, communication, and symbolic abilities. Led by Wetherby, this workshop will provide an overview of clinically proven supported practices for enhancing language and communication abilities of young children with ASD. These practices include the SCERTS intervention model, a comprehensive approach that stands for Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support.

To register online for the workshop, visit http://wash.k12.mi.us. Click on Professional Development. Registration deadline is Feb. 1. The fee for the workshop is $25.

Wetherby has had over 20 years of clinical experience and is a Fellow of the American Speech and Hearing Association. She is co-author of the “Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales” and executive director of the Florida State University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. She has directed numerous research grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, including a comprehensive intervention for early social interaction in very young children with ASD.

In January, UMACC opened clinical services to families seeking diagnostic evaluations and treatment for their children with autism and communication disorders. UMACC is committed to the integration of research, training, and clinical service. The interdisciplinary center develops and conducts research to enhance knowledge and understanding of adults and children with autism and trains future researchers and clinicians in the scientific study, diagnosis, and treatment of children with autism.