An Interprofessional Education Initiative for Allied Health Students Preparing to Serve Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The need for effective services for persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is driving efforts to better prepare teams of allied health professionals. To address this need, an interprofessional graduate course was piloted with students from three allied health professions: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. The course aims were to address knowledge and competency in the field of ASD and to promote interprofessional abilities during entry-level preparation. Nine graduate students participated in weekly on-line education and attended a day-long autism conference with local practitioners from seven different professions. Attitude changes toward interprofessional practice were assessed with two pre- to post-test Likert scales. Results revealed statistically significant increases in favorable ratings towards other disciplines as well as for two interprofessional competency domains, interprofessional communication and teams and teamwork. A two-part measure yielding quantitative (Likert scales) and qualitative data (open-ended written responses) revealed a significant increase in ratings from pre- to post-test for basic knowledge of ASD and increased specificity and confidence in the open-ended written responses. This course is one component of a broader initiative across campus, in the region, and statewide to better serve individuals with ASD.