DR. ALISA BAHL

Dr. Alisa Bahl, a pediatric clinical psychologist in Santa Cruz, presented a talk entitled, "Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders" at The Bay School on July 27, 2005. Dr. Bahl's presentation was open to the public and more than 30 community members attended. Dr. Bahl discussed the key components of a comprehensive autism evaluation and presented video footage to illustrate her points. Also discussed was how screening and evaluation should occur as recommended by the California Department of Developmental Services Best Practice Guidelines.

Dr. Bahl's presentation was part of The Bay School's Distinguished Lecturer Series, a new series of anticipated talks designed to inform the community about the latest treatment and research findings related to autism and developmental disorders.

To learn more about the Distinguished Lecturer Series, please join The Bay School's mailing list today, visit The Bay School's web site at http://www.thebayschool.org, or call 831-462-9620 and ask for Pam Andrews.

Dr. Alisa Bahl is a licensed child clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of children with and without disabilities. Currently, she is a private practitioner in Santa Cruz, California. Before moving to California, Dr. Bahl was a faculty member at Towson University. Dr. Bahl completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and her Clinical Internship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation in Nebraska. Dr. Bahl has provided clinical assessment, diagnostic, and intervention services for children with a range of neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders for over 10 years. She has published numerous articles and has presented at many conferences and workshops. Referrals for Dr. Bahl's services can be made by calling 831-359-6144.

The Bay School (TBS) is a non-profit, nonpublic school that is certified by the California Department of Education.

Located in Santa Cruz, California, TBS was founded in 1998 to provide measurable and lasting improvements in the lives of children with autism. The year-round school serves students with autism between the ages of 5 and 21 regardless of their race, national or ethnic origin.

TBS was launched to fill a growing need in Santa Cruz and its adjoining counties. Although scientists are still struggling to unlock the mysteries of autism, researchers have discovered highly effective approaches to teaching children with autism. These approaches, based on the scientifically proven principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), form the core of the science-based educational programs used at TBS. Individual educational programs are designed for each student at TBS following a detailed assessment of their abilities. The Bay School instructors use teaching procedures that help their students master language skills, achieve academic mastery, and learn self help and safety skills. Along with making measurable academic achievements, the ABA approach is helping TBS students achieve the highest level of independence possible.