Autism Clinical Consultation
Dr. Krasno provides consultation services to families and individuals on any topic relating to Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has over a decade of experience in assessment and treatment of autism, including a two-year fellowship in early diagnosis at the Yale Child Study Center, doctoral training with Bob and Lynn Koegel at UCSB, and a pre-doctoral internship at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. In her position as the Clinical Director of the Koegel Autism Center at UCSB, she has noticed a great need in the local community for more information and awareness with regard to autism as well as the need for more assessment and treatment resources.
She is passionate about empowering individuals and families with information about autism. She uses a strengths-based approach and considers autism to be a diagnosis to describe an individual’s strengths and areas of vulnerability as well as a type of neurodiversity. There have been many advancements in recent years in the field’s understanding of the diagnosis. For example, we now have better knowledge of how autism can present across the lifespan, the difference in presentation across genders, and the true spectrum nature of the diagnosis. Each individual on the spectrum has their own unique areas of strength and areas of need. Dr. Krasno tailors her consultation to each individual’s and family’s needs.
Dr. Krasno is available to consult with parents/caregivers who suspect their child may be on the spectrum and are seeking local assessment resources. For parents with teenage and young adult children with autism, she can provide consultation on important areas of focus for the transition to adulthood and where to seek services. She can also provide education and support to families with children who have recently received a new diagnosis as well as help adults navigate a first-time diagnosis.
Additional consultation topics may include but are not limited to: autism diagnostic criteria and its presentation across the lifespan; how the diagnosis relates to you/your child; neurodiversity; gender differences; early signs in infants/toddlers; targeting daily living skills and transition to adulthood; and local resources for assessment, treatment, and parent education and support. She also has in-depth knowledge of evidence-based treatment for autism, particularly a motivation and play-based approach called Pivotal Response Treatment, which was developed at UCSB. She can also review psychological reports and walk individuals and parents through the information provided and what it means for the future.