CEU Event: Play with Purpose: Integrating ESDM and Naturalistic Teaching in Autism Intervention

Join BCBA Shayna Gaunt for an engaging CEU session focused on using play as a powerful vehicle for learning in early intervention. This presentation will highlight the principles of naturalistic teaching, with an emphasis on the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)—an evidence-based, play-based intervention designed for young children with autism.

Participants will explore how to embed learning opportunities into naturally occurring routines and interactions, and how to use the child’s own interests to guide skill development. Shayna will share practical strategies for building engagement, promoting language and social communication, and creating teaching moments that feel fun and meaningful for both the child and the therapist.

Whether you’re new to ESDM or looking to enhance your play-based teaching repertoire, this session will provide actionable insights and tools for effective early intervention.

Attendees will earn 1 Learning CEU for ACE, QABA, and IBAO certification.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe the core principles of naturalistic teaching and how they apply within the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM).
Identify strategies to use play and child-led routines to teach communication, social, and cognitive skills.
Apply techniques to embed learning opportunities into natural environments in a way that supports engagement and generalization.