The Help Group hosted its second Virtual Distinguished Lecturer Series of 2021 this past Saturday, July 17, featuring leading experts, Thomas Brown, PhD, Director of the Brown Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders, and Elizabeth Laugeson, PsyD, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA Semel Institute, and Founder and Director of UCLA PEERS® Clinic. Dr. Brown presented, When ADHD and Asperger Syndrome Overlap: What to Look For and How to Intervene, based on his newest book. Followed by, Dr. Laugeson, who presented, The Science of Healthy Social Interactions for Youth with Autism, ADHD, and Other Social Challenges. 

“We are delighted to be joined once again by Dr. Tom Brown and Dr. Liz Laugeson, leading experts in their respective fields – each is prolific in their body of accomplishments,” shared Dr. Barbara Firestone, President and CEO of The Help Group, in her welcoming remarks. Dr. Brown has 40 plus years of experience as a clinical psychologist and is recognized for his outstanding contributions to research and professional education in ADHD in children and adults. Dr. Laugeson has been a principal investigator and collaborator on a number of studies investigating social skills training for youth with developmental disabilities from preschool to early adulthood and is the co-developer of an evidence-based social skills intervention for teens and young adults known as the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) at UCLA.

In Dr. Brown’s presentation based on his soon to be released book, “ADHD and Asperger Syndrome in Smart Kids and Adults,” he offered detailed examples of children, teens and adults who struggle with the executive function impairments of ADHD and the significant social-emotional impairments of Asperger syndrome. He described diverse examples of their strengths and their difficulties and explained how these individuals can be helped to overcome their ADHD challenges with appropriate intervention and to improve their ability to understand and interact more effectively with others.

Dr. Laugeson’s presentation focused on evidence-based strategies for teaching social skills related to making and keeping friends, dating, finding and maintaining employment, and handling bullying. Attendees gained concrete strategies for promoting healthy social interactions for youth with ASD, ADHD, and other social challenges based on the widely recognized UCLA PEERS® program.

All registered attendees will be receiving a soon to be released copy of Dr. Brown’s, ADHD and Asperger Syndrome in Smart Kids and Adults.