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On June 4, 2016 the Pacific Dental Services Foundation, with support from Autism Speaks, held their second free special needs training event to dental assistants, hygienists and faculty at Concorde Career Colleges, in order to increase access and promote awareness of the physical and mental challenges faced by special needs patients when it comes to oral healthcare.
Presenters included Autism Spectrum Disorder experts Dr. Jeanne Anne Carriere, PH.D (Director, Education Assessment Team and Kelly McKinnon-Bermingham, MA, MCBA (Director, Behavior Intervention).
The course provided a comprehensive look at Autism Spectrum Disorders and what every dental assistant and hygienist can do to better serve their patients and families including learning ways to create a problem-free setting to provide a positive experience at the dental office.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $570 million to its mission, the majority in science and medical research. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships in more than 70 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.
About Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation
The Pacific Dental Services Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization whose mission is to create opportunities to serve through improving oral healthcare locally, nationally and internationally. By creating opportunities to serve, the PDS Foundation will positively enhance the lives of those in need and in turn those who serve. The Foundation has four key pillars in which we provide access and advocacy to disadvantages and underserved communities; PDS Foundation Mobile Dental Clinic, Special Needs Advocacy and Training, International Service Trips and Oral Health Scholarships.
About Concorde Career College
Concorde Career Colleges, Inc. is a system of 16 campuses in eight states that has been training medical professionals for more than 60 years. Concorde is solely focused on health care education and offers a range of degree and diploma programs. From becoming a dental assistant to earning a degree in respiratory therapy, students complete some programs in as few as nine months and benefit from a hands-on, real-world learning environment that combines theoretical learning and practical application. For more information about Concorde’s graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the programs and other important information, please visit www.concorde.edu/disclosures.
Source: Pacific Dental Services
