To: Adult Autism Waiver Service Providers

From: The Bureau of Autism Services, DPW

Re: A new training opportunity

Autism Toolkit: Nuts to Bolts Training Series

Presented by the Bureau of Autism Services Clinical Team

The Bureau of Autism Services is pleased to announce a training opportunity designed especially for direct service providers working with individuals with an autism spectrum diagnosis ( ASD ). An early registration period is now open for providers of the Adult Autism Waiver.

Training Description: Each 4 hour session within this three-part series will focus on providing information, strategies, hands-on practice, and discussion opportunities relevant to all areas in which someone is supporting a person with an autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ). The content for Sessions 2 and 3 will be geared to strategies for professionals supporting adults with autism.

Who Should Attend: This training series is designed for professionals who provide direct supports for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) including but not limited to direct care staffs, personal care assistants, habilitative aides, staff supervisors, etc.

Can I sign up for just one or two sessions or should I sign up for all three sessions?

To gain the most in-depth understanding of individuals with an ASD , it is recommended that participants attend all three sessions. However, each session was designed as a stand-alone workshop so participants can select the ones that best meet their professional needs. Participants can register for one, two or all three sessions.

Training Dates, Times and Locations

This training series will be offered from June through September 2010 in six regions across Pennsylvania . For the training dates, times and locations in your region, please review the attached chart.

Note: The specific location for the southwest region will be announced on the registration site listed below and http://bastraining.tiu11.org once it has been finalized.

Costs

There is no fee for this training. Travel, meals, and hotel accommodations will not be provided and are the responsibility of attendee.

Series Overview

Session #1: Tool Guide: Basics of Autism

This session will review basic information necessary in understanding and supporting persons with an ASD across the lifespan. A specific focus will be on social and communication issues. Examples will be used to highlight strategies. Additionally, time to apply new information and strategies to individual situations will be provided.

Session #2: Power Tools: Focusing on Addressing Challenging Behavior of Persons with ASD

This session will provide a framework to understanding and addressing challenging behaviors in individuals with an ASD . A specific focus will be on identifying why someone is engaging in a challenging behavior and how to be more proactive in supporting that person. Examples will be used to explain information and strategies presented. Additionally, time to apply new information and strategies to individual situations will be provided.

Session #3: Putting the Pieces Together: Teaching Skills to Persons with ASD

This session will describe strategies proven effective in teaching new skills (e.g., social, communication, daily living skills) to people with an ASD . Specifically, approaches that encourage independence and motivation will be explored. Examples will be used to highlight strategies. Additionally, time to apply new information and strategies to individual situations will be provided.

Register today through our online registration site: http://www.solutionwhere.com/bastraining/cw/main.asp

How do I register?

Visit http://www.solutionwhere.com/bastraining/cw/main.asp to register online for this and other BAS trainings. If you have not previously registered for BAS trainings through this system, you will need to create a free Log-In ID and password prior to accessing the registration form. You should record your Log-In ID and password so that you will be able to access documentation of attendance and continuing education. This ID and password will be stored and can be used to register for future BAS trainings. Please note that paper registration forms are no longer used for BAS training opportunities.

WAIVER PROVIDERS Registration Key : autismtraining

This is the password you will need to enter when completing the registration form for each of the three sessions in this series. This key will only be needed during the early registration period in May 2010. After that, registration will be made available to the larger provider community. Do NOT share this password key with anyone who is not an Adult Autism Waiver provider. Thank you.

Is there a registration deadline?
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants who register for the training but are unable to attend should deregister online as soon as possible. Individuals on the wait list for a session will then automatically be enrolled.

Do I need to provide an email address when I register?
Yes. Registration confirmation, wait list status, and additional information about the trainings will be sent via email through the online registration system. Email addresses will not be used for purposes unrelated to Bureau of Autism Services trainings. If you do not have an email address, you may provide one for someone who is able to receive the information on your behalf. Training confirmation, reminders and evaluations will be sent from

ra-bastrainings@state.pa.us We recommend you add this address to your address book so messages are not flagged as spam.

Can I register multiple people from our agency?
No. Registering multiple people in the online registration system is not recommended. It is important individual staff create a unique Log-In ID and password account to access registration confirmations, wait list status, attendance records, certificates, and required evaluations.

Dates and Locations

Weekly targeted trainings on various waiver specific topics will be conducted every Thursday from 1-2pm starting February 11^th. Topics will be advertised in advance and attendance is voluntary. Trainings will be conducted on Adobe Acrobat meeting via online and requires participants to have access to a computer with sound output. Registration is not required; however, BAS will track attendees who do participate in the training. Please note that only 95 computers will be able to log in for any particular training session, so BAS allows for your agency to have multiple people at one computer. Please stay tuned for upcoming timely topics!

To log into these trainings, please use the following link: http://bastraining.acrobat.com/weeklyprovidertrainings/

Sign in as a guest using your “First and Last name, Agency Name”