1.1 | About Us

HANDS in Autism® was founded in 2004 to extend the outreach and training offered by the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center at Riley Hospital and IU School of Medicine. With incredible passion and efforts of HANDS in Autism® staff and foundational support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and subsequently from such sponsors as the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), IU Health, philanthropic organizations and individuals, HANDS has emerged as a statewide program and resource center in its own right. HANDS in Autism® provides innovative research-based, and practical trainings and technical to school staff, medical and service providers, caregivers, and individuals with ASD, or those with related social, communication, sensory, or behavioral challenges based on the HANDS in Autism® training model. This model is founded on the belief that training should focus on:

• Individual strengths,
• Comprehensive training,
• Data driven decision making,
• Evidence-based intervention strategies based in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and
• Hands-on practice, coaching and mentoring with individuals with ASD and with a range of strengths and challenges in a variety of functional and academic skills.

Available through HANDS are customizable live and online trainings, Interactive workshops, on-site coaching and consultations, and intensive hands-on Summer Training for school personnel. Self-paced tutorials, webcasts, and podcasts, as well as downloadable materials are available online.