1.4 | Overview of HANDS in Autism® Projects
One of the primary goals of the HANDS in Autism® center is to bridge and collaborate across environments and disciplines. As such, we are continually involved in a wide variety of projects and activities. Below is a brief overview of some of the major projects currently ongoing at HANDS:
Intensive Week-Long and 3-Day Trainings: An intensive hands-on training developed to assist educators, transition specialists, vocational coaches, early childhood educators and families in learning and utilizing scientifically-based strategies and approaches in their specific roles and settings.
Interactive Workshops and Workshop Series: A series of practical workshops directed toward teachers, providers, and parents offered on-site at HANDS as well as in collaboration with the partners in Local Community Cadre chapters and regions. Topics may include, but are not limited to visual schedules, social skills, advocacy, data-driven decision making, proactive behavioral strategies, and more.
Next Steps: A quarterly workshop offered on-site at HANDS in Autism® as well as in collaboration with the partners in Local Community Cadre chapters and regions. Next Steps was developed to assist parents of newly diagnosed children or children suspected to have an ASD in taking the next steps in the process.
Collaborative Classrooms: HANDS in Autism® partners with select districts each year to provide intensive, ongoing training in the program’s philosophy to school staff, inclusive of classroom staff, school and district administration, consultants, support personnel, and others. The goal of these programs is to not only develop evidence-based programs, but also to establish these classrooms as ongoing training sites used to build local capacity.
Written Materials: HANDS in Autism® develops and disseminates a wide variety of original written materials on topics such as Intro to ASD, Applied Behavior Analysis, autism screening, practical strategies to educate a range of stakeholders (schools, families, medical professionals and community providers), and community resources. See section 8.2 for sample handouts.
e-Learning: The HANDS in Autism® website hosts a continually increasing number of online training resources developed by HANDS staff, including interactive web modules, webcasts of workshops, web conferences and fairs, and how-to videos and downloadable templates.
Local Community Cadres: Local Community Cadres
(LCCs) are collaborative local networks of (at minimum) school personnel, medical professionals, families, and community members with the goal of bridging and facilitating for increased communication, sharing of information and resources, and local capacity across systems. HANDS staff frequently facilitate LCC goal development and ongoing meetings and co-host trainings with the LCCs.
Setting-Based Consultation, Evaluations, and Group Programming: Dr. Swiezy, Dr. Neal and other HANDS staff also participate in providing clinical assessment and intervention services primarily through co-treatment models, particularly in which there is broader opportunity for training of caregivers and staff.
Research Projects: HANDS in Autism® runs several IRB-approved research studies on a variety of topics. Projects include but are not limited to, assessing general knowledge of ASDs, evaluating the efficacy of training programs, developing assessments, and determining service needs.
HANDSmade™: The HANDSmade™ program is an initiative within the HANDS in Autism® Center that provides a structured work environment for individuals on the autism spectrum or with other social, communication, or behavioral challenges. HANDSmade™ participants work independently and alongside or with the support
of HANDS staff on a wide variety of projects ranging from hospitality to data entry, filing, material assembly, and more.
IIACC: Overseen by the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) within the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), the HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center currently facilitates and oversees the IIACC,
the Indiana Comprehensive Plan for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and the statewide needs assessment. The IIACC’s primary mission is to facilitate efficient and effective exchange of information on autism-related activities among the member agencies. The IIACC serves as a forum to assist in dissemination and implementation by leveraging resources, informing the direction and assisting in increases of public understanding and awareness of the state’s collective priorities, activities, programs, policies, and research, and in bringing important matters of interest forward to enable and facilitate shared knowledge, discussion, and general access to the state resources and activities.