Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

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Support - Autism Education Network

The Autism Education Network is designed to provide school teams support, training, and resources to guide services for students with autism. Below are potential offerings autism network team members may provide based on the request. The level of support provided will be based on AU/school team needs as well as autism team availability.

Training (Virtual or In-Person):

The CDE autism team can create targeted, individualized trainings for an AU/school team based on current needs. These trainings can be done virtually or in-person (pending COVID guidelines), and can cover an array of topics related to autism. Trainings can be anywhere from two hours to one full day. The team does not offer individualized versions of currently offered CDE trainings (see training section below).

Field Support:

Field support is intended to offer consultation/coaching services and allows the CDE autism consultants to partner with AU/school teams to address systemic or long-standing concerns. This service supports implementation of evidence-based practices within the school setting. The consultant will work with the team to understand current needs, and then establish goals and a subsequent action plan. This plan may include up to six virtual or in-person visits (depending on need and COVID guidelines).

TeleSchool:

The CDE autism team partners with Children’s Hospital Colorado to offer support in completing functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and developing behavior intervention plans (BIPs) via virtual coaching sessions. This service is designed for teams looking to expand their skills in addressing challenging behavior (e.g., aggression, self-harm, property destruction) and can commit to recurring weekly or biweekly sessions for approximately one to two months. These sessions involve discussions, coaching, and practice implementing various forms of FBA/BIP and analyzing data. This service is recommended for teams addressing unique and intensive behaviors (e.g., considering alternative placement, behaviors that are not responding to intervention over time, behaviors that have injured staff or other students).

Resource Recommendation:

For teams looking to expand knowledge and in need of quick, potentially asynchronous learning opportunities, the CDE autism team can offer recommendations of existing resources to review. Consultants can provide individualized suggestions of webinars, modules, currently offered CDE trainings, and other related resources. To review options, please visit the webinar page to see all archived webinars, or the training section to see currently offered CDE autism team trainings.

Flyer - Network Request (PDF)

Network Request

When completing the field request, you will be prompted to describe the needs of your program and how they relate to Colorado’s Autism Quality Indicators

Quality Indicators

• Autism Quality Indicator, PDF Version
• Autism Quality Indicator, Word Version

​Questions about the Colorado Autism Education Network? Please contact Brooke Carson (see Specialist Contacts section below) with questions about the Autism Education Network.

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• Virtual Events
• Face-to-Face Trainings
• Tri-State Collaborative
• Archived Tri-State Webinars (On-Demand)
• Other Training Opportunities

Virtual Events 

Autism Spectrum Disorder Literacy Institute 2025

ASD Communication Toolkit Training

This multi-session training is for team members working directly with students with autism. The Communication Toolkit training is designed to:

• Support understanding of communication in children with ASD including formal and informal measurement of communication abilities.
• Help participants develop a rationale and plan around “where to start” when developing communication systems for students with early emerging communication skills including coaching communication partners for success.
• Discuss Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) and match practice to the characteristics of individual students with ASD.
• Give participants a variety of interventions to support students with ASD in developing a functional communication system.
• Follow up with participants through virtual coaching (1 hour requirement within 6-8 weeks of the one-day training completion).

The Communication Toolkit training is designed for those who already have a foundational understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Details

• WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Certified school professionals involved in directly with students with ASD, including school psychologists, social workers, speech/language pathologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists, district administrators, and other certified staff who are part of the school team.

Training Dates & Times

• September 9, 2024, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM
• September 16, 2024, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM
• October 21, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

CDE Certificates

Those who attend the 2 half-day training sessions (3 hours each) and 1- hour follow-up meeting will receive a 7-hour certificate of attendance; partial credit will not be given.

Registration

This training is currently at capacity & registration is currently closed. In the event there are cancellations a waitlist has been started. 

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ASD Educational Identification Training

This distance learning opportunity will be presented over four days, in three-hour segments. The training is designed to support districts in understanding how to identify students suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder, using evaluation tools to assess the triad of characteristics of ASD. Participants will learn how to build a body of evidence to support the identification of ASD (determining eligibility) in an educational setting (without using the ADOS).

View/Print
Ed ID Flyer (PDF)

Details

• Registration is limited and will close two weeks prior to the start date. If registration is at capacity a wait list will be opened.
• Who should attend: certified school professionals involved in assessment for the educational identification of ASD, including school psychologists, social workers, speech/language pathologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists, district administrators, and other certified staff who are part of the evaluation team. This training is not open to paraeducators.
• This training is not open to paraeducators.
• Priority will be given to those individuals who have not previously attended.
• Attending all four sessions is required to receive a certificate of attendance. 

Round 1 Training Dates & Times

Thursdays in August from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

• August 8, 2024
• August 15, 2024
• August 22, 2024
• August 29, 2024

Round 2 Training Dates & Times

Fridays in February, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

• February 7, 2025
• February 14, 2025
• February 21, 2025
• February 28, 2025

CDE Certificate

Participants must complete all four virtual sessions to receive a certificate of attendance (12 CDE hours). Partial credit will not be given.

Registration

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Instructional Strategies Course:

If you are not planning to attain the full RBT credential through the BACB, you might be interested in this free online course.  The content is the same, but the RBT certification information has been removed (e.g., ethics, how to write reports, etc).  The Instructional Strategies course is 21 hours vs. the 40 hours.

If you are participating strictly for professional development, you may enroll yourself in the Instructional Strategies course at any time and you have unlimited access to the content.  You can work at your own pace and the books are not required.   

About the Instructional Strategies Training:

• You do NOT have to apply for this course and can create an account at the link below and begin taking modules at any time.
• There is no timeline for completing the course. You can complete content whenever is convenient for you.
• The course is completely free.
• You will receive a certificate of completion for 7-8 contact hours.
• This course does NOT meet BACB requirements for the 40-hour RBT training.

This course was developed instructed by TASN Instructors:

Peggy VonFeldt, BCBA; Pam Scharping, BCBA; Shana Kaplan, BCBA 

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Face-to-Face Trainings

Foundations for Instruction

With school districts reporting staff shortages and team members lacking autism training, this content will focus on teaching instructional strategies to IEP team providers newer to the field of ASD (0-5 years). The focus of this in-person training is for participants to learn autism strategies using specially designed instruction for effective programming (student/classroom). This will be a hands-on learning opportunity with embedded coaching and practice on learned content.

Additional Details:

• 2 hybrid training dates
• 2-hour virtual component between Days 1 & 2
• Registrants are committing to 14 hours of hybrid training:
  • Day 1 will be in person (Fall 2024)
  • Virtual Check-In
  • Day 2 will be virtual (Winter 2025)
• All 14 hours are required when registration is being determined; partial attendance or credit will not be accepted/granted. 
• There is no cost for this training. The Exceptional Student Services Unit of the Colorado Department of Education provides the funding for the presenters. 
• No reimbursement is provided to participants. 
• In-person dates may be held virtually depending upon total number of registered participants.

Locations & Dates of trainings: 

• Training 1 - Rifle, CO
  • August 13, 2024 (In-Person Sessions) from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
  • October 7, 2024 (Virtual Check In) from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  • January 8, 2025 (Virtual Session) from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
• Training 2 - Limon, CO
  • September 24, 2024 (In-Person Sessions) from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
  • October 7, 2024 (Virtual Check In) from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
  • January 15, 2025 (Virtual Session) from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Registration: 

Registration at each location is limited. Registration for each location will close two weeks prior to the initial session date. 

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Autism Spectrum Disorder Literacy Institute

2024-2025 ASD Literacy Institute Information coming soon! 

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 Tri-State ASD Collaborative

ASD Resource Lists

Past Webinars

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Other Training Opportunities

TBD

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Jump To Resources:

• Autism Program Quality Indicators
• Determination of Eligibility
• Guidelines for Educational Evaluation
• Educational Identification Resources
• Local and national ASD organizations

ASD Documents from CDE

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Educational Identification Resources

FAQ's for Educational Identification of ASD in Young Learners (PDF)

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Join the Colorado Autism Spectrum Disorder Listserv

To join the Autism Spectrum Disorder listserv please contact Lauren Gould

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Contact an ASD Specialist