The Living With Autism Program is a replication and refinement of the competency-based system of specialized parent and professional training established and developed since 1971 by the Judevine Center for Autism in St. Louis Missouri. The effectiveness of this system is its unified, coherent, comprehensive application of learning and behavior principles to the task of supplying a complete training system to children with autism and professionals who teach and train them.

The emphasis of the Living With Autism Program is to:

1. make parents and professionals on all levels aware of the factors which generate and control behavior in children with autism;
2. to provide parents and professionals with a “thinking” or mind set to recognize these factors and to use them to encourage the development of necessary behavior useful to the child which did not occur spontaneously;
3. to supply parents and professionals with a concentrated practice in using the learned skills to cope constructively with unexpected crisis situations

The trainings and certifications that our Master Trainers are required to receive are “competency-based”. Competency-based means that the criteria for success are specifically stated in measurable terms and that the trainees are given immediate and relevant feedback during each step of their training. The competencies evolved from the analysis of tasks involved in getting children with ASD to respond. From this effort, a list of competencies has been created that ALL of our Living With Autism trainers must master before they can begin working with children and families with ASD. Coupled with a Masters Degree (Master Trainers) or Bachelors Degree (Autism Specialists), proficiency with our required competencies enable our staff to demonstrate the quality of work necessary to make a real difference in the quality of life for children and adults with autism and their families.

There are three (3) essential components to the Living With Autism Training extending to parents and professionals – Intensive Parent Training; Specialized Training for Professionals; and Master Training.

Intensive Parent Training: This training makes up the hub of our services. Consisting of at least three members (a Master Trainer, an Autism Specialist, and one Parent), the training requires 100% parent commitment for the duration of 120 hours (3-weeks) of expertly focused instruction, observation and demonstrated techniques. Videotaped for analysis and progress evaluation, this training covers a multitude of subjects, including but not limited to:

Specialized Training for Professionals: This is the initial training for our Autism Specialists, and the prerequisite for our Master Training. Designed for professionals of all levels, including teachers and school administrators, special education programs and providers, and therapists and disability practitioners, the emphasis is placed on making trainees aware of the factors which generate and control behavior in children, providing the trainee with a “thinking” set to recognize these factors, and supplying the trainees with a concentrated practice in coping constructively with unexpected crisis situations with real children, both individually and in groups. At the completion of this training, trainees will be able to work effectively with children and families with ASD.

Master Training: Master Trainers receive three (3) additional weeks of advanced training within our program. Consisting of more in-depth instruction on how to present and adapt training modules to fit a wide range of knowledge and experience likely to be encountered among trainees on site.