The ASA's 38th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders (July 11-14, 2007) of ASA

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ

http://www.autism-society.org/
For a complete author index with session numbers, please click here
Friday, July 13, 2007: 3:00 PM-4:15 PM
Herberger Ballroom 3
#2723- NARPAA Direct Care Training Program*
IN 2002 NARPAA was organized to address the crisis in adult services. NARPAA members decided to address the main barrier to providing services-lack of trained staff. Several years work went into the development of a national initiative entitled “Train the Trainer”, but unfortunately it was eventually put on hold for lack of funding. NARPAA began to seek alternative ways to accomplish its goal for direct care staff training. In July 2006 it was decided to develop web-based competency based training programs. NARPAA outlined a 12 step process for the development of the program and submitted a proposal to ASA for $50.000 start up funding. The propsal was accepted, NARPAA will raise additional funds for the program.

Presenters:Anna Hundley, M.Ed., Autism Treatment Center, Executive Director - Ms.Hundley is the Executive Director of the Autism Treament Centers of Texas, a position she has held for the past 25 years. She is also the current president of NARPAA. Last year Ms. Hundley was appointed by the governor of Texas to the Texas Autism Council. Ms. Hundley is chairing a committee of the task force to expand adult services. Ms. Hundley was select by the US Department of Educationin May 2006 to be a member of the 32nd Institute on Rehabilitation Issues. This group published a docment on Employment Issues for Adults with Autism.

Thomas P. McCool, Ed.D., The Eden Family of Services, President and CEO - Since April 2005 Dr. McCool has been the President/CEO of The Eden Family of Services. Previously he was the Vice President of Development and Public Policy for the Devereux Foundation. Dr. McCool is a Founding Member of the National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism as well as the National Commission on Accreditation of Special Education Services. He served as a gubernatorial appointee to the California Interagency Coordinating Council, and was a member of the California Developmental Disabilities Council. He also was a member of the MIND Institute Advisory Board at the U.C. Davis Medical Center. .

Ruth Christ Sullivan, Ph.D., Autism Services Center, Founder - Ruth Sullivan, Ph.D. is Founder/Executive Director of Autism Services Center in Huntington, WV, founder of National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism and was the first elected president of the Autism Society of America. She has published books, book chapters, articles and for years was a columnist for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. She was a consultant for “Rain Man” and her son, Joseph, an autistic savant, was one of the two major models for the character Raymond. In November 2005, she was appointed to the 32nd Institution on Rehabilitation Issues (IRI).

Michael Reid, Ph.D., Eden Innovative Learning, Director Innovative-Learning.Com - Dr. Michael Reid is the founding Director of the Institute for Applied Health Services based in Duneeden, New Zealand.

 
1. Establish the NARPAA Direct Care Training Committee to oversee and coordinate the process of developing the NARPAA Direct Care Training Program. Committee Members include: -Anna Hundley, Autism Treatment Centers, Dallas, Texas -Tom McCool, Eden Family Services, Princeton, New Jersey -Ruth Sullivan, Autism Services Center, Huntington, West Virginia -Jimmy Beirne, Autism Services Center, Huntington, West Virginia -Becky Blackwell, Judevine Center, St. Louis, Missouri -Kim Sanders, Grafton School, Inc., Winchester, Virginia -Steve Muller, Homestead School, Runnells, Iowa -Dustin Watkins, Bittersweet Farms, Whitehouse, Ohio

2. Review current NARPAA residential/vocational staff training programs.

3. Consolidate/modify existing programs into one defined training program.

4. Translate training program into a web-based, competency-based program.

5. Beta test the technology for the training program.

6. Pilot Program: install the training program into 5 NARPAA sites for trial administration and assessment regarding the acquisition of critical skills and satisfaction (of direct care staff and administrators.

7. Review Beta and Pilot Program feedback.

8. Revise web-based, competency-based training program as needed.

9. Install NARPAA Direct Care Training Program onto the NARPAA website.

10. Conduct awareness/marketing activities through NARPAA programs to promote utilization of the training program.

11. Review utilization and satisfaction after six months of operation.

See more of General Submissions

See more of The ASA's 38th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders (July 11-14, 2007)