Training and events

Autism Certification Center

The Autism Certification Center offers a free ASD Strategies in Action courses for parents and caregivers of people with Autism. The online training is also free for teachers, first responders, child care providers or anyone else who may be interested. Log onto the website and click on Get Started.

Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM)

Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) are designed to help you learn the step-by-step process of planning for, using, and monitoring evidence-based practices with learners with autism from birth to 22 years of age. Supplemental materials and handouts are available for download on the AFIRM website.

Autism Internet Modules

Created by experts and practitioners and grounded in evidence-based strategies, this collection of 50 free, self-paced modules is designed to help users better understand, identify, plan for, collaborate, and support individuals with autism within their school, home, community, or organization.

For children with ASD, early intervention is key. Under the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) benefit there are a range of medically necessary services available for children, youth and young adults under the age of 21 with autism and related conditions. For more information on eligibility and how to access EIDBI services, see the EIDBI 101 for Families video training.

Telehealth for Early Intervention training provides an overview of the benefits and barriers of providing early intervention autism services via telehealth. The training reviews services offered via telehealth, how to prepare for the session and what to expect. View this infographic for Steps for families accessing telehealth based early intervention services (PDF).

Telemedicine for Families is an optional recorded training session is focused on supporting families who are new to using telemedicine to receive EIDBI or other services for their child. We discuss telemedicine, or working with your child's provider over video-conferencing, like Zoom or Skype, to receive EIDBI services. We talk about the required technology, how to prepare for sessions, programming, and how to help make sessions be centered around your child and family. If you have any questions, reach out to ASD.DHS@state.mn.us

The College of Direct Support is an online curriculum that is designed to promote high-quality services that support people with disabilities in leading self-directed, person-centered lives.

Individuals with disabilities and their families them can access this training for free by requesting a DirectCourse learner account.

Autism Navigator online courses offer interactive slides with an unparalleled library of video clips. Their course collection covers topics from early identification of toddlers with autism at 18–24 months to evidence-based intervention strategies and supports for social communication, active engagement, and addressing challenging behavior. It illustrates how to coach families in everyday activities at home and to increase the capacity of educators in PreK to 2nd grade classrooms.

Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit, created by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, provides concrete objectives, strategies and resources that help enhance diversity, inclusion and cultural and linguistic competence; cultivate partnerships; respond to increasingly diverse communities and develop strategies for continuing efforts to better serve diverse populations. Explore themes and objectives, including Infrastructure, Personnel and Trainees, Core Functions, Performance Measurement and Funding. 

Conscious and Unconscious Biases in Health Care course focuses on conscious and unconscious biases in health care and their impact on people who are disproportionately affected by disparities in health and health care. It will offer an array of innovative activities, based on current evidence and best practices, that are intended to diminish the negative impact of biases. 

Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators — teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners — who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Utilize these materials to supplement your curriculum, to inform your practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities and organizations where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.

Positive Behavior Support (PBS), also called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), helps people with disabilities thrive in community settings. PBS can be used to prevent or decrease challenging behaviors. Minnesota Positive Behaviors Supports, Minnesota PBIS has tools and strategies used for PBS and you may find other resources too. DHS positive behavior support provides some more information regarding the law.

DHS and the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI) offer a variety of training opportunities on person-centered thinking and person-centered planning. There are different training topics for you to consider, depending on your role or level of interaction. University of Minnesota’s person-centered training has details on the each training.

There are resources recommended to clinicians and providers who work with people with ASD.

Diagnostic assessments and screening tools

University of Minnesota Autism Training has information on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADE-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

MN LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities), a program at the University of Minnesota, is increasing training opportunities on the complex intersection of brain disorders, law, policy and practice.

For children with ASD, early intervention is key. Under the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) benefit there are a range of medically necessary services available for children, youth and young adults under the age of 21 with autism and related conditions. For more information on eligibility and how to locate an EIDBI provider, see the EIDBI training for providers video training.

There are also a variety of other trainings offered on DHS Trainlink for providers and support professionals.

Autism Society of MN offers a program designed for professionals, such as Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), Direct Support Professionals, Day Training and Habilitation Professionals and others who work with or support individuals with autism and want to provide better service and care. Training objectives include:

• Identifying how people with autism think.
• Understand how differences in thinking lead to differences in behavior.
• Understand how different tools/interventions address the strengths and challenges of ASD.
• Identify tools to support clients and loved ones in different situations.

Visit Autism Society of MN—Training to learn more and register.

DirectCourse provides online courses designed to help support people with disabilities, their families, and the people who work with them. The Minnesota Department of Human Services provides free and low cost access to the College of Direct Support, the College of Employment Services and the Person-Centered Counseling program. For more information, e-mail dhs.dsd_cds@state.mn.us or request a DirectCourse learner account for your organization.

There are resources recommended to clinicians and providers who work with people with ASD. 

Diagnostic assessments and screening tools 

University of Minnesota Autism Training has information on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADE-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) 

MN LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities), a program at the University of Minnesota, is increasing training opportunities on the complex intersection of brain disorders, law, policy and practice.

Neurodiversity is defined as the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, as part of normal variation in people. Many individuals with ASD embrace neurodiversity. If you would like to learn more about neurodiversity you can start with Neurodiversity Hub.

Goal Writing for Autistic Students - In this course, Autistic Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) Rachel Dorsey teaches you how to set your therapy on the right track with strengths-based goals and a neurodiversity-affirming approach. This comprehensive guide will allow you to tackle goal setting with confidence and enthusiasm so that you can make a greater impact on your autistic students’ lives. This course is 10.5 contact hours, including over 7 recorded hours and approximately 3.5 hours of guided self-paced work to truly hone your goal writing skills.

The Center for the Young Child through Ohio Center for Autism and Low-Incidence (OCALI), created training modules designed for early care and education professionals. These modules will build your knowledge about a variety of early childhood topics. These modules are free and self-paced. There are also additional seminars available for a low cost that cover early childhood specialty topics.

Screening and Diagnosing for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Pediatric Care Settings hosted by MN Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics and presented by MN Department of Human Services

With the 1 in 44 national prevalence rate for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is inevitable you will encounter someone affected by ASD in your work as a first responder, fire fighter; in the criminal justice system; in public safety and security; in Emergency Medical Services (EMS); as a medical professional; and in everyday life.

Autism Society of MN (AuSM) presents trainings to law enforcement agencies on the characteristics of autism, best practices for intervention and de-escalation strategies, prevention and crisis reduction models and a review of technology available.

Autism Society has also developed a guide with autism information for law enforcement and other first responders.

Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Division enlisted experts from across the nation for a series of remote trainings and webinars. The insights and resources here are valuable for general educators and those serving students receiving special education services. All recordings are closed captioned and include links to accessible slide shows and other materials.

Coordinating Services and Supports for a Child with ASD or a Related Condition is a self-paced online course that helps professionals working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related conditions learn more about services and supports, including Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS), Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI), special education and more.

View the recording of the 2022 MN Autism Resource Symposium morning welcome, Keynote panel and Inter-agency presentations and the recording of afternoon breakout sessions.

Childcare Aware of Minnesota partners with many organizations to help support childcare programs across the state and offer resources for childcare programs.