REPRINTED FROM SPRING 2017 ADVOCATE NEWSLETTER
The Arc Baltimore has always taken seriously the task of providing continuing education and training to its staff, and we’ve done it again. Recognizing that The Arc was welcoming increasing numbers of individuals with autism who were transitioning from school or another program, Dawn Davis-Brodeur, director of training, and Heather Rivera, psychology associate, started an autism training program!
Davis-Brodeur says, “Many staff were identifying challenges while working with individuals with autism and wanted to better understand things from their perspective. The training is designed to provide that knowledge and help them support people with autism who are entering our programs.”
The training lasts four months; two-hour classes are held every other week. There is a homework assignment for each class, and—as a final project—trainees must develop an individualized support plan that is presented before a panel of senior staff. Participants must pass a comprehensive exam as well.
Training covers how to develop and implement visual schedules and routines. In addition, it focuses on sensory processing, assistive technology and environmental adaptation. For extra credit, several of the staff attended a conference at which Temple Grandin, who has autism, spoke. An American professor of animal science at Colorado State University, Grandin is a world-renowned autism spokesperson.
Randyn Smallwood excelled at the training. “It was an eye-opening experience that makes you aware of the environment in which you provide supports to someone with autism and how it affects them,” he explains. “I learned to adapt a setting to the individual instead of adapting the individual to the setting.”
Davis-Brodeur adds, “Randyn came in hungry for knowledge from day one. He was passionate about working with Brian, and he discovered how helpful it was to develop a schedule for the young man. He was always willing to share, and he had the spirit to learn. He thrived on connecting with Brian and enhancing his already existing gifts.
Randyn has since become a resource to other staff supporting individuals with autism.
