Many Missouri School Districts benefit from having one or more In-District Autism Consultants trained through Project ACCESS. These individuals are chosen by district administration among those teachers and therapists who meet the requirements enumerated below. The IDAC training typically involves two and one half days of training and, unlike the first two trainings which focus on the nature of autism and implementation of strategies, the IDAC training involves learning to collaborate with a team and to lead others within the district who are supporting students with autism. This two and a half day training is intensive, includes written homework and individualized exit interviews.
IDACs serve in a consulting capacity at the discretion of their district within the context of district needs, and do not provide consultation services to the public at large. School districts may send more than one individual as long as each individual named meets the requirements below. Project ACCESS has prepared an IDAC considerations fact sheet that details questions that an administrator should consider when designating a teacher/therapist to become trained as an IDAC. We hope those in administrative positions will consider providing an IDAC to support staff who are working with students with autism. A well-trained, collaborative IDAC can be key to successfully providing services for students with autism.
Requirements:
- Earned certification in special education or an earned degree in a closely related service. If you do not have an earned degree but have obtained certification via Praxis, please contact us.
- At least two year’s experience in public schools as a special education teacher, SLP, or other related service provider. Experience as a paraeducator or speech implementer does not count even if the person has a special education degree.
- Completion of a minimum of six days of Project ACCESS trainings, including minimally Introduction to the Education of Students with Autism (face-to-face or online) and either Working with Students with Autism in the Schools (WASS) or Early Intervention for Young Students with Autism (EIYCA).
- A school administrator must send a brief letter to Project ACCESS stating that the certified teacher being sent to the IDAC training is being selected to serve as the school district’s autism consultant.
- IDAC candidates should have significant experience working with students with autism. Prior to attending, candidates will need to prepare a redacted case study of a student with whom the candidate has worked (details regarding this requirement will be communicated to candidates upon registration).
Spring 2017 IDAC Training Cohort: March 27, 28, and 29, 2017 – Southeast Regional Professional Development Center, Cape Girardeau
Candidates for the Spring 2017 training will need to complete the IDAC registration at the following link on MyLearningPlan.com
Summer 2017 IDAC Training Cohort: June 27, 28, and 29, 2017 – Project ACCESS, Springfield
Candidates for the Summer 2017 training will need to complete the IDAC registration at the following link on MyLearningPlan.com
For those who are seeking attendance at the prerequisite courses, all of our trainings are listed on our website’s training calendar at the following link: PA Training Calendar
Currently scheduled sessions of the prerequisites are as follows:
Introduction to the Education of Students with Autism:
Springfield, 2/7 and 2/8/17 ~ registration at the following link: Springfield Introduction
Warrensburg, 3/1 and 3/2/17 ~ registration at the following link: Warrensburg Introduction
The online version of the Introduction course if available at the following link: ONLINE Introduction to the Education of Students with Autism
Working with Students with Autism in the Schools (WASS):
Cape Girardeau, 2/16, 2/17, 3/13, and 3/14/17 ~ registration at the following link: Cape WASS
Springfield, 3/30, 3/31, 4/24 and 4/25/17 ~ registration at the following link: Springfield WASS
We are in process of scheduling Early Intervention for Young Children with Autism (EIYCA) in Rolla for this spring, also.
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