PRofessional Development

The Kentucky Autism Training Center (KATC) offers engaging, evidence-informed workshops for professional and community groups across Kentucky. Rooted in a commitment to equity, inclusion, and neuroaffirming practice, our trainings are designed to deepen understanding, strengthen inclusive supports, and empower those who serve autistic individuals.

Workshops range from 1 to 6 hours and are tailored to meet the needs of your team. We welcome requests from schools, agencies, healthcare providers, and other organizations seeking to enhance services and foster belonging.

To support thoughtful planning and trainer coordination, please submit your request at least 8 weeks in advance.

Professional Development Fee Summary

Up to 3 hours $700

4 to 6 hours $1,000

Additional fees may apply based on travel location and may include lodging, rental car, and/or mileage reimbursement.

KATC will provide documentation to support CEU applications, but the hosting organization is responsible for securing continuing education credits.

Available Training Topics

Autism 101- Updating your Autism Toolbox & Foundations of Autism

Autism Foundation training provides a foundational overview of autism as it is understood in 2025. Depending on the length of the presentation, the following topics may be discussed: diagnostic characteristics and school eligibility, CDC prevalence rates, strengths and challenges, and the discussion and implementation of effective evidence-based practices for students with autism. Participants will be able to state the prevalence of autism and describe its characteristics for medical and eligibility purposes in school settings in Kentucky, identify evidence-based strategies to support autistic individuals in their educational settings, and describe resources available to colleagues and families to enhance their understanding of autism.

The Big 5 

This training, "Ensuring Success for Students with ASD: The Big 5 EBPs All Classrooms Should Have," focuses on the five essential evidence-based practices (EBPs) for supporting autistic students:

• Antecedent-Based Interventions

• Visual Supports

• Social Communication

• Systematic Instruction

• Reinforcement

Participants will learn practical implementation strategies for each practice, understand how they work together, and gain tools to support autistic students in their classrooms effectively. The training emphasizes consistency, independence, and building on student strengths while providing concrete examples and resources.

Inclusion-Based Practices for Gen Ed/Preschool 

What is autism? How do we support all students in the general education classroom? How can I use EBP’s to help school staff increase the success of autistic students in the general education setting? EBP’s that could be included:  

• ABI

• Reinforcement

• Visual Supports

• Direct Instruction

• Prompting

• Social Narratives 

Optional additions to this training can include: 

Universal Design for Learning and/or Executive Functioning Skills & Their Relationships to Autistic Students & the Effects on the Classroom Experience

This session aims to: 

• Participants will leave with an understanding of the characteristics of autism

• Participants will leave with strategies to promote successful inclusion. 

• Participants will leave with practical classroom strategies to increase access to the curriculum. 

• Participants will leave with an understanding of UDL & starter suggestions 

• Participants will leave with an understanding of executive functioning skills

• Participants will learn strategies to teach EF skills & support learners with EF challenges

Supporting Challenging Behavior- Behavior Support for the Classroom 

What do we do when our student is stuck in an Escalating cycle of behavior?  Have you ever felt trapped because you are doing or saying the same things repeatedly, and it does not seem to be helping the student de-escalate their behavior? This session will review the escalation cycle to provide insight into the best intervention times. We will discuss specific evidence-based strategies to support student behavior. 

We will provide some resources to get started.

• Understand the escalation cycle 

• Learn evidence-based practices to support: ABI, visual supports, FTC, Reinforcement

• Create an action plan to teach replacement behaviors/ skills for students or to teach new adult responses & behaviors

Communication Supports 

Communication-focused trainings cover a broad spectrum of supports incorporating evidence-based practices (EBPs) to support the communication needs of autistic individuals. Communication topics highlight receptive and expressive communication needs, communication supports, and methods to integrate evidence-based strategies into various settings, including home, school, and/or clinical therapy settings.  

Self Regulation 

What is self-regulation? How does co-regulation play into learning self-regulation? How can classroom personnel support successful co-regulation or self-regulation in autistic students? In this session, we will look at both aspects of co-regulation & self-regulation and how to support successful regulation in the school setting. 

Objectives: 

• Participants will learn about the Incredible 5-point scale. 

• Participants will make a personal 5-point scale. 

• Participants will learn about zones of regulation. 

• Participants will learn about co-regulation & self-regulation

• Participants will learn strategies to promote successful co-regulation & self-regulation 

Training for School Resource Officers

This training is designed for School Resource Officers (SROs), administrators, and school counselors to improve support for students with disabilities. Key focus areas include:

• Understanding disability categories under IDEA, particularly autism, emotional-behavioral disabilities, and ADHD

• Effects of trauma on behavior and brain development

• Trauma-informed strategies for schools

• De-escalation techniques for school scenarios

• Best practices for administrator-SRO collaboration

Participants will gain practical strategies and knowledge to serve students with disabilities better while maintaining school safety and reducing disproportionate disciplinary actions.

Occupational Therapy (OT)/ Sensory-Specific Training: 

(descriptions to follow later)

• Beyond The Pencil  - Fine and Visual Motor 

• Sensory Processing for Preschool/Elementary/Caregivers

• Executive Functioning: Common Challenges and Practical Solutions 

• Supporting Autism Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

*Customized trainings are available for an additional $500