Sensory Processing & Autism: Basics for Home 

Participants learn how sensory processing influences behavior, learning, and participation while exploring practical strategies for creating sensory-supportive environments at home and in the community.

Learning Targets

• Short overview of sensory processing and it's crucial role in autism.

• Recognize how sensory processing differences affect daily life for the entire family, including a short sensory overload simulation.

• Learn the importance of identifying sensory strengths and needs for yourself and your loved one.

• Identify tools and strategies to support the autistic individual in home and community environments.

Executive Functioning: Common Challenges & Practical Solutions

Executive functioning skills impact organization, planning, flexibility, emotional regulation, and independence. This session provides practical strategies for supporting executive functioning challenges.

Learning Targets

• Explain the foundations of executive functioning.

• Identify executive functioning strengths and challenges.

• Recognize factors that influence executive functioning.

• Apply evidence-based accommodations and supports.

Sensory Tools: Make-and-Take Workshop

This interactive workshop combines learning with hands-on creation of practical sensory and visual supports that participants can immediately implement in home, school, or community settings.

Learning Targets

• Explain the purpose of sensory supports.

• Select appropriate sensory and visual tools.

• Create individualized sensory supports.

• Implement tools that promote regulation and independence.

How Do I Play With My Child? 

Play is essential to learning, development, communication, and social connection. This training explores how play develops and provides practical strategies to support meaningful engagement with caregivers.

Learning Targets

• Describe the importance of play in child development.

• Recognize common barriers to play.

• Identify developmental stages of play.

• Apply simple, caregiver-friendly strategies that facilitate play at home.

What Is Neurodiversity? Understanding Neuro-Affirming Practices

This session introduces the principles of neurodiversity and neuro-affirming practice while providing practical strategies for creating environments that value and support neurological differences.

Learning Targets

• Define neurodiversity and neuro-affirming practice.

• Describe characteristics of autism and ADHD.

• Create more inclusive, sensory-friendly environments.

• Apply neuro-affirming strategies in everyday practice.

Supporting Autistic Individuals Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

This training explores the intersection of autism, sensory processing, and trauma while providing practical strategies that reduce stress and promote psychological safety.

Learning Targets

• Describe trauma through an autism-informed lens.

• Identify factors that increase trauma risk for autistics.

• Differentiate trauma responses from sensory overload.

• Apply trauma-informed strategies that support autistic individuals.

Kentucky Medicaid Waiver Basics

This overview helps families understand Kentucky Medicaid waivers, eligibility requirements, available services, and practical next steps for accessing supports.

Learning Targets

• Differentiate Medicaid from Medicaid waivers.

• Describe Kentucky's major waiver programs.

• Explain eligibility requirements and available services.

• Navigate application processes and waitlists.

Building Caregiver Confidence and Connection

This training is designed for parents and caregivers of those with autism.  Parents will leave with more confidence in recognizing developmental concerns, having conversations with professionals and connecting them with Kentucky autism resources. 

Learning Targets

• Recognize early developmental concerns.

• Use collaborative language when discussing concerns with professionals.

• Connect families to Kentucky resources and referral pathways.

• Strengthen confidence in the role of the "first noticer."

Autism & Handwriting

This session explores the relationship between autism, motor development, and handwriting while providing practical classroom strategies that support writing success.

Learning Targets

• Explain the foundations of fine motor and visual-motor development.

• Identify barriers to handwriting development.

• Apply practical handwriting strategies.

• Support writing readiness and classroom participation.

Making Summer Work: Preventing Summer Slide

Summer provides valuable opportunities to maintain routines, strengthen skills, and support family well-being. Participants learn practical strategies that help children continue learning while enjoying the flexibility of summer.

Learning Targets

• Develop routines that reduce summer learning loss.

• Identify simple home activities that support development.

• Locate community resources and sensory-friendly opportunities.

• Balance structure and flexibility throughout the summer.

Behavior & Communication: Building Easier Days for You and Your Child 

This training helps caregivers understand challenging behavior as a form of communication, not defiance. Participants will learn simple, low-cost visual supports, like choice boards and schedules , they can start using at home right away, along with what to expect when trying something new (including a temporary increase in behavior called an extinction burst). The training also covers how and when to ask for additional support through schools, pediatricians, and Medicaid waiver services.

Learning Targets

• Explain why giving in to a behavior in the moment can make it worse over time.

• Build and use a simple visual support (choice board or schedule) at home.

• Recognize and respond to escalating behavior, including an extinction burst.

• Identify where to turn for additional support when it's needed.

Communication Supports

This training explores communication differences in autism and introduces evidence-based strategies that strengthen both receptive and expressive communication across home, school, and clinical settings.

Learning Targets

• Recognize communication differences associated with autism.

• Understand how to support receptive and expressive communication needs.

• Identify evidence-based communication supports: low-tech, mid-tech and high-tech

• Learn how to implement communication strategies across settings, including home, school and/or clinical therapy settings.

Don't see exactly what you're looking for? 

KATC can develop customized trainings tailored to your organization's goals, audience, and learning needs.  This is dependent on topic, date and trainer availability.

For questions, email us at katc@louisville.edu