CARD Uses Web-Based Training
To Support Growing Number of Requests

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF (CARD-USF) was created by the Florida Legislature in 1993 to provide assistance for families and professionals supporting individuals of all ages who have autism and related disabilities. Today, over 1700 families and 1300 professionals make up the CARD-USF registry for their 18 county catchment area. This growth in requests for assistance has required CARD to craft creative ways to use its limited resources to reach as many families and professionals as possible.

As part of their approach, CARD has recently launched four web-based instructional modules - intended for both individuals and teams - that provide training on four steps in the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) process. The PBS process creates effective intervention plans to improve problem behaviors, teach new skills, and create support systems for the individual with autism or related disabilities.

After registering on the website, any Florida resident affiliated with a CARD constituent (individual with autism or related disability registered with CARD) may complete any or all of the four modules at no charge. Each requiring about 1.5 hours to complete, the module topics are:

• Collaborative teaming and person-centered planning;
• Functional behavior assessment;
• Instructional issues and strategies; and,
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating positive behavior support plans.

When teams of individuals (parents, teachers, community members, support coordinators, etc.) who support a CARD constituent register to go through modules together, CARD will commit to provide technical assistance to the team. Upon completion of the initial training module, CARD staff will arrange a meeting to assist in solidifying the team and to help them develop a person-centered support plan for the identified child or adult.

In addition to the web-based training modules, CARD will continue to address the needs of families in these ways:

• Collaborate with agencies to provide skills and knowledge in autism;
• Help the family to determine the options that are available to them and help them problem-solve effective strategies for obtaining entitlement services from other agencies;
• Teach a family the skills to perform many of the interventions they are seeking;
• Provide the resources and information necessary to help a family become more knowledgeable about effective strategies and services for the individual with autism or related disability; and,
• Provide training on topics of need for families, agencies, and school districts.

The intensity of the supports provided by CARD depends upon the family’s needs, commitment, and action plan steps.
For additional information, visit the CARD-USF website at http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu.

Please note the use of the word CARD in this article refers only to CARD-USF. Each CARD across Florida has its own policies and procedures.

CARD is within the Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS), a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.