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ASERT

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP), in collaboration with Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training (ASERT), has announced the upcoming release of a new SPeCTRUM training course. This updated course will replace the existing SPeCTRUM 2.0 currently available on MyODP. The revised SPeCTRUM training will include enhanced webinar capabilities, updated content, and a variety of interactive learning features designed to support an improved and more engaging learning experience for participants.

For applicable providers of the Consolidated Waiver, in the interim of this new course becoming available, the recording of the Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview and Practical Application is now available as an alternative to SPeCTRUM 2.0 for the purposes of satisfying the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting measures CN-DD/Bx.01.1S and CN-DD/Bx.01.1CE for all Direct Support Professionals (DSP), Frontline Supervisors (FLS), and program managers. This training also fulfills §6100.143 ongoing training requirements. Users will be required to view 4 hours’ worth of training content and pass a 10 question quiz before the course displays on MyTranscript.

Staff providing services under the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) and Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP) are required to take SPeCTRUM 2.0 or the upcoming updated SPeCTRUM course once it becomes available. Additional communication is forthcoming.

MyODP users who are currently working toward completion of the SPeCTRUM 2.0 course must complete all required modules by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The course will be retired effective April 1, 2026, and will no longer be accessible on MyODP. Any incomplete progress toward module completion that has not been finalized by the deadline will not be retained.

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Autistic and intellectually disabled people are at increased risk of being victimized and experiencing trauma; however, few therapists are skilled in both supporting these communities and providing trauma-focused care. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program — 12 weeks of self-guided learning and live webinars for mental health therapists licensed in Pennsylvania who are currently working with autistic and/or intellectually disabled adults. TRAIN is an integrative and neuro-affirming approach to trauma-focused care with neurodivergent adults, centering clinical work with the autistic and intellectually disabled communities. After completing the 12 weeks of learning, participants have the option to continue their training through clinical consultation with the developers of TRAIN.

This program covers:

  • Trauma-focused mental healthcare;
  • Types and prevalence of trauma;
  • Expressions of trauma;
  • Neurodiversity and Neuro-affirming practices;
  • Navigating disclosures of abuse and ethical considerations of reporting abuse and neglect of dependent adults;
  • Assessing trauma and using trauma-focused interviews;
  • Trauma-focused and neuro-affirming psychoeducation;
  • Trauma response and nervous system regulation strategies;
  • Trauma processing techniques; and
  • Resiliency and therapist self-preservation.

Target Audience: This program was developed for therapists, counselors, and clinical social workers who already have experience working with clients who have an Intellectual Disability/Autism (ID/A) diagnosis and are looking to gain knowledge and skills related to trauma therapy. Therapists who do not have experience with ID/A clients are also welcome to participate, but the expectation is they would be committed to taking such clients into their practice after completing the program, as the purpose is to build capacity in this area across the state. You must currently be licensed and provide 1:1 talk therapy sessions to adult clients at the moment to qualify for this course and participate in the case consultation presentations.

Course Structure: 12 weeks in total, comprised of 3 modules that are each 4 weeks long. The first three weeks are self-paced learning courses that are assigned through the online Learning Management System. The fourth week of each module is an hour-and-a-half interactive discussion with the other group members and instructors. These live sessions are required and are held from 9:00 am – 10:30 am on the following dates:

  • September9: Pre-TRAIN Live Session
  • October 14: M1 Live Session
  • November 11: M2 Live Session
  • December 9: M2 Live Session
  • January 13, 2026: Weekly Case Consultation Calls (8:00 am – 9:00 am, Tuesdays). This will continue until everyone presents twice.

Case Consultations: After the initial 12 weeks, there is a short break followed by a second 12-week session that consists of weekly one-hour case consultations. These are optional but highly recommended. Each participant is expected to present a case from a current patient and receive feedback/information from other participants and the instructors. Participants need to join at least 6 of the 12 weekly case consultation calls, although it is encouraged to attend all of them. If you are not currently seeing patients or are not in the capacity to present any cases, this may not be the right program for you.

Cost and CE Credits: It is free to participate. 13.5 continuing Education (CE) credits are provided through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) upon completion of the program.

If you believe this program is appropriate for you and can commit to the requirements, please complete this survey by Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don’t delay! Also, if you are unable participate this Fall due to other commitments but would still be interested in doing it for Spring 2026, please say so in the survey.

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What is TRAIN? Individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma; however, few therapists are skilled in both trauma and ID/A support. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program that focuses on:

  • Trauma-focused mental healthcare;
  • Types and prevalence of trauma;
  • Disclosures of abuse;
  • Ethical principles of reporting abuse;
  • Expressions of trauma;
  • Assessing trauma and trauma-focused interviews;
  • Psychoeducation;
  • Trauma response management strategies;
  • Trauma processing; and
  • Resiliency and self-care.

Course structure: 12 weeks in total, comprised of 3 modules that are each 4 weeks long.
The first three weeks are self-paced learning courses that are assigned through the online Learning Management System. The fourth week of each module is an hour and a half interactive discussion with the other group members and instructors. These live sessions are required and are held from 9:00 am – 10:30 am on the following dates:

  • 4/11: Pre-training live session;
  • 5/9: Module 1 live session;
  • 6/13: Module 2 live session; and
  • 7/11: Module 3 live session.

Target audience: Therapists, counselors, clinical social workers; individuals who have experience working with individuals who are neurodivergent (intellectual disabilities/autism); individuals who currently are licensed and provide 1:1 therapy sessions to clients.

Case consultations: After the initial 12 weeks, there is a short break followed by a second 12-week session that consists of weekly one-hour case consultations. Each participant is expected to present a case from a current patient and receive feedback/information from other participants and the instructors. Participants need to join at least 6 of the 12 weekly case consultation calls, although it’s encouraged to attend all. If you are not currently seeing patients or are not in a capacity to present any cases, this may not be the right program for you.

Cost and Continuing Education (CE) Credits: It is free to participate, and if you complete the entire program, you will receive 13.5 CE credits through the NBCC.

If you believe this program is appropriate for you and can commit to the requirements, please send an email to Aid in PA. Availability is based on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t delay! Limited spots remain for the next cohort. Also, if you are unable participate this spring due to other commitments but would still be interested in doing it for Fall 2023, please email.

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