Written by Rachel C. Morgan, Founder/President of the Adam Morgan Foundation
Emmaus offers a great opportunity to further your career in the field of developmental disability services. We often talk about how our training is the strongest program in Missouri, but we’ve found ways to take it to the next level.
Emmaus partners with The Adam Morgan Foundation (AMF) throughout the year to help interested team members become Certified Autism Specialists.
The Adam Morgan Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting & creating inclusive opportunities for neurodiverse individuals within all aspects of their lives through education, awareness, access to communication preference, and technology. Owner, Dr. Rachel Morgan, and her colleague, Susan Newton, are Certified Autism Specialists (CAS) through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
AMF is the only local organization approved training partner with IBCCES that can provide specific autism training for those interested in becoming either a CAS or Autism Certified (AC). Both credentials provide a specialty that enhances your qualifications to work in the field of autism or other related disability fields. The CAS level of certification requires a Master’s Degree and 2+ years of experience (or a Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years of experience). The AC level of certification requires 14 continuing education hours (CEU) in autism, pass the online competency exam, and be currently employed in a setting that requires you to work or have contact with individuals with autism.
What does the training look like?
This powerful two-day training offers a deeper look into autism spectrum disorders and provides you with the 14 CEU’s required for certification through IBCCES. We cover all ten areas of autism competency needed for the Certified Autism Specialist program:
- Autism Overview
- Behavior
- Communication
- Social Skills
- Environment
- Emotional Awareness & Bullying
- Sensory Awareness
- Program Development
- Motor Skills
- Medical & Health Considerations
AMF provides a unique learning experience by focusing on the learner’s strengths, competencies, and areas of expertise to enhance the learning process. A pre-survey is given to all participants prior to the training to find out what you already know, what you want to know, what has worked, what hasn’t, and any burning questions about the training. The training is then customized to fit your needs while incorporating innovative evidence-based strategies and updated research. No two trainings are the same and we strive to make learning experiences meaningful, life-applicable, and engaging for all.
Did we mention that besides a fun time learning, the two-day training includes a light breakfast, lunch, a book resources of your choosing. There are real life examples, quotes and videos from the true experts in the field of autism (those that have autism) and provides a strength-based approach and plan towards empowering those on the spectrum.
We have two trainings coming up in February & June of 2020 – online registration is open and only 10 participants go through each training to allow for the engagement needed to get the most out of the program. If you’re interested in a career at Emmaus and want to advance yourself by becoming a Certified Autism Specialist, we look forward to learning alongside you soon.
You can learn more about the Adam Morgan Foundation at https://www.adamorgan.org/home