CONSULTATIONS AND EVALUATIONS

Community-based consultation and services may be completed within home, work or school‐based settings during which a HANDS trainer provides a combination of evaluation, direct services, and/or consultation related to the needs and request for the client/individual to inform, support, train and address the individualized needs of a particular client who requires individualized consultation (e.g., at risk of a more restrictive placement, losing or failing to access employment or student status or for those clients whom display associated travel risks) or among client(s) that more intensive community‐based services are warranted:

Sample strategies and/or outcomes:

• Set up data systems for behavior, vocational and functional skills
• Conduct functional behavioral assessment (FBA) for effective behavior planning
• Facilitate the development of behavior intervention plans
• Conduct informal assessments focused upon skills and work habits that inform the learning plan, ongoing data collection, and programming
• Direct work in training systems and implementing protocols for eventual use and integration by other caregivers
• Develop training materials and supports to support necessary areas of skills teaching and development for work and post‐secondary training and readiness
• Set up work‐related spaces that proactively support client work styles and task‐ related needs
• Facilitate team collaboration and caregiver engagement
• Other as determined with the individual’s team

Setting-based consultation may be coordinated as part of Pre-ETS or VR provider services. Similarly, it may be determined to be most appropriate as part of a contract. via self-pay, or with potential access to scholarship funds depending on the payee and initial request. Travel greater than 75 miles from the HANDS Center and/or reports are not included as part of the onsite hours and are included separately as desired or needed. Coordination and confirmation of applicable service and funding avenues will be reviewed upon referral or inquiry.

Web-based consultation, occurring via zoom or other accessible technology platforms, helps provide just in time support that is not limited by locale. Consultation among families or caregivers, providers, teams, or businesses can serve as an initial or ongoing step across a range of areas with potential topics as follows:

• Review, evaluation and assessment of practices and routines
• Readiness assessment and building towards recent or new initiatives
• Adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices
• Cross-systems collaboration (e.g., home/school collaboration, school/provider collaboration, business/service collaboration)
• Navigation of services and resources
• Facilitation of quality improvement and systems change efforts
• Facilitated implementation of improved pre-boarding and onboarding processes

Consultation is coordinated for up to an hour each time and may occur across single or multiple, hourly occasions. No review of records is involved in this consultation and coordination occurs to ensure individuals or teams can effectively engage for the duration with all activities occurring during scheduled times. Video or web conference capabilities are required for effective consultation.

Web-based consultation may be coordinated as part of Pre-ETS or VR provider services. Similarly, it may be determined to be most appropriate as part of a contract, via self-pay, or with potential access to scholarship funds depending on the payee and initial request. Coordination and confirmation of applicable service and funding avenues will be reviewed upon referral or inquiry.

Program evaluations can occur across a range of levels including but not limited to a particular program, building, district, subgroup, department, or organization. Evaluations progress from meetings and information gathering that inform and help the HANDS team derive an initial understanding of the needs and goals that resulted in the program evaluation request to further data collection via evidence-informed measures and mixed method analyses including but not limited to record review, interview, observation and collection of permanent products (e.g., data, reports, informational materials). Data is then shared as part of an executive summary, report of findings, and recommendations to applicable stakeholders in the best written or visual formats (e.g., call, presentation, one-page slick) for the associated audience(s). Additional consultation avenues, implementation or facilitation support, training and service options will be recommended and further discussed as part of this process.

Contact us at (317)274.2675 or hands@iupui.edu with any questions.

*Costs for in person or setting-based consultation or program evaluation are subject to additional travel fees for settings greater than 75 miles from the HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center located on the Indiana University School of Medicine campus in Indianapolis, IN.