OFN Professional Trainings

Milestones Autism Resources and Ohio Family Network are pleased to announce a series of FREE trainings for professionals in community settings and every day places such as Libraries, Recreational Centers, Churches and Synagogues and Hispanic Organizations.  

All Ohio Family Network Professional workshops are free to attend! If you attended our annual conferences or other Ohio Family Network workshops, please log in using the password you created. Otherwise, click on Login then Create Account. You will have access to our virtual learning platform where all of our live and on-demand workshops will be available. For more information, contact Bradley Wyner, Director of Education at bwyner@milestones.org.

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These five trainings can help your staff gain skills to create more inclusive spaces where individuals with developmental disabilities can better access our important community assets. There is no cap to the number of staff and each staff member will receive a certificate of completion that shows they have learned evidence-based strategies in supporting the autism community. 

On-Demand Sessions

Successfully Serving Individuals with Autism and Other Disabilities in Social & Recreational Settings
Wednesday, May 26th 2021, 11:30 -- 1:00 pm EST
Workshop Presenters:
Beth Thompson, MSSA, LSW, Program Director, Milestones Autism Resources
Chris Garr, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Challenge 

Do you know who to call for help when a family approaches you about accommodations for a child with disabilities? 1 in 54 individuals are autistic. 19% of the population has autism or another disability.  In this workshop, staff that support individuals accessing and utilizing services and programs at recreational centers will learn techniques to help inform program planning and how to deliver them with reasonable accommodations and who to call for resources when you get stuck.

Attendees will learn how autistic individuals might present themselves in social and recreational settings and how to offer support as needed. Strategies for decreasing challenging behaviors and creating built-in long-term supports will be discussed.  Public social and recreational centers are important resources in the community for both autistic children and adults and their families. Learn how to create a more welcoming and inclusive social and recreational environment for all.

Objectives:

• Gain practical knowledge about how autistic individuals may present themselves in social and recreational settings

• Learn the basic characteristics of what autism spectrum disorders are and how they may impact a family's or individual's ability to participate in public social and recreational activities

• Hear evidence-based everyday accommodations and interventions that help autistic individuals and other disabilities equally engage and enjoy social and recreational activities

• Discuss strategies to increase community engagement with autistic individuals and other disabilities

Successfully Serving Hispanic Community Members with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Thursday, April 29, 2021, from 11:30 - 1:00
Workshop Presenters:
Beverly Malone, former OFN Manager, Milestones Autism Resources 
Judith Lozada, FACE Manager, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Why this workshop and why now?

• It is Autism Acceptance Month.
• There are 21,000+ children in Cuyahoga County diagnosed with autism and this number is growing. Many more have other developmental disabilities.
• The #1 thing families can do to improve outcomes is early intervention.
• Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says autism is 1.6 times less likely to be diagnosed among Hispanic children compared with their white counterparts, and 1.9 times less likely than black kids.
• When autism is diagnosed, it is diagnosed years later than their white peers.

Milestones Autism Resources aims to change this by developing targeted workshops and outreach.

Learning Outcomes:

• What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
• How does it impact going to daycare, school, restaurants, grocery stores, employment, etc?
• What kind of help can Hispanic families and communities expect to get to support families caring for someone with autism?
• What is available in Spanish?
• Where can you go to learn more?

Successfully Serving Members and Their Families Impacted by Disabilities at your Church - for Clergy and Staff
March 23rd from 11:30am-1pm
Workshop Presenters: 
Debra Petermann, Transition Coordinator/Community Connector at The Center for Disability Empowerment
Salina Miller, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator at Milestones Autism Resources

1 in 54 individuals are on the autism spectrum.  Churches are a critical resource in the community for children and adults on the autism spectrum.  In this workshop, church staff will learn how to support patrons with autism using church services.  Staff will be able to explain what patrons might have autism and how to meet their needs.  Participants will be shown how to provide simple accommodations or supports to enhance services for these individuals and their families.  Strategies to decrease challenging behaviors and long-term supports in the community for staff will be shared. Church staff will be able to create a more inclusive and welcoming space for individuals with autism. Increasing engagement in your community setting and integrating your congregation to build meaningful relationships and supports.

Successfully Serving Patrons with Autism at your Library - for Librarians 
February 25, 2021 from 11:30AM - 1PM

Public Libraries are an important resource in the community for children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (ID/DD) and on the autism spectrum.  In this workshop, library staff will learn how to support patrons with autism using library services.   Staff will be able to explain what patrons might have ID/DD and/or autism and how to meet their needs.  Participants will be shown how to provide simple accommodations or supports to enhance services for these individuals and their families.  Strategies to decrease challenging behaviors and long-term supports in the community for staff will be shared. Library staff will be able to create a more inclusive and welcoming space for patrons.

Charting the LifeCourse – The Nisonger Center and UC UCEDD
Originally aired on January 14, 21 and 28 from 5-6:30 PM
Workshop Presenter:
Barbara Sapharas from Nisonger Center-OSU

A framework to empower individuals and families of all abilities, and at any age or stage of life, to develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and, with their team and those who support them, discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. Families will leave with a structure and resources to advocate for the life they want. New ways to think beyond systems are offered in order to identify other supports and resources to create their desired life.