About

Who we are

HANDS in Autism® is a state-wide training and resource center.

We build “local capacity” to help individuals with autism and their families find ways to address their concerns and thrive—in concert with any services they receive—in their communities. Our focus is person-centered. We pay close attention to the individual’s strengths and their needs, as well as the needs of those serving them and their families.

HANDS is well recognized beyond the sphere of autism and related disabilities. Our behavioral and educational principles and practices are relevant and useful to a wide range of individuals.

We work closely with individuals and families and consult statewide with community schools, homes, treatment facilities, and other settings integrated with medical professionals. Our immersive role has enabled us to learn how to promote successful outcomes in service delivery across these settings.

Current openings

Full and part-time jobs available for students and experienced professionals.

History and philosophy

Find out how HANDS in Autism® came to be and how it has evolved.

Meet our people

Read profiles of the leaders and staff of HANDS in Autism®.

Subscribe to our newsletters

Get practical pointers and updates about our work.

Visiting our center

Nearby places to stay and things to do if you come to Indianapolis for a training with us.

Office hours

Families, educational personnel, and healthcare providers can ask questions or share successes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons via Zoom.

Our mission

To provide unique learning opportunities designed to improve understanding of the process and ability of working with individuals with ASD and a range of other developmental and behavioral challenges through hands-on and coaching experiences and building bridges of information, resources and collaboration across family, educational, medical, and community systems.

Our vision

The overall vision of the HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center is to build local capacity in the use of behavioral and educational practices implemented to address even the most complex community-based contexts. This vision is supported with the comprehensive and data-driven HANDS Model curriculum, framework, and process of outreach, education, and training. Our model is accessible, usable and relevant across systems, providers and communities serving individuals and families affected not only by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but a full range of disabilities, ages, intellectual and functional abilities and neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and other challenges.

Advisory Board

The HANDS in Autism® Intentional Advisory Board adds additional and ongoing support for all HANDS projects.

Advisory Board members:

Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D., UC Davis MIND Institute
Focus area: Translation of evidence-based autism research to community-based practice and delivery.

Ramesh Raghavan, Ph.D., M.D., M.B.B.S., Silver School of Social Work at New York University
Focus area: Access to health, services, quality of care, Medicaid policy, implementation science, and child well-being.

Catherine Rice, Ph.D., Emory University; previously of the Developmental Disabilities Branch at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Focus area: Teaching, diagnostic assessment, program planning, consultation, training, public policy, and research.

Kylee Bassett Hope, J.D., owner of Hope Consulting, LLC, and past direct of Indiana Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) and Indiana Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)
Focus area: Consultation, advocacy, public policy, systems change and supportive communities.

Lisa Ruble, Ph.D., Earl F. Smith Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Autism at Ball State University
Focus area: Interventions with implementation in mind for improved quality of life and educational/treatment outcomes of individuals with ASD, caregivers and educators.

Matthias Neidenberger, who has years of lived experience and a passion for sharing his story and mentoring others towards improved understanding, outcomes and integration.