Developmental Disabilities and Autism ECHO

Learn more about Autism Healthcare ECHO:

Equipping and supporting individuals and their comprehensive care system to improve accessibility and quality of care for individuals with ASD and/or DD through the provision of a tele-mentoring program.

We intend to systematically develop and facilitate a culturally responsive tele-mentoring program that employs a data-driven, community-engaged curriculum aimed to improve:

  • Knowledge of DD and/or ASD among individuals and their comprehensive care system
  • Perceptions and attitudes towards care of patients with DD and/or ASD among individuals and their comprehensive care system
  • Pedagogy (i.e., use of terminology and recommendations rooted in EBPs) among individuals and their comprehensive care system
  • Accessibility of care and services
  • Quality of care and services for individuals with DD and/or ASD
  • Provider (i.e., training and service) and individuals (i.e., service) satisfaction
  • Accessibility, usability and feasibility of changes among individuals and their comprehensive care system 
  • Adoption, penetration and sustainability of changes among individuals and their comprehensive care system

The Developmental Disabilities and Autism ECHO is based on the Project ECHO ™ model that aims to share best practices and amplify training impact with outcomes monitored through a web-based database. The model serves to maintain responsibility for care and management of individuals with local comprehensive care system who are guided and mentored by specialists delivering curriculum topics and peers and panelists offering insights on the cases presented.

Learn more about the Project ECHO ™ model

You will join our team of interdisciplinary experts and other participant learners over a teleconferencing platform, where you will engage in case-based learning and mentorship through discussion of real cases from learner practices.

Typical sessions follow the following general sequence:

To participate, you will need:

  • Internet access (preferably high-speed to enable uninterrupted video conferencing)
  • Laptop or desktop preferred as it will allow you see shared documents. However, a hand-held device can work as well!
  • A front-facing camera on smartphone, tablet, or computer
  • Here is the ECHO session overview:

The ECHO model provides individuals and their comprehensive care system with mentorship in advances in DD and/or ASD across the lifespan by leading professionals. Together, we will address the most routine to the more complex cases as a community of practice with practical ideas for immediate application without individuals and their comprehensive care system having to wait long periods or travel long distances to seek this information from other specialists.

Explore resources created by ECHO members, including

  • Anxiety
  • Sleep
  • Tips for newly diagnosed
  • Tips for employers
  • and more!

Thank you for allowing me to participate. Hands in Autism is a positive force in our state, supporting families, students, and schools.  

-Former ECHO Panellist.