The HANDS in Autism® Model Training Curriculum, Framework, and Process is time- and research-tested across diverse trainings of educators, medical professionals, first responders, community providers, and families/caregivers. It promotes shared awareness and understanding of autism and the scientifically and evidence-based practice standards that support autistic people and families in reaching their potential within the community.
Our evidence-based model
Building a HOUSE
Our training curriculum may be visually represented as a five-sided HOUSE. Its foundational areas—assessing, setting goals, teaching, generalizing, and building the environment—represent the walls, roof, and floor of the HOUSE.
These five primary curricular areas, or “units,” reflect the behavioral and educational practices and processes, which are essential in supporting the independence and successful integration of autistic people:
- Assessing
General assessment; educational assessment; behavioral assessment; systematic data collection methods - Setting goals
Goal development and writing; ongoing data-driven decision making - Teaching
Consequence-based behavioral interventions; general skills teaching; tasks and adaptations; structured skills teaching - Generalizing
Maintenance and generalization; team collaboration; community and cultural considerations - Building the environment
Work systems; choreography; schedules; physical and visual structure
Our trainees follow a standard process in which the curriculum components within the HOUSE framework are systematically trained using common methods such as demonstration, practice, feedback, coaching, and mentoring. The progress is assessed based upon specific criteria.
Once criteria are met for all modules in the unit, the next unit of the HOUSE curriculum is introduced. However, the progression between units is not linear, and can go back and forth as conditions change. For example, if new students are added to a classroom, staff members change, or certain skills or strategies lose effectiveness, previously mastered topics may be revisited or bolstered.