Virginia Autism Council (VAC) & Skill Competencies for Professionals and Direct Support Staff in Virginia Supporting Adolescents and Adults with Autism
Description:
The Virginia Autism Council is a council of autism experts seeking to define needed skill competencies and to advance higher education, training and educational opportunities for personnel and caregivers supporting individuals with autism.
This website is Virginia’s clearinghouse on best practices and research-based education and training opportunities to advance personnel development and knowledge regarding autism in Virginia.
Skill Competencies for Professionals and Direct Support Staff in Virginia Supporting Adolescents and Adults with Autism
These Skill Competencies address essential competencies at four different skill and experiential levels:
- Paraprofessionals/Direct Service Staff – Refers to anyone directly supporting infants, children, or adults in a non-professional capacity.
- Professional/Direct Service Staff – Refers to direct service professional staff within their first-to-third years of practice.
- Master Professional/Direct Service Staff – Refers to direct service professionals who have worked within their domain and with people with autism for more than three years.
- Advanced Degree/Program Developer/Specialist – Refers to those individuals who have pursued additional certification or degrees (for example Sensory Integration Certification, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, etc.) and / or those who have extensive experience and training pertinent to supporting people with autism.