Professional Development and Parent Seminars (PDPS) disseminate information on effective programs for individuals with autism.
The target PDPS audience is school personnel, including general and special education teachers, administrators, related-service providers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and paraprofessionals, working with students with autism spectrum disorders, as well as parents and family members.
We are excited to offer a full day of valuable livestream training sessions. You have the flexibility to register for one, two, or all three sessions—whatever best fits your schedule and interests.
All webinars are offered through the Zoom platform. The sessions will not be recorded.
We are offering the same three topics on each of the dates listed below.
Fall Dates and Registration:
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 - Registration Link
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 - Registration Link
Wednesday, December 9, 2026 - Registration Link
9:00-10:15am
Seeing Strengths: Cultivating Meaningful, Reciprocal Relationships with Autistic Students
Presenter: Erica J. Davis, LMSW
Description: Learn how a strengths-based approach can help educators build trust, connection, and meaningful relationships with autistic students. Participants will explore practical strategies for using students’ strengths and interests to foster engagement, participation, and belonging.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the role of positive, reciprocal teacher–student relationships in engagement and school participation for autistic students
- Identify the differences between strengths-based relationship practices from deficit-focused approaches
- Apply strengths-based strategies to classroom challenges, including situations involving disengagement or challenging behavior
Presenter Disclosure: Erica Davis receives a salary from the Research Foundation for SUNY/Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, where she is a Training Program Coordinator.
1.25 contact hours available for CTLE, NYS LMHC, NASP, NYS SW, and NYS Psychologist
11:00-12:15pm
Inclusive Classroom Design: Creating Accessible Spaces for Autistic Students
Presenter: Christine Murray, M.S., CCC-SLP
Description: This livestream webinar will provide a practical overview of designing inclusive classroom environments for autistic students. Participants will learn how to identify common environmental barriers and discover concrete design strategies to transform their classrooms into accessible spaces that empower every student.
Participants will be able to:
- Explain how the social model of disability relates to classroom design
- Describe five key considerations for promoting accessibility for autistic students
- Identify three specific environmental modifications to improve accessibility in your own classroom or learning space
Presenter Disclosure: Christine Murray receives a salary from the Research Foundation for SUNY/Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, where she is an Education Specialist.
1.25 contact hours available for CTLE, NYS LMHC, NASP, and NYS SW
1:00-2:15pm
Prevent, Teach, & Reinforce: Common Reasons for Behavior Challenges and Strategies for Positive Change
Presenter: Catherine Bryson, MA, NYS-LBA
Description: Why do some behaviors occur, and when should educators and caregivers intervene? This presentation will explore three common behavioral concerns encountered by educators and parents of autistic children and youth. Participants will learn how behavioral science can be used to identify patterns, collect meaningful data, and determine whether intervention is necessary.
Through a practical, evidence-based lens, attendees will examine how environmental factors, learning history, and communication skills influence behavior. The session will highlight three specific strategies for supporting functional communication (ie “no” and “help”), self-advocacy, cooperation, and participation while teaching replacement skills (tolerating delay) that promote success across settings.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify prevention strategies that address behaviors maintained by escape or avoidance
- Identify the likely functions of challenging behavior by examining when, where, and why the behavior occurs
- Identify and implement evidence-based strategies for teaching functional replacement skills and changing behaviors, including: requesting help, tolerating delays and waiting, and appropriately protesting or saying “no”
Presenter Disclosure: Catherine Bryson receives a salary from the Research Foundation for SUNY/Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, where she is an Education Specialist.
1.25 contact hours available for CTLE, NYS LMHC, NASP, NYS SW, and NYS Psychologist
1.5 contact hours available for BACB
Registration:
We offer these sessions at no cost to participants living in New York State through a grant provided by the New York State Education Department. Funding is administered by The Research Foundation for the State University New York. There is a $ 5.00 registration fee per session/topic for each CEU selected. There is a $15 registration fee for out-of-state registrants. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
NOTE: If your agency uses a protected email server, you may not receive our automated messages. Please take this into consideration when you register. Please contact us at [email protected] if you do not receive a confirmation email within a day of registering.
Credit/Debit card payment and purchase orders are accepted on the registration form. Please make PO/check payable to:
The Research Foundation for SUNY
c/o Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
1535 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
Policies:
Attendance policy: In order to receive a certificate of attendance or CEU certificate, participants must attend the entire session(s) for which they registered to receive credit. Attendance is tracked through your unique Zoom link. Late arrival for any reason, including difficulties you may have logging into Zoom, will prevent you from receiving continuing education credit for the affected session. Please attempt to log in a few minutes early to allow for any possible technical issues.
Upon competition of the entire session, attendees will receive an email with an evaluation form to complete. After the evaluation form is completed, attendees will receive a certificate of attendance via email.
CEU certificates will be emailed for BACB, CTLE, LMHC, NASP, SW, and Psychologists within 48 hours of the webinar completion. ASHA CEU hours will be reported to ASHA within 45 days of the conference for those who complete all of the requirements (see requirements below in the Continuing Education section).
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be made 24 hours before the start of the event to receive a refund. This includes CEU registration fees. Please send cancellation request to [email protected]. We do not allow same-day cancellations. In the unlikely event that we need to cancel the webinar, we would provide a refund to each participant.
Accommodation Requests: Accommodation requests can be sent to [email protected]. Please send requests two weeks prior to the webinar, if possible.
Concerns or complaints: If you have any concerns or complaints regarding our CEUs or webinar, please contact Jerilyn Hans ([email protected]). Complaints and resolutions will be reviewed on an individual case basis.
Continuing Education Credits:
CARD Albany is an approved provider for the following continuing education:
Behavior Analyst Certification Board
The University at Albany/CARD Albany is an authorized continuing education provider for BACB continuing education. Provider number: OP-22-0612. A response to the Zoom attendance Poll is mandatory.
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education
CARD Albany is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved provider of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.
School Psychologists
CARD Albany is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing education for school psychologists. CARD maintains responsibility for the program.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors
University at Albany, SUNY, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0194.
New York State Social Workers
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, SW CPE, is recognized by the New York State Education Department State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed master social workers # 0292.
New York State Psychologists
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is recognized by the New York State Education Department State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists in NYS #PSY-0083.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
A maximum of .35 ASHA CEUs can be earned, with partial credit available (Intermediate level, Professional area). Learners must attend the full session(s) for which they enroll. This course offers partial credit, allowing learners to attend any combination of one or more sessions. In addition to the attendance requirements above, those requesting ASHA CEUs must also complete an informal learning assessment within one week of the session and attend the session in its entirety as partial credit is not available for individual sessions. Please visit ASHA's website for eligibility information.
Each organization/entity uses their own calculation to determine the number of CEUs based on contact hours. As with all continuing education, the attendee should verify CEU requirements by their professional organization and/or state licensure board.