CENTER FOR AUTISM & RELATED DISORDERS, Inc.

What is a workshop?
What specific training will I receive in a workshop?
What do I do to get a workshop?
How is my child's program designed?
What do I do when my child has mastered all of the programs we have been given?  How can I receive additional supervision?
How much is a workshop? (brace yourself)

What is a workshop?

A workshop is an intensive two to three day training session that is intended to assist you in conducting an in-home behavior modification program for your child.

What specific training will I receive in a workshop?

On the first day of your workshop, you and your therapy team will be taught how, when, and why you should apply the behavioral techniques used in behavior modification therapy.  These techniques include all of the procedures which are used to reduce or eliminate problem behaviors, (such as extinction, redirection, time-out, etc.) as well as educational techniques used to teach delayed skills (such as shaping, modeling, chaining, prompting, etc.).  You will be given an outline of these techniques that you can refer to should you have any questions after your training is completed.

On the following days of our workshop, the program that has been specifically designed for you child will be reviewed.  All of the workshop participants will be taught exactly how to deliver each part of the program and the Workshop Supervisor will demonstrate specific procedures with your child.  In addition to answering all of questions, the Workshop Supervisor will provide you with a detailed description of your child's  program in an organized log book.  This log book clearly lists and defines each part of the program.

You will be shown how to keep accurate records of your child's progress and you will be given sufficient programs to last for at least the first one to three months.

What do I do to get a workshop?

If you are interested in a workshop, complete the following steps:

1. Call C.A.R.D. at (818) 223-0123.  A C.A.R.D administrator will answer or return your call and answer any preliminary questions that you may have.
   
2. Complete the enclosed initial evaluation and contract (not  included in this website), and return it to C.A.R.D. in addition to any other reports or tests that you feel are important.  When C.A.R.D. receives the forms along with 50% of your total payment, your name is registered in our workshop log.  Your reports are reviewed by Dr. Granspeesheh and other members of the supervisory staff and a trainer that is best suited for your child is assigned. ***Please note that you will not be registered for a workshop until 50% of your total payment is received.  Should you later decide to withdraw your registration, a $250.00 processing fee will be retained.
   
3. Begin looking for and hiring 3 to 5 individuals whom we can train to work with your child.  (Please see the enclosed sample flyer (not  included in this website) which can be copied and posted at local universities.  C.A.R.D.'s workshop coordinators, Mr. Jason Garner and Ms. Cathy Vizconde, will contact you to confirm the dates of your workshop and to make flight  arrangements.

How is my child's program designed?

Prior to the workshop, we ask you to complete and return an initial evaluation and contract which has been enclosed (not  included in this website) for your convenience.  Once we receive this evaluation and 50% of your total payment, Dr. Granspeesheh and members of the supervisory staff read through the evaluation and review any other test results or reports that have been sent to us for review.  Once the review process has been completed, a basic program for your child is designed and written.  The file is then assigned to a Workshop Supervisor.  The characteristics of the child help determine the appropriateness of the chosen Workshop Supervisor.  The Workshop Supervisor may then telephone you and ask any further questions, which assists us in designing a program that best fits your child's specific needs.

What do I do when my child has mastered all of the programs we have been given?  How can I receive additional supervision?

Whenever your child masters a program, we will need to update, expand on, or move the program along since your child will become bored if his/her programs are too easy.

Whenever your child masters a program, we will need to update, expand onm or move the program along since your child will become bored if his/her programs are too easy.

These are several options available to you for on-going supervision:

1. You may write a brief description of the current status of your programs and FAX or mail it to your Workshop Supervisor's office.  Your trainer will update your programs and return it to you by FAX or mail.
   
2. You may telephone the center and leave amessage for you Workshop Supervisor.  All calls will be returned within 3 business days.
   
3. You may send videotapes of  current programs to the center.  Your Workshop Supervisor will review eh tape and either telephone you or write to you to update programs.
   
4. You may request a follow-up workshop.  Your Workshop Supervisor will fly out to you and spend one to three days with you to update your programs and answer your questions.  To schedule a follow-up workshop, we will need approximately one month in advance to make necessary arrangements.   ***PLEASE NOTE*** We ask that you maintain contact with us at least once each month.  It is vital for us to have continual contact with you so that your child's program remains on the right track.  Once again, you may receive supervision by way of the aforementioned options.

1. Each day of the workshop (6 hours) costs $750; each additional hour or fraction thereof will be billed at an addtional $125.00 per hour.  Time spent traveling to and from your house by plane, train, or rental car is billed at an additional $10.00 per hour.  You will be billed $25.00 per hour if the consultant owns his/her own car.
   
2. You are responsible for travel costs and hotel accommodations.  (To lower your costs, please keep in mind that prices for airfare may be significantly lower if reservations are made approximately 3 weeks in advance).
3. You are not responsible for your Workshop Supervisor daily expenses or for materials brought to you.
   
4. Follow-up supervision by telephone, letter, report, or video review (all work done for your child while your Workshop supervisor is at his/her office) is billed at $65.00 per hour.
   
5. The remainder of your payment will be due upon receipt of services.  Please provide a check payable to C.A.R.D. up to the amount indicated on the statement of charges given to you by your Workshop Supervisor at the end of the workshop.  If other services are provided for transportation costs were paid by C.A.R.D., you will receive an additional statement soon thereafter.  ***PLEASE NOTE*** It is possible for you to share the cost of your workshop with other families.  If you know of other interested families or if we can pair you with an additional family, you would share the cost of airfare, hotel, and the first day of instruction.  The first day of instruction will be attended by all families.  We like to limit the number of families in a group workshop to three at each time.

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