Course Description

About This Training:

This is an online/home study training that focuses on learning how to better serve, work with, and interact with those with autism.   

Description: 

The Autism Friendly Training Program was created by the nonprofit group STARS for Autism. The online autism friendly training is a 8-hour training which allows attendees to understand what autism is and how to interact with, serve, and work with autistic individuals. This training promotes awareness of the communication, social, sensory, and behavioral barriers which affect individuals who have autism. Educators, case managers, government employees, medical professionals, first responders, service workers, and professionals across a variety of settings, gain valuable information for working with, serving, and interacting with autistic individuals. This training includes PowerPoint, video clips, and experiential exercises. Participants will need access to the internet (YouTube), paper, and a pencil to complete the online training. 



Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will be able to describe autism spectrum disorder and list several characteristics of those who have autism.

  2. Participants will be able to define the communication, social, behavioral, and sensory manifestations/needs faced by autistic individuals.

  3. Participants will be able to discuss how autistic individuals typically interact and respond in social situations.  

  4. Participants will be able to list several ways to be more effective in communicating and interacting with those with autism.

You will need internet access to complete this training. 

You will be asked to read through the PowerPoint (this is your training guide), you will also be asked to watch video clips, and complete experiential activities. 

It’s expected that you will complete all the exercises and not skip over any parts of this training. Many of the exercises are referenced on the post exam at the end of the training. 

No APT/NBCC Credits Available. 


STARS for Autism

Service, Trainings, Awareness, Respect, Support

STARS for Autism is a Springfield Missouri based non-profit
organization. STARS mission is to increase awareness and understand of
individuals and families on the autism spectrum through community
education. STARS board of directors, Dr. Linda Barboa, Dr. Brenda
Bradshaw, Elizabeth Obrey, Jan Luck, Shelli Allen and Kristina Heth are
autism authors who give presentation to firefighters, police officers,
EMTs, teachers, parents, school children, university students, business
leaders, volunteers and others in the community wanting to know more
about autism. They organize the annual “Autism Information Blast” at
the Battlefield Mall the last Saturday in April where parents, teachers,
friends and community members can talk to a variety of autism service
providers in a casual, open setting. They teamed with Battlefield
Missouri to have Battlefield named the 1 st Autism Friendly City in
Missouri. Together the board members have written over 30 books on
autism and have helped thousands of individuals become “Autism
Friendly”.

If you have any questions about the content of this training, please contact Stars for Autism, Dr. Linda Barboa at [email protected].  

If you have any difficulty with the technical or logistical aspects of this course while completing the training, you may contact Jen Taylor [email protected]

Do You Have the Required Books for this Course?

Books are Sold Separately and Can Be Purchased from Your Favorite Retailer

  • The Complete Guide to Becoming An Autism Friendly Professional

    After a thorough explanation of ASD and how it affects children, adults, families, and communities, this guide describes the Autism Friendly Training Program and gives the reader insight into what it means to become autism friendly and to be an autism friendly training presenter. This text will enable those who are neurotypical to gain insight into the person, the stories, and the lives of those with ASD. It is a guide to understanding autism at a deeper level to enable relationship and support processes that define being autism friendly.

  • Albert is My Friend: Helping Children Understand Autism

    Albert is My Friend: Helping Children to Understand Autism" is about the friendship between a young boy, Albert, who is on the autism spectrum and his friend, Mary Louise. Together they describe and explain some common autism behaviors at a child's level of understanding.

  • Oodles and Skoodles of Friends

    Oodles and Skoodles of Friends is a remarkable book for children preschool to 2nd grade. There is an underlying theme of friendship and acceptance as children learn number concepts by counting a variety of friends.

Instructor Linda Barboa

Dr. Linda Barboa holds degrees in speech pathology and audiology, psychology, and early childhood education. She has worked as an educator in the United States and Europe and has presented programs to professionals across the country. She is the author of several books about autism. Dr. Barboa is the recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service and is the founder of STARS for Autism, an award- winning program to educate communities about autism. She is a founding member of the school board for Infinity Academy, an alternative school setting. Dr. Barboa, who is the executive director of STARS for Autism, serves on the advisory board for CoxCollege Masters OT program, as well as the International Board of Sensory Accessibility.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to the Course

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. About STARS for Autism

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Required Reading (Not Included): Participants Need to Purchase These Materials Separately

      FREE PREVIEW

    1. Autism Friendly Training Powerpoint

    2. Autism Friendly Training.pdf

    3. Autism Friendly Training How It Began Video

    4. References

    1. Course Evaluation (Required)

    2. Quiz (Required)

About this course

  • $60.00
  • 9 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content
  • Jen Taylor holding a green PLAY sign.