Network Impact - Tennessee

Bridging Global Gaps in Autism Services:
TRIAD Global Collaborative Leads the Way

&Access to autism services varies widely across the globe. Many communities face significant barriers such as delayed diagnoses, limited provider training, and a lack of ongoing support.

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s (VKC) Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD)—part of Tennessee’s IDDRC, UCEDD, and LEND—has launched the TRIAD Global Collaborative to help close these gaps by promoting culturally responsive autism services and education programs worldwide. The Collaborative’s mission is to provide training and technical assistance to healthcare providers, educators, and caregivers in underserved regions. Through a mix of formal training programs, tele-consultations, and in-person workshops, TRIAD equips professionals with the tools they need to identify, assess, and support individuals with autism in their communities.

Training spans multiple disciplines, including pediatrics, psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and special education. The trainings cover topics such as neurodiversity-affirming care, autism assessment methods, and early intervention strategies. Importantly, each training course is tailored to local cultural contexts and practical realities.

“Many of the regions we work with, like Trinidad and Tobago or Saint Lucia, face challenges similar to ours but with far fewer resources,” said Jeffrey Hine, PhD, BCBA, assistant professor of Pediatrics and TRIAD’s director of Primary Care Outreach and Training. “Our goal isn’t just to share information—it’s to help build sustainable systems of support.”

TRIAD’s international outreach began with focused work in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean and has since expanded to include partnerships with institutions like the University of the West Indies, the Vietnam-France Psychology Institute, and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Canada. Additional engagements have reached professionals in India, Italy, Brazil, and Vietnam.

We don’t want to just drop off resources and leave. We focus on building communities of practice—networks of trained professionals who continue the work long after we’re gone.” - Jeffrey Hine, PhD, BCBA

A defining feature of the Collaborative is its commitment to ongoing engagement. “We don’t want to just drop off resources and leave,” said Hine. “We focus on building communities of practice—networks of trained professionals who continue the work long after we’re gone.”

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated TRIAD’s virtual training efforts, making expertise more accessible globally. Tools like the Tele-ASD-P—a telehealth-based autism assessment—have helped providers expand diagnostic capacity in remote areas.

Looking ahead, TRIAD plans to strengthen regional online resource hubs, build peer support networks, and develop new training modules for early interventionists and caregivers. “Every community is different,” Hine said. “We want our support to be practical, accessible, and built to last.”

We don’t want to just drop off resources and leave. We focus on building communities of practice—networks of trained professionals who continue the work long after we’re gone.”

- Jeffrey Hine, PhD, BCBA

“By sharing knowledge and creating global partnerships, the TRIAD Global Collaborative is helping ensure that autism services reach those who need them—wherever they are,” added Alacia Stainbrook, PhD, BCBA-D, TRIAD co-director.

Source:VKC TRIAD Global Collaborative Expands Access to Autism Support