California (UC Davis MIND Institute and USC UCEDD) Launches Statewide Technical Assistance Network for Autism

December 9, 2013

The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD) at the UC Davis MIND Institute, in collaboration with the USC UCEDD, California Department of Education, Department of Developmental Disabilities/Regional Centers and the Family Resource Center Network of California, launched the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) in October 2013. The network, made up of over 350 professionals from across the state, is working to train, disseminate and support the implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The network will provide annual training summits for new members, regional networking and planning events, a listserve with updates about new resources, and a website that houses training materials and links to resources such as the National Professional Developmental Center for ASD, The National Autism Center, and Learns the Signs, Act Early (www.CAPTAIN.ca.gov). "This initiative came out of the statewide plan we initially developed at the Act Early Summit in 2009," says Patricia Schetter, Project Coordinator for CAPTAIN and Coordinator of Autism Education Initiatives for the CEDD.  "We are really excited to have a Technical Assistance Network that is comprised of leaders from across various agencies and is inclusive of families. The communication and collaboration that we are seeing is really breaking down some of the barriers that are so problematic in a state as large as ours."

For additional information about CAPTAIN, please refer to the website, www.CAPTAIN.ca.gov, or contact Patricia Schetter at [email protected].