Expanding Horizons: How the HANDS in Autism® Model is Leveraging Technology and Collaboration at the KTDRR 2025 Conference
HANDS in Autism presented on Day 3 (October 22, 2025) of the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability & Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) Virtual Knowledge Translation Conference. The theme of the conference was Enhancing Knowledge Translation: Impact Measurement, Online Strategies, and Technological Integration. The HANDS session was titled: “Leveraging Technology and Collaborative Approaches to Enhance Support for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Autism and Their Comprehensive Support System.”
In the evolving landscape of autism and developmental disability services, two themes are especially pressing:
- Technology as an enabler: Digital tools (tele-mentoring, remote consultation, data visualization) can bridge geographic, resource, and training gaps.
- Collaboration across systems: Individuals with ASD often engage with multiple systems (education, health/behavioral, vocational, transition) and their support will be stronger when these systems coordinate.
HANDS in Autism’s session addressed both—showcasing how technology and collaborative systems-thinking can enhance support for individuals AND the broad network around them (families, educators, clinicians, community providers).
Based on HANDS in Autism’s recent publications and their KTDRR presentation (which builds on that work) the following themes emerged:
- Tele-mentoring and Virtual Communities of Practice
HANDS in Autism’s Developmental Disabilities/Autism ECHO series uses remote, case-based mentoring to train professionals across settings. Their research reports trends in engagement, preferred learning formats, and state-by-state reach. At KTDRR, they highlighted how virtual formats allow more equitable access—even in rural or underserved areas—and support ongoing practitioner learning rather than one-time trainings.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making & Visual Analytics
The team described how data visualization tools (e.g., dashboards, interactive reports) support collaborative sites to monitor progress, identify gaps, and adapt implementation.
- Coordinated Care Across Systems
Reflecting a core strength of the HANDS model, the presentation emphasized that individuals with ASD often need supports from multiple domains—education, vocational, clinical, home, and community. The model encourages:
- Cross-system partnerships
- Shared frameworks and language
- Early planning (especially for transitions to adulthood)
Research from HANDS in Autism documents how their model helps build these system links. At KTDRR, they described practical strategies—for example, coordinated referral pathways, co-training of staff from different agencies, and joint leadership teams.
- Cultural Responsiveness & Lived-Experience Engagement
The session underlined that technology and collaboration must be inclusive—meeting the needs of diverse populations and centering the voices of autistic individuals and their families.
- Sustainability and Scaling Up
A major challenge in autism / developmental disabilities support is how to move from pilot projects to sustainable, scalable systems. HANDS in Autism demonstrated how virtual infrastructures and inter-agency networks enable scaling beyond single-site trainings to statewide or even cross‐state reach.
At the conference, they shared lessons on how to maintain fidelity of evidence-based practices even as training goes virtual and collaborative webs expand.
Implications for Practice & Policy
For practitioners, policymakers, families and system administrators the session offered actionable points:
- Invest in Technology Infrastructure: Tele-mentoring platforms, data dashboards, remote coaching all require foundational tech support, but see strong returns in reach and ongoing learning.
- Foster Cross-System Partnerships Early: Don’t wait for service breakdowns. Build teams of educators, clinicians, families, vocational staff, and community agencies to plan supports early—especially for transitions (adolescence → adulthood).
- Use Data for Continuous Improvement: Collect meaningful metrics (engagement, fidelity, outcomes) and present them visually to stakeholders to drive conversations and action.
- Plan for Scale from the Beginning: As you pilot innovations, think how they can be sustained and scaled—costs, staffing, tech, partnerships—all need built-in from the start.
For more information about HANDS in Autism, visit the website, https://handsinautism.iu.edu/index.html, or email hands@iu.edu.