Individual & Group Programming

Virtual Learning & Socialization Opportunities for Individuals with ASD

Small Groups, Multi-Day Sessions, and Large Group Community Connections Sessions.
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Open to individuals & groups from Indiana and beyond!

Explore:

Small Group & Multi-day Interest Group Sessions
Community Connections
HANDSmade Program™
FLEX Opportunities Challenges
More Activities/Resources

Programming:

HANDS in Autism® provides a range of on-site services tailored to individual goal-setting and age-based needs.

Early Childhood Program
(2-6yo Children)

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School-age Program
(K -12th Grade)

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Transition/Adulthood Program
(14yo-Adulthood)

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Does your child or student with ASD need to develop executive skills, plan for and practice daily routines, or learn about community opportunities related to employment, leisure, and socialization? Scroll down to learn more about our virtual group sessions (small, multi-day, and large group community connections). Summer schedule is now available!

View & Download the Summer Programming Flyer

To be able to access these opportunities, make sure you register (or update your information, if you are a returning participant!)

If you would like to refer a client to our services, please select the ‘Inquire/Register’ option below & specify “Referring Provider” as your role, OR, download the PDF format and email to hands@iupui.edu.

Inquire / Register (New Participants)
Update Your Information (Returning Participants)

After you register, follow these steps to get started prior to your first session(s).

Contact us at 317.274.2675 or hands@iupui.edu with any questions

Small Group Sessions

Registration required! Small group discussions (up to 6 participants) will center around monthly topics and are conducted across 2-4 weekly sessions. Pick either one or both topics each month.

NEW! Multi-Day Virtual Interest Groups

Together, we will explore the foundations of self-advocacy and how to become a better self-advocate across different settings - from school to healthcare and work! Schedule:
  • June 8-10
  • July 6-8
Are you wondering what you want to do once you finish high school? Would you like to explore different careers? Join our small group for 3-day sessions, where will explore different groups of jobs. Schedule:
  • June 15-17
  • July 13-15
Next Steps™ workshop is a discussion-based workshop in which the team from HANDS in Autism® discuss general information about diagnosis, adjusting to diagnosis, and how to make appropriate treatment decisions. Schedule:
  • June 22-23
  • July 27-28

Independent Life Skills Virtual SG Session (Tue 4-5 pm EST & Wed 9-10 am EST)

During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding topics like:
  • Budgeting and money management
  • Budgeting tools and strategies
During these three weeks, we will be building skills surrounding topics like:
  • Searching for items
  • Price comparison
  • Ordering online and delivery
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding topics like:
  • A policeman stops me to ask questions
  • I need help from police
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding topics like:
  • Safe online stores - how can I know
  • What I need to order items online
  • How to do that
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding topics like:
  • What budgeting tells me - do I need a job?
During these three weeks, we will be building skills surrounding topics like:
  • Where to look for a job
  • Am I qualified?

Leisure Skills Virtual SG Session (Thurs 4-5pm EST & Friday 9-10 am EST)

During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding such topics as:
  • Getting ready and first steps in
  • Rules and expectations - rides, waterpark, and getting food
During these three weeks, we will be building skills surrounding such topics as:
  • Ideas for staycation
  • Online resources for fun activities - hot to find good ones?
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding such topics as:
  • Dealing with changing plans
  • Dealing with rulebreakers within a community
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding such topics as:
  • Dealing with criticism, brushing off, and other confrontations
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding such topics as:
  • Making plans, asking a friend to hang out
  • Being on time, keeping promises
During these two weeks, we will be building skills surrounding such topics as:
  • Apologizing if you let somebody down
  • Accepting apologies
  • Making up
Register for a Small Group Session!

Community Connections: Friday Virtual Meetups

Groups of 10 or more students connect virtually to learn about just-in-time topics allowing them to engage with and learn more about community opportunities, to hear about topics of interest or importance to them, and to connect with a group of peers. New topics are covered each week with an overarching monthly theme.

Register for Community Connections!

During these two weeks, we will explore topics and strategies on:
During these two weeks, we will explore topics and strategies on:
During these two weeks, we will explore topics and strategies on:
During these two weeks, we will explore topics and strategies on:
  • Dealing with loud groups, inappropriate requests, threats/bullying
During these two weeks, we will explore topics and strategies on:
  • Finding and attending a community event (e.g., fair); or a community class (e.g., at the library)
During these two weeks, we will explore topics and strategies on:
  • Public transportation vs getting Uber/Lift
  • Uber/Lift: Rules and expectations

Private Group Programs & Internships

Interested in providing programming to your students, employees, or organization in a more tailored and specific way? Contact hands@iupui.edu with stated interest and a brief overview of your organization & potential needs so we can provide what’s best for you!

Getting Started with Programming:

We are so excited that you and your family have decided to engage in services provided by HANDS in Autism®! It is indeed our privilege to partner with you along this journey of growth and opportunities! To facilitate a smooth start to services, please complete the following administrative and technical processes prior to your first session.

1. Sign a Media Consent Form

HANDS in Autism® greatly respects the confidentiality of your information. Briefly, we may collect photographs, audio recordings, and/or video recordings to ensure the provision of high-quality services and facilitate targeted educational and training purposes. You may also provide optional consent for us to use this information in broader educational, promotional, and marketing resources.
After you've registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the subject line "HANDS in Autism [Name of Training & Session]" to the email provided. If this email does not come to your inbox right away, keep a look out as it will most likely arrive within 5-6 weeks to the first day of the training/program. In this email you'll find the Media Consent Form and instructions to complete it, as well as details about how we manage your information in the Media Consent Form. If you still did not receive the email within 5-6 weeks of your program start date or if you have further questions about completing the form, contact us.

2. Complete a Background Questionnaire

These questionnaires vary in length (approximately 5 to 20 minutes per questionnaire) and cover a range of topics, including your interest areas, skills, and goals for the future.
For us to get to know you better and to personalize the services that you will receive, we ask that you complete these series of questionnaires.
After you've registered, you will receive an email with pre-training questionnaires to the email provided. If this email does not come to your inbox right away, keep a look out as it will most likely arrive within 5-6 weeks to the first day of the training/program. In this email you'll find the Background Questionnaire with instructions to complete it. If you still did not receive the email within 5-6 weeks of your program start date or if you have further questions about completing the questionnaire, contact us.

3. Set up an IU Guest Account via Canvas

Canvas is a learning management system that we routinely use in our services and it is how you will access all modules, announcements, trainings, etc.
  • Set up your account here.
  • Find detailed instructions on how to set up and access courses in your IU Canvas account here.

For additional resources and troubleshooting, visit our Access & Support page and scroll down to “Canvas” under “List of Common Services/Platforms”

4. Download & Install Zoom

Zoom is an online conferencing platform that we use during meetings, trainings and services to host discussions, presentations, and provide modeling of techniques.
  • The process of signing up for Zoom is very simple (and the basic plan is free). Just go to zoom.us/signup.
  • Find HANDS in Autism's Zoom user guide here.
 

For additional resources and troubleshooting, visit our Access & Support page and scroll down to “Zoom” under “List of Common Services/Platforms”