ESDM ADVANCED WORKSHOPS

 ESDM Advanced Workshops are scheduled several times each year. They consist of six 4-hour sessions scheduled between the hours of 8:30 – 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The first and last workshop sessions meet online using Zoom and the other sessions meet in person at our clinic location, 18 Wynford Drive, Suite 706, Toronto, ON M3C 3S2.

See below for an overview of the workshop schedule, the dates and times for the next workshop offering, and how to sign up.

The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) brings together the warmth of play with the science and precision of Applied Behavior Analysis and early childhood development for children with or showing signs of autism. Its roots in naturalistic, developmental, and behavioral interventions (NDBI) infuses frequent, varied learning inside the relationships, activities, routines, and settings that young children have with their families and other caregivers in early learning environments and across a range of skills focused on important steppingstones to communication, language, imitation, play, joint attention, social interaction, gross and fine motor, and personal independence skills. 

Recognition and respect to children’s learning abilities and families’ lifestyles are prioritized in the intervention approaches guided by a manualized fidelity and data system for quality care and monitoring. 

Professionals must meet the following requirements:

• Work regularly with children up to 60 months of age on the autism spectrum for active practice of workshop content.
• Have educational degrees beyond a bachelor’s or the academic equivalent from their country of residence (e.g., M.A, M.Ed, Ph.D, SLP, OT, PT).
• Hold an educational degree and a professional license or certification in the state or country you are working in for full professional responsibility to independently practice your profession with children with autism and their families, supervise cases, make programmatic decisions, etc. without supervision or sign-off from another professional in your field on professional records including fee for services. 
• Have read in full the ESDM training manual, The Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism: Promoting Language, Learning, and Engagement (Rogers, & Dawson, 2009) including the ESDM Curriculum Assessment and Fidelity System appendices. 
• Must bring the ESDM training manual and Curriculum Assessment to the ESDM Advanced Workshop.
• Completion of the ESDM Online Introductory Workshop with proof of certificate attached to your registration. This self-paced, independent online workshop provides an overview of the model’s origins, assessment and teaching framework, fidelity system, and data management procedures, preparing professionals for direct practice in the ESDM Advanced Workshop. The introductory workshop is only available online through the UC Davis Campus with enrollment dates offered throughout the year. 
• Parent or legal guardian consent to screen-share video and/or written, non-identifying ESDM program materials with the trainer and group (files will not be accessed or saved).
• Audio-video technology to be seen, heard, and screen-share on Zoom for online workshop sessions. 
• Full commitment to the online and in-person ESDM Advanced Workshop dates and hours.  

Registration is $2,500 Canadian for all six workshop sessions. No credentialing continuing education units are available, although workshop certificates may be submitted for consideration of total participation hours.

Once your registration has been processed, you will receive confirmation that space is available and an invoice for a non-refundable payment of $500 Canadian immediately to hold your spot. The remaining amount of $2,000 Canadian will be due four weeks prior to the workshop start date. Payments can be sent via e-transfer to: l.vismara@growingmindsto.ca. If payment is not received by this date, your spot may be given to someone on the wait list.

If you are not able to attend the workshop and your place can be filled, you will receive a full refund. If you cannot attend and your space is not filled, you will be refunded half of the workshop fee. 

Full attendance, active engagement, and completion of a workshop evaluation and brief knowledge quiz are required for workshop certificates. Your understanding is kindly asked for the amount of planning and preparation that goes into this workshop and as such, there are no workshop make-ups for tardiness or missed sessions. 

Please note that on the occasion where a workshop is not full, there is a minimum of 3 participants required for an ESDM Advanced Workshop to run as scheduled. Full payment is due 4 weeks prior to the start date of the workshop to ensure that those who have committed the time can plan appropriately for the six ESDM Advanced Workshop sessions. Should a workshop need to be cancelled due to low enrolment, all those registered will be contacted 2 weeks prior to the start date and either receive a refund or the option to attend a different workshop date.

Please make sure you have Zoom downloaded ahead of the workshop. Meeting invitations will be sent the day before online workshop sessions to the email address used for registration. 

Please bring a copy of the ESDM training manual, The Early Start Denver Model for Young Children with Autism: Promoting Language, Learning, and Engagement (Rogers, & Dawson, 2009) and personal drink/snacks to each workshop session. Other learning handouts will be made available. 

There is parking on the premises at the front and side of the building (please check signage as rates/ times may vary).

Once the Online Introductory Workshop and the ESDM Advanced Workshop have been completed, professionals can receive supervision towards certification in the ESDM direct assessment and intervention procedures from a certified trainer. 

Certification requires submission of video and written ESDM program materials with at least two children up to 60 months of age on the autism spectrum for trainer review and feedback. 

Certification must start within two years of the ESDM Advanced Workshop and be completed within 14 months of commencement.  Details of the certification process and required materials will be shared at the ESDM Advanced Workshop. Certification requirements are also described by the UC Davis MIND Institute ESDM Training Program. 

Please register below to complete the registration form and attach your ESDM Introductory Workshop Certificate.  Alternatively you can email a copy of your ESDM Introductory Workshop Certificate to l.vismara@growingmindsto.ca. 

Information will be reviewed and confirmed that eligibility requirements are met to enroll in the workshop. Registration is complete once the non-refundable payment is made.

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