Trainings for Staff Working with Adults with Autism (18+ Years)

Trainings for Staff Working with Adults with Autism (18+ Years)

From September 30, 2023, to April 2, 2024, with grant funding from the American Embassy in Tbilisi, the Autism Research and Support Foundation implemented training for personnel working with people with autism aged 18+.

Theoretical Part (September 30 – December 29, 2023):

– A certificate training course for specialists working with people with autism aged 18+ was prepared for a multidisciplinary team;

– A training session for this multidisciplinary team was organized (December 18 – 29, 2023) at the Conference Hall Randevu in Tbilisi. More than 10 future staff members of the National Autism Center of Georgia (including social workers and psychologists) were trained by various specialists;

– Professional rehabilitation, 24-hour monitoring, and habilitation programs for adults with autism were prepared and evaluated. These programs are currently being advocated with state structures for further implementation.

Practical Part (January 1 – April 1, 2024):

– Questionnaires for evaluating adults with autism were developed for personnel, including social workers, occupational and sensory therapists, and speech-language specialists;

– The first two buildings of the National Autism Center of Georgia were opened, with training for students and consultations for beneficiaries conducted by invited American Psychiatrist Dr. Nana Berikashvili (MD, Delaware Psychiatry);

– Training for students and consultations for beneficiaries were conducted by invited American Psychologist Dr. Amanda Nicolson (Ph.D., BCBA-D, Fresno, CA);

– On April 2, after a charity concert dedicated to International Autism Awareness Day organized by our foundation at the Shota Rustaveli National Theater, certificates signed by the trainers were awarded to students who completed the training program. Eight future staff members of the National Autism Center of Georgia (social workers and psychologists) received certificates.

IMPLEMENTATION TEAM:

– Coordinator: Sophio Kereselidze

– Organizers: Maka Kordzadze, Eka Kordzadze, Nino Kikodze

– Occupational Therapist: Lusi Jalagania

– Psychologists: Ketevan Makashvili, Nata Dzadzamia

– Speech Therapist: Elene Tskrialashvili

– Social Workers: Anna Jvelauri, Nino Jgarkava

– Financier: Mariam Chumburidze

– Adult Psychiatry: Dr. Nana Berikashvili (US)

– BCBA-D: Dr. Amanda Nicolson (US)