Teaching Education Autism Methods (TEAM)

Practicum / Internship / Observership

Teaching Educational Autism Methods (TEAM) provides learning opportunities for college students seeking placement for internships, externships, and practicum experiences. TEAM also provides opportunities for professionals, working in the field of autism spectrum disorder, to observe the implementation of evidence-based practices across disciplines and age ranges.

The TEAM professional observership program is a fee-based service. Internships and practicum experiences have no associated costs. All TEAM program experiences allow students to integrate their experiences and knowledge in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. Professionals will be provided opportunities to learn from dynamic observation, training modules, and professional team meeting-based experiences.

Internships

Are you interested in joining Els for Autism? We have a highly qualified transdisciplinary team of professionals in all fields including Behavior Analysis, Speech and Language Pathology, Mental Health Counseling, Occupational Therapy, and more. The team works together to develop unique & individualized programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

We are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our employees are a collective sum of individual differences through our knowledge, experiences, and talent. We are inspired by differences in age, color, disability, sex, gender expression, religion, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, veteran status, and others.

+ Behavior Analysis

The Els for Autism Foundation can serve as a practicum site for students interested in obtaining their BCBA or BCaBA. In order to participate in the practicum program, you must enroll in a course through your university. Each university has slightly different requirements for the host practicum site, which can be discussed during the interview process. Below is a general outline of the experience offered via the TEAM Behavior Analysis practicum program.

Completion of a supervision contract
Weekly meetings with the supervising BCBA (minimum 5% of your time worked)
Must work a minimum of 10 hours per week and a maximum of 35
Attendance and participation at both staff meetings and client team meetings
Required readings related to ABA and autism spectrum disorder
You will be provided with experiences in using ABA principles in a variety of programs including 1:1 ABA therapy sessions, vocational training programs, and recreational activities

+ Speech - Language Pathology

The Foundation can serve as a practicum site for students needing advanced practicum experience for their graduate school speech and language pathology program. In order to participate in the practicum program, you must enroll in a course through your university if the Foundation has a signed agreement with your university department. Each university has slightly different requirements for the host practicum site, which can be discussed during the interview process. Below is a general outline of the experience offered via the TEAM Speech -Language practicum program.

Observations of speech and language therapy sessions with clients across ages and across programs/settings
Direct service treatment and assessment hours with pediatric or adult client populations in 1:1 therapy sessions, vocational training programs and recreational activities
Clinical writing experiences
Hearing screening opportunities as needed and as available
Participation in research projects related to speech and language pathology as available per semester
Weekly meetings with the supervising Speech-Language Pathologist
Attendance and participation at both staff meetings and client team meetings
Required readings related to speech language pathology and autism spectrum disorder

+ Sports and Recreation

The Foundation delivers and disseminates fitness and therapeutic arts programs developed for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Foundation can serve as an internship site for college students looking for experiences working with individuals with ASD, during sports and recreation-based activities (e.g., golf, tennis, soccer, yoga, dance, theater, music). Internships opportunities are available during year-round afterschool programs, spring break camps, and summer camps.

+ General Autism Internship Experience

The Foundation delivers and disseminates various educational, therapeutic, recreational, and life-enhancing programs for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Foundation can serve as an internship site for professionals looking for experiences working with individuals with ASD. These internships can be available during year-round afterschool programs, spring break camps, and summer camps. The internship experience will provide access to training models and observations of best practices when providing intervention to individuals with ASD. The experience does not necessarily provide clinical supervision. All interns will be assigned a supervisor.

+ Marketing and Development

The Foundation can serve as an internship for students in high school or college interested in nonprofit marketing and development. Areas of focus may include:

Events: Assist in supporting the Foundation’s fundraising events including the Golf Challenge. Tasks will vary but may include:

Solicit local, regional and national businesses for auctions and raffle donations
Assist in packing/shipping and/or receiving return shipments from events
Maintaining/organizing the event storage room (located in lower school)
Preparing and printing event signage, labels and other marketing materials used at events
Support developing content for event presentations
Donor Perfect support

Website: Basic understanding of WordPress is required and can be learned during the internship. Tasks will vary but may include:

Assist with setting-up SEO on the elsforautism.org website and assist with website redirects
Support website content updates

Testimonials: For use in future brochures, grant reports and on the elsforautism.org website, develop a set (number to be determined). Tasks will vary but may include:

Interviewing testimonial candidates
Writing the story, approximately 6-8 paragraphs, and get final approvals from the Marketing Manager

Press Clip Organization: Maintain the press clip file on the shared drive by scanning and organizing the existing clips and updating the binder of existing physical clips.

Social Media: Understand the Foundation’s social media goals and provide new and creative ideas to achieve and enhance the goals.

Campaign Support: A campaign example is “Giving Tuesday”, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Tasks will vary but may include:

Brainstorm campaign ideas
Develop social media breakthrough ideas that are a financial success based on achievable, established goals

Photography: Take photos of campus activities for specific events and download and organize the photos to the Foundation’s shared drive.

Program Team

561-598-6200 Send Message

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

The Els for Autism Foundation delivers and disseminates various educational, therapeutic, recreational, and life-enhancing programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Foundation can serve as a site for students looking experiences observing programs involving individuals with ASD. Students seeking to complete their observation hours at the Foundation may be interested in the following: behavior analysis, speech-language pathology, social work, sports and recreation, occupational therapy, marketing and development, mental health counseling or across disciplines. Observations, non-specific to discipline, may be available during year-round afterschool programs, spring break camps, and summer camps. All programs at the Foundation are based on evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD.

Professional Observership

The TEAM Professional Observership Program offers professionals from around the world opportunities to observe and learn from a highly qualified transdisciplinary team of professionals (e.g. Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Speech-Language Pathologists, an Occupational Therapist, and Music Therapists). Observations of speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, ABA therapy (i.e., behavior therapy) and adult service programs, both on and off campus will be included in each session.

Observations of diagnostic assessments, research programs, Recreation Services (e.g., golf, tennis, soccer, yoga), Reach and Teach Through the Arts services (e.g., music, art, drama, and dance) may be included based on availability. In order to participate in the program, professionals must be proficient in English and have worked in the field of autism spectrum disorder for at least one year.

All professionals participating in the TEAM Observership program will be invited to view the Els for Autism five staff training modules. A certificate of completion will be provided at the end of these five, 1-hour training modules. Please note, all acceptances are contingent on the results a level 2 or international background check. One background check is included within the fee charged per each professional. Below is a general outline of the experience offered via the TEAM Professional Observership program.

Fees & Hours

The fee for each professional accepted into the Professional Observership program is $2500 dollars per week (5 business days)
- 1 background check is included in this fee
Professional Observership sessions are 4 hours a day, across 5 days
- 50% advance, non-refundable, payment will be due upon scheduling of the level 2 background check
- The remaining balance will be paid upon the first day of the program

Application Process

Applications must be submitted 6-12 months in advance of the desired time frame
- Along with an application, all applicants must submit the following documents prior to an interview being scheduled
  - Curriculum Vitae
  - 3 professional references
  - 3 letters of personal references from families
  - Passport and Visa (as necessary for travel)
  - English Proficiency certification
Applicants and accepted professionals must be proficient in English
Applicants and accepted professionals must have at least 1-year experience working in the field of autism
Acceptances are contingent on a cleared level 2 or international background check

Admission

No Stipends/Scholarships are available for travel, accommodations and/or any of the observership activities
Accepted professionals must sign an “Observership Letter of Agreement” with Els for Autism Foundation
Upon acceptance, a lead TEAM staff member will be assigned as your Professional Observership host
A schedule of observations and activities will be sent 2-weeks in advance of the Observership session
Access to Els for Autism corporate hotel rates may be available upon request
Professionals may request a letter describing/outlining their experience at the completion of the program, but no certificates of training (other than the certificate of completion for the 5 core training modules) or competency will be provided.
- All requests for letters will be reviewed by the TEAM Professional Observership committee
- Letter approvals are not guaranteed
- An approval to write a letter for an applicant is up to the discretion of the committee and will be based on the result of each professional’s performance evaluation

Conferencing Services

The state-of-the-art auditorium serves as a hub for professionals in the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to gather and disseminate research findings, best practices, and connect the global autism community via lectures and video conferencing.

Els for Autism staff hosts conferences annually, fulfilling our mission to facilitate the sharing of best practices and programs.

Els for Autism Teaching Educational Autism Methods (E-TEAM)

E-TEAM provides learning opportunities for college students seeking placement for internships, externships, practicum work, and student teaching. Online presentations and webinars on a variety of topics are accessible, through our digital resource library, to parents and professionals around the world.