The Summer Training Institute of Geneva Centre for Autism is a week-long training event held every year designed with specific theme based on current Autism research and best practices. Over the years, the Summer Training Institute has evolved to respond to the increasing needs of integrating individuals with an ASD in their communities. Along with recognizing the importance of early intervention is the critical role of education for individuals with an ASD and the people that work with them to be successful in school and in community settings.
In recent years, most of the Summer Training Institute's program has focused on the classroom. While this is true, all of the assessment tools, teaching strategies and implementation plans are also applicable to home and community settings. Techniques discussed are effective for individuals of all ages and across the Autism Spectrum including those with Asperger Syndrome.
In 2007, Ontario's Ministry of Education selected Geneva Centre for Autism's Summer Training Institute to develop training programs that will support its capacity-building initiatives to ensure successful outcomes for students with an ASD and related challenges.
Ontario’s Ministry of Education’s partnership with Geneva Centre for Autism resulted in the following outcomes:
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In 2007, with the introduction of PPM 140, the training initiative created a momentum for Ontario to push for province-wide effort to implement PPM 140 by introducing the implementation guidelines and the Ministry’s expectations around school boards’ compliance at the 2007 Summer Training Institute.
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To date, the Ministry of Education continues to invest in the annual Summer Training Institute to complement other initiatives in place to sustain ongoing support to publicly funded school boards and authorities in the implementation of PPM 140.
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From 2007 to 2009, more than 5,000 school board personnel utilized publicly funded spots in the annual Summer Training Institute. They included teachers, teachers’ assistants, principals, resource teachers and administrators.
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The Summer Training Institute consistently received overwhelmingly positive feedback from its participants. In 2009, participants rated the Summer Training Institute as follows:
- 98% of respondents rated the calibre of presenters from good to excellent.
- 96% of respondents rated the applicability of what they learned to their work from positive to very positive.
- 92% of respondents reported that the training event met their expectations.
Read more about the 2009 Summer Training Institute. Please click here.
