TRIAD Early Intervention Professional Development Opportunities 2025-2026

Dates: Fridays Sept 19th, Oct 10th, Nov 21st, Jan 16th, Feb 20th, Apr 17th
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm CST / 12:00pm – 1:30pm EST
Location: Online
Continuing Education credit: 1.5 hours per webinar
Audience: Early Intervention Providers

Grab your lunch and join us for a fast-paced and practical webinar about early intervention and autism! We’ll explore why children behave the way they do— those little notes they’re sending us through their actions — and how you can respond in ways that teach new skills, using evidence-based practices that really work. This year’s focus will be all about keeping everyone safe while building up the skills to help children thrive.

You’ll dive into real-life case studies (because theory is nice, but stories stick), get actionable tips you can use right away, and connect with a supportive community of professionals who get it. Whether you’re new to this work or looking to refresh your approach, this webinar will leave you energized and ready to make a difference.

This professional development opportunity is sponsored by the Tennessee Early Intervention System and is available to all early intervention providers at no-cost to participants.

Webinar Series: Deepening Social Play and Engagement for Children with Autism
Building a Community of Practice for Early Intervention Providers

Join a dynamic and interactive professional development series designed specifically for early intervention providers working with young children with autism. This six-part webinar series, running from September to March, will focus on enhancing social play and engagement—key foundations for early learning and relationship building.

Each 90-minute session will combine research-based strategies with real-world experiences, drawing on the collective knowledge of a small, committed cohort of peers. Between sessions, participants will receive 30-minute individualized coaching calls to support implementation and reflection tailored to their unique contexts.

What to Expect

• Six interactive webinars (90 minutes each), spaced over six months
• Six individual coaching calls (30 minutes each) to deepen learning and application
• A small, collaborative cohort for shared learning and community building
• Practical strategies to foster meaningful social interactions and play skills in children with autism
• Opportunities to share challenges, insights, and successes in a supportive environment

Together, we’ll strengthen our shared practice and deepen our understanding of how to support early social development in children with autism through responsive, play-based approaches.

Dates: September 26 - October 31 - December 5 - January 30 - February 27 - March 27
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am CST
Format: Live Zoom webinars + individual coaching
Audience: Early Intervention Providers (home visitors, developmental therapists, early childhood specialists, etc.)
Cohort Size: Limited to ensure high engagement and individualized support

Vanderbilt TRIAD is excited to partner with the Tennessee Early Intervention System to offer early intervention providers a unique professional development opportunity. The purpose of this partnership is to empower Early Interventionists to provide coaching for caregivers based on evidence-based strategies for addressing dangerous or concerning behavior. This coaching partnership will last for three months and participants can expect the following:

• Two individualized, goal-driven coaching cycles focused on coaching a specific child/family with whom they already provide Developmental Therapy. The coaching cycles will include:
• Direct observations of recorded sessions with the same family
• Reflection and feedback sessions with a TRIAD coach and partner
• Opportunity to review peer sessions and provide feedback
• Two large group and two small group virtual community meetings to share goals and resources related to caregiver coaching

Participants must apply to participate by August 31, 2025

Vanderbilt’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), in collaboration with the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), proudly presents the TRIAD Early Intervention Communication Academy—a dynamic professional development opportunity designed specifically for early intervention providers.

This innovative program is tailored to support  Early Interventionists  in enhancing their skills and confidence when working with early communicators. Through evidence-based strategies and hands-on coaching techniques, participants will gain the tools they need to make a lasting impact on the children and families they serve.