Autism Center for Education

08/25/2026

08/21/2026

Join VCU-RRTC-IDD Research Study 4 on Tuesday, August 25th at 2pm (EST) as Dr. Peter Temple details the background information and core concepts that define our research study. He will also review the qualitative results from focus groups conducted with community college students with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and community college staff, and explain how that will inform the second phase of our study.

Register Here: https://idd.vcurrtc.org/training/webcasts/webcastDetails.cfm/1794

08/19/2026

📢 Don't miss it!

Facilitating Career Development for Blind, Deafblind, and Low Vision Youth through Mentorship and Lived Experience (RS5)

🚨 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝟐:𝟎𝟎 - 𝟐:𝟒𝟓𝐩𝐦 𝐄𝐓

Join VCU-RRTC on Employment Among Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM ET for the webcast "Facilitating Career Development for Blind, Deafblind, and Low Vision Youth through Mentorship and Lived Experience (RS5)," which is related to Research Study #5.

The webcast will be presented by Drs. Rachel McDonald Hurford (Pre-ETS Facilitator, VCU), Christopher Claude (Assistant Professor, VCU), and Carol Schall (Co-Director, VCU Autism Center for Education).

Register today to secure your spot!
https://transition.vcurrtc.org/training/webcasts/webcastDetails.cfm/1789

08/12/2026

Join us on Thursday, August 13th at 2pm as this webcast will introduce the Employment Mentorship Pathways project. We will cover the origins of the intervention model which began as a parent-to-parent mentorship intervention in which parents of employed adults with IDD provided mentorship to parents of unemployed adults. Then, we will explain how we will be incorporating peer-to-peer mentorship into the existing parent-to-parent model.

Register here: https://vcurrtc.org/training/webcasts/webcastDetails.cfm/1791

08/12/2026

VCU-RRTC-ACE team meeting August 2026.

08/12/2026

VCU-RRTC-ACE team meeting August 2026.

08/11/2026

📣 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻!

Save PD time for your division with our upcoming self-paced course: 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺: 𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
✅Meets 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗕 𝟭𝟮𝟵𝟯 training requirements
✅Flexible, self-paced online modules
✅Practical communication and support strategies for all school staff
✅Includes a facilitator’s guide for division-led delivery

Follow us for the official launch announcement!
-----------------
The Autism Center for Education (ACE) is part of the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center () and the VCU School of Education ().

08/07/2026

🌟 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡: Evidence‑Based Practices for Autism in Action

We are excited to kick off a new series highlighting several practical, research‑supported strategies that make a meaningful difference for autistic learners. Each post in this series will break down a core practice and show what it looks like in action.
Here’s what’s coming:
1️⃣𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 — tools that turn expectations, routines, and communication into clear, accessible visuals
2️⃣𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭‑𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — proactive strategies that shape the environment for success
3️⃣𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 — strengthening meaningful skills through positive, motivating outcomes
4️⃣𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — structured, intentional teaching that builds independence step by step

Follow along to see how these practices can come to life in your classroom environment! 🔗https://vcuautismcenter.org/

-----------------
The Autism Center for Education (ACE) is part of the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center () and the VCU School of Education ().

07/31/2026

Check out our website to learn more about what we do at VCU-RRTC Autism Center for Education (ACE): https://vcuautismcenter.org/

-----------------
The Autism Center for Education (ACE) is part of the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center () and the VCU School of Education ().

07/15/2026

CALLING PARENTS & FAMILIES! Join us for Stronger Together: Fostering Connections in our Autism Community.

📌Topic: Back to School: Creating Visuals, Routines & Schedules
📅Date: Monday, August 10, 2026
⏰Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
🔗REGISTRATION LINK:
https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/webcasts/series/stronger.cfm

Start the school year strong! Join us for a practical session on creating personalized tools to help your child navigate transitions, build confidence, and thrive in the new school year. What we will cover:
-Routines & Schedules
-AI-Supported Tools
-Lived experience and insights from families

Whether you’re preparing for a new classroom, teacher, or daily routine, these strategies will help smooth the transition and set your child up for success. Perfect for families of autistic children at any age or stage! Bring your questions and ideas.
-----------------
The Autism Center for Education (ACE) is part of the VCU Rehabilitation Research and Training Center () and the VCU School of Education ().