Training

home

Training expand_more

FAQ expand_more

FAQ

What is the ADOS-2 Introductory/Clinical Training for Modules 1-4?: The ADOS-2 Introductory/Clinical Training for Modules 1-4 takes place over two days and uses a lecture format to introduce people to the basic ADOS-2 administration and scoring principles. The introductory training is intended for professionals with previous training and experience in assessment and differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who are interested in learning more about how the ADOS-2 can be appropriately incorporated into an assessment battery. The introductory training also serves as a first step in the process of establishing research reliability on the ADOS-2. Following the workshop, additional practice with administration and scoring will be necessary to ensure competency in using the ADOS-2 for clinical and/or research purposes.

Introductory/Clinical Trainings are currently offered virtually via Live Webinars, as well as in-person. Advanced/Research Trainings are only available in-person.
What is the ADOS-2 Introductory/Clinical Training for the Toddler Module (Module T)?: For clinicians or researchers involved in diagnostic assessment of children 30 months or younger, it is highly recommended that they attend a 1-day Introductory/Clinical Toddler Module training that provides information specific to use of the ADOS-2 Toddler module. In addition, individuals who plan to use Module T should carefully review all administration and coding procedures in the Module T section of the ADOS-2 manual AND practice administration and coding with several toddlers BEFORE administering Module T for clinical or research purposes.

Introductory/Clinical Trainings are currently offered virtually via Live Webinars, as well as in-person. Advanced/Research Trainings are only available in-person.

Note: Prior training in and experience with Modules 1-4 is a necessary pre-requisite for use of Module T. Trainees who wish to attend the ADOS-2 Introductory/Clinical Training for Module T must first attend an ADOS-2 Introductory/Clinical Training for Modules 1-4.
What is the Introductory/Clinical Training for ADI-R?: The ADI-R Introductory/Clinical Training 1-4 takes place over one day and uses a lecture format to introduce people to the basic ADI-R administration and scoring principles. The introductory training is intended for professionals with previous training and experience in assessment and differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who are interested in learning more about how the ADI-R can be appropriately incorporated into an assessment battery. The introductory training also serves as a first step in the process of establishing research reliability on the ADI-R. Following the workshop, additional practice with administration and scoring will be necessary to ensure competency in using the ADI-R for clinical and/or research purposes.

Introductory/Clinical Trainings are currently offered virtually via Live Webinars, as well as in-person. Advanced/Research Trainings are only available in-person.
What is the Advanced/Research Training for the ADOS-2 and ADI-R?: Advanced/Research training focuses on bringing attendees’ administration and scoring skills to a higher level of inter-rater agreement with the scoring practices of skilled examiners. This heightened level of accuracy is needed to ensure that administration procedures and item-level coding are comparable across different labs in different parts of the world where research is being conducted. Trainees must have completed Introductory/Clinical Training prior to attending the Advanced/Research training. The Advanced/Research training is appropriate for both clinicians and researchers who are regularly using the ADOS-2 and/or the ADI-R. In-person attendance at an advanced workshop is required for individuals who plan to pursue research reliability on the ADOS-2 and/or or the ADI-R.

While Introductory/Clinical Trainings are currently offered virtually via Live Webinars, as well as in-person, Advanced/Research Trainings are only available in-person.
Who should attend the ADOS-2 and ADI-R training?: Professionals with previous experiences working with individuals with ASD are most suitable to receive the training. For clinical use, clinicians who have the qualifications to conduct an assessment of ASD individually or as a team can receive the training (e.g., clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians) as well as researchers with clinical expertise working with individuals with ASD (even if via supervision).
Do I need to establish research reliability on the ADOS-2 or ADI-R?: If you plan to use the ADOS-2 and/or ADI-R for research purposes, you will need to establish reliability on the instrument before you begin collecting data. Establishing and maintaining reliability is crucial to maintaining consistency and comparability across research studies that employ these instruments. If you plan to use the ADOS-2 and/or ADI-R for clinical purposes, establishing research reliability is recommended but not required.
What is the process for establishing independent research reliability on the ADOS-2?: To obtain independent research reliability on the ADOS-2, you must first attend both the Introductory/Clinical training and the Advanced/Research training. Following satisfactory completion of the Advanced/Research Training, you must establish research reliability by successfully fulfilling the post-course requirements. The post-course requirements include submitting at least two video recordings (one of Module 1 or 2 and one of Module 3 or 4) of yourself administering the ADOS-2. These recordings must demonstrate that 1) you have learned the standardized administration procedures, and 2) that your scores are reliable with the scores of a certified independent trainer (https://autism.ucsf.edu/ados-2-adi-r-independent-trainers), as evidenced by at least 80% exact item agreement on both the protocol and the algorithm.

Once a person has achieved independent reliability on the ADOS-2 with a certified independent trainer, they will be able to use the ADOS-2 for research purposes. The independent trainer will then be responsible for tracking and vouching for the newly reliable individual, regardless of where they are conducting their research. Alternatively, it is possible for someone to establish on-site reliability (see below). However, these individuals will need to re-establish reliability with another reliable coder at their new site if they leave the site where they first established reliability.
What is the process for establishing reliability on the ADI-R?: To obtain reliability on the ADI-R, you must first complete the ADI-R Introductory and Advanced/Research training. Following satisfactory completion of the Advanced/Research Training, you must establish research reliability by successfully fulfilling the post-course requirements. The post-course requirements include submitting at least one video recording of yourself administering the ADI-R. This recording must demonstrate that 1) you have learned the standardized administration procedures, and 2) that your scores are reliable with the scores of a certified independent trainer, as evidenced by at least 90% exact item agreement on both the protocol and the algorithm.

Once a person has achieved independent reliability on the ADI-R with a certified independent trainer, they will be able to use the ADI-R for research purposes. The independent trainer will then be responsible for tracking and vouching for the newly reliable individual, regardless of where they are conducting their research. Alternatively, it is possible for someone to establish on-site reliability (see below). However, these individuals will need to re-establish reliability with another reliable coder at their new site if they leave the site where they first established reliability.
What is the process for establishing on-site reliability on the ADOS-2 or ADI-R?: If you work directly with someone who has previously established reliability on the ADOS-2 or ADI-R with an independent trainer, you may choose to establish on-site reliability with that person. To do so, you must be working at the same physical site and have frequent (i.e., at least weekly) contact to talk about coding and administration issues.

To establish ADOS-2 reliability with an independently reliable person at your site, you must achieve fidelity of administration and 80% agreement with them in coding on both the protocol and the algorithm across three consecutive administrations of Module 1 or 2 and three consecutive administrations of Modules 3 or 4. In addition, you must fully conduct at least one of the administrations from each Module set.

To establish ADI-R reliability with someone at your site, you must achieve 90% agreement in coding with the ADI-R reliable examiner on both the protocol and the algorithm across three consecutive administrations of the ADI-R. In addition, you must fully conduct at least one of the administrations.

If you choose to establish on-site reliability instead of independent reliability, you are not permitted to then train other people in your lab. Thus, if you need to be able to train other people in your lab, you must complete the research reliability process an independent trainer.
Once I am research reliable, how do I maintain my reliability?: Even after a person has achieved research reliability on the ADOS-2, it is essential that they take steps to maintain their reliability as long as they continue to use the ADOS-2. It is easy for even very skilled clinicians to "drift" in administration and scoring practices if there is not frequent discussion and a chance to compare scores with other reliable coders. For research projects using the ADI-R and/or ADOS-2, we recommend that you double-score and reassess reliability with other reliable coders for approximately 10% of administrations.

Attendance at “refresher” or booster” trainings is highly recommended for researchers and clinicians.

The Global Autism Interactive Network (GAIN) is also a good way to maintain fidelity in administration and reliability in scoring procedures. GAIN is a virtual, live training webinar hosted independent trainers. Visit: https://psychiatry.weill.cornell.edu/education-training/autism/gain
Once I have completed Introductory Training, can I train someone else?: No. The Introductory/Clinical Training is designed to provide training to individual users only. Completion does not provide the additional training or materials required to train others.

Once I have established research reliability on the ADOS-2 or ADI-R, can I train other people at my site?

After you are reliable with an independent trainer, you can then train other members of your research team who are in the same physical location as you are and with whom you have at least weekly contact.
Can I train people at other sites on the ADOS-2 or ADI-R?: If you need to be able to train others outside your lab, you must complete the requirements for becoming a certified independent trainer (https://autism.ucsf.edu/ados-2-adi-r-independent-trainers). Becoming a trainer involves first achieving research reliability, then coming to another training session as a group leader and completing additional reliability tapes. This procedure is relevant both for researchers and for clinicians who would like to lead training workshops. Then we will provide you, at cost, with training materials to train others.
How do I become a certified independent trainer?: If you need to be able to train others outside your own lab, you must first become a certified independent trainer. After establishing independent reliability, you may apply to become a Trainer-in-Training. The Trainer-in-Training program involves several steps, including attending another Advanced/Research Training at a designated ADOS-2/ADI-R training site.

For applicants coming from within the United States, we require that applicants hold a doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, MD). Given different degree requirements for professionals in other countries, international applicants are handled on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, we give priority to people who have extensive experience in assessment and differential diagnosis of ASD, and who are experienced users of the ADOS-2 and/or ADI-R. Please note that there are very few slots for Trainers-in-Training each year, and we cannot guarantee acceptance into the Trainer-in-Training program.
What is an ADOS-2/ADI-R Designated Training Site?: These sites have been designated by the authors of the ADOS-2 to host advanced/research trainings, as well as Booster trainings. They also serve as approved sites for the Trainer-in-Training program.

In the United States, the designated ADOS-2/ADI-R training sites include UCSF, UCLA, University of Minnesota, CADB, and Rutgers. SpectrumKU is a designated ADOS-2/ADI-R training site.
How do I know if my training course is being conducted by a certified trainer?: The designated ADOS-2/ADI-R training sites maintain a list of certified independent trainers from the US and certain international locations (https://autism.ucsf.edu/ados-2-adi-r-independent-trainers). These trainers have been through our Trainer-in-Training program and are authorized to conduct independent trainings.

It is possible that some international trainers are not included on this list because they have been trained as trainers at designated training sites in Europe. However, other individuals may be providing trainings without having completed any formal training on the instruments. Before enrolling for a course, trainees should ensure that the course will be led by a certified independent trainer or someone who has been formally trained as a trainer through a designated international program.
Are the online trainings recorded?: No, online trainings are only offered via live webinar. Video recording of any portion of the trainings is not permitted.
What is the Adapted ADOS Advanced Training?: The Adapted ADOS Training takes place over one day and uses a lecture format to introduce people to the A-ADOS administration and scoring. The A-ADOS training is intended for professionals who are interested in using the A-ADOS in their research studies. Prior training and experience in ADOS-2 Modules 1-4 and the assessment of adolescents and adults who are minimally verbal and/or have intellectual disability is required. Workshops are scheduled on-demand and may be hosted at any individual research site. An optional half day training is available to sites with large groups or who want more hands-on administration practice. Following the workshop, additional practice with administration and scoring will be necessary to ensure competency in using the A-ADOS for research purposes.