The content is presented via materials, handouts, small group activities, discussion, and multimedia. Training is participatory, active, and geared to making learning motivated and inspiring.

• Participants can acquire the strategies that specifically address difficulties with social skills, Executive Function, cognitive rigidity, stress and anxiety, self-acceptance, and self-esteem issues.

• The training can also focus on chapters from the book that deal with: wellness and nutrition, character building, values and ethics, peer mentoring, inclusion, safety, community service learning, and volunteerism.

• Participants can obtain the ability to impart skills for life, school, work, and independent living so that the young men and women they work with can finish high school/college and begin to lead productive, active, and independent lives in a realistic, meaningful, and appropriate way.

Participants can develop an understanding of how active/participatory (student centered and led) learning is the best way to impart skills for life, school, work, and independent living to those with as ASD or LD diagnosis.

• Linking the diagnostic criteria and impact of an ASD or LD diagnosis to the perspective of the teacher, parent, and student.
• Instructional strategies and intervention programs/models of instruction.
• Strategies for emotional and social well-being, inclusion, health, diet, wellness, safety, disclosure, and stress management.
• Adult issues regarding living independently: managing finances and budgeting, relationships, and activities for daily living (ADL).
• Person-centered non-judgmental assessments for improvement and goal setting.

Our trainers have the vital combination of practical and academic experience. Their expertise is based on CIP’s 30+ year fund of knowledge and successful implementation. Attendees can be confident that they will be receiving expert, practical advice, and knowledge-based strategies that can be implemented immediately.

Dr. Michael P. McManmon, Ed.D. - Lead Trainer

Dr. McManmon is a featured keynote speaker and presenter at ASD/LD conferences worldwide. He is a trained psychologist and holds a Doctorate in Special Education, plus Master’s degree in Counseling. He is the founder of the College Internship Program and author of Autism and Learning Differences: An Active Learning Teaching Toolkit and Made for Good Purpose.

He has worked on curriculum development, staff training, program evaluation, and administering community-based programming for over 40 years. Dr. McManmon has an inside perspective as he himself was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in his 50's and grew up in a large family with several individuals on the spectrum.

Dr. McManmon’s work in the field is innovative and cutting edge with a focus on preparing young adults for life, independence, and work through internships, volunteerism, and community-based projects and service learning.

Francine Britton, M.Ed. - Lead Trainer

Francine worked initially as a special education teacher and until semi-retirement worked worldwide as a children’s human rights specialist. She is the author of two teaching toolkits on Active/ Service Learning.

Francine continues to train educators and work with education ministries worldwide on the implementation of active learning and peaceful conflict resolution (awareness, anti-bullying, and peer mediation) strategies for secondary schools. For the past seven years she has been an Education Consultant to CIP, and was the content editor for Autism and Learning Differences: An Active Learning Teaching Toolkit and Made for Good Purpose publications.

Three chapters in Dr. McManmon’s latest book are based on her own life’s work and she is the creator of CIP’s toolkit training program. For the past 5 years, Francine has been a full-time resident at Lake Chapala in Mexico.

Sharona Sommer, CPC - Lead Trainer

Sharona has worked in the Special Education field for over 20 years and is the founder of Sharona Coaching and Consulting, which provides family coaching to families with children on the Autism Spectrum, and also leads workshops and support groups.

Sharona guides the whole family, not just the diagnosis. She offers support, clarity, and peace of mind. Her strong desire to coach families with teens and young adults stems from her work in the special education field and first-hand experienced the challenges parents face. She helps to unite parents and their emerging adult children with a realistic plan for life, school, work, and independent living.

Sharona has presented at several national conferences (LDA, National Autism Conference, YAI), and consults with several organizations in the Autism field. Sharona was on staff at CIP for six years where she worked as the Head Student Advisor.