Profound Village is a private, supportive community for professionals and caregivers dedicated to sharing resources and lived experiences related to profound autism.

Each month, we host expert-led webinars featuring specialists from various fields, offering valuable insights and strategies for supporting individuals with profound autism.

Missed a live event? No problem—our webinars are recorded and available to watch at your convenience in the Village. Explore the listings below to discover what Profound Village has to offer. We’re confident you’ll find something meaningful and beneficial to support your journey.

Upcoming Webinars

We kindly request a $10 contribution per session, which covers the cost of the continuing education credits (CEs) we provide as well as simply supporting our work. However, we firmly believe in accessible information for everyone. If the cost is a barrier, please feel free to use the discount code FREE to waive the fee.

Operation House Call

Join Maura Sullivan, CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts and the Director of Operation House Call for an inside look at “OHC” an inclusive healthcare training program that partners with every medical school in MA. Learn how OHC is building a competent and inspired new generation of healthcare professionals through our lived-experience teaching model. The program is expanding and gaining national recognition. People with autism/IDD and their families are impacted thousands of students and building true champions! In 2023, The Arc passed a bill to codify the program as law in Massachusetts.

Trauma-informed Care: Considerations in Profound Autism

People with developmental disability have an elevated risk of adverse experiences across the lifespan. Understanding these risks and teaching skills that promote independence, communication, and self-advocacy may help keep people safer. This session will discuss trauma-informed care principles and skills that may be taught in order to reduce the likelihood of experiencing adverse events and improve the quality of life and safety for those with profound autism. 

Previously Recorded Sessions

We kindly request a $10 contribution per session, which covers the cost of the continuing education credits (CEs) we provide as well as simply supporting our work. However, we firmly believe in accessible information for everyone. If the cost is a barrier, please feel free to use the discount code FREE to waive the fee.

Profound Autism: Successful Medical Visits

Join Dr. Susan Brasher from Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing to hear what families can do to ensure successful medical visits for people with Profound Autism. In this discussion, Dr. Brasher will share her expertise in the healthcare field and ways to promote success in all medical encounters ranging from routine medical visits to hospitalizations.

Yoga For Profound Autism

This one-hour webinar will delve into the practice of teaching yoga to individuals with profound autism. Participants will gain an understanding of teaching techniques and specific yoga poses that can be adapted to accommodate the unique needs of this population.

Key Topics:

  • Understanding the Unique Needs of Individuals with Profound Autism

  • Creating a Safe and Supportive Yoga Environment

  • Teaching Techniques and Strategies

  • Adapting Yoga Poses for Profound Autism

By the end of this webinar, participants will be equipped with practical tools and strategies around teaching yoga to individuals with profound autism, promoting well-being, relaxation, and improved quality of life.

Adaptive Aquatics! Water Safety for Profound Autism

Join Cindy Freedman in a Live Webinar at Profound Village to learn more about Water Safety for Profound Autism.

Cindy is a recreational therapist, Occupational therapist, and co-owner of Swim Angelfish. After working for ten years as a recreational therapist in a variety of settings, she pursued a Master’s degree in OT. Her career as an OT includes specialty training in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics. She is currently certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES. As a swimmer and national champion diver, Her love of the water combined with her education and work experience created them an opportunity for Swim Angelfish to become a reality!

“Our mission is to create an aquatic community of trained instructors so that together we can decrease the alarming statistic of drowning being the leading cause of death for children with special needs.”

Trouble-shooting Toilet Training for Individuals with Profound Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities

This webinar will provide an overview of guidelines for training both urine and stool continence. When training doesn’t go as planned or when issues such as toilet avoidance, chronic urinary tract infections, or chronic constipation, present added challenges, troubleshooting will also be addressed.

Too Overwhelmed to Advocate? Here's Why You (Yes YOU!) Should and How You Can Do It.

Caregivers of people with profound autism frequently have very stressful lives that may not lend themselves to diving into public policy. Additionally, providers are in short supply and frequently are overworked and underpaid.

The voices of those on the frontlines (caregivers and providers) are critical to the effort to improve the lives of people with profound autism. This webinar will empower attendees to easily and effectively advocate to improve research, supports, and services for people with profound autism.

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