Life Skills:

All people have patterns of behavior. Sometimes, those behaviors can unintentionally hold us back from succeeding at what we want to accomplish in life, such as building and maintaining relationships or being successful at school or employment. ​Behavior Consultation is a highly personalized and adaptable service designed to support our clients in the areas that matter most to them. Our masters-level Behavior Consultants can create custom plans for: - Building independence through daily living skills, community safety, transition skills, accessing transportation, money management, and much more - Developing social skills to enhance participation in community life - Gaining the skills needed to access employment opportunities - Maintaining successful behaviors across a variety of settings Services are delivered in many different settings including home, work, school, or the community. Our Behavior Consultants work with your whole support network to identify the most effective strategies and maximize your success.​ They bring a listening ear and years of experience working with individuals of all abilities. We go beyond the industry standard by equipping our Behavior Consultants with specialized autism training to ensure a deep appreciation of your needs and experiences in all stages of life. Partners in Autism offers the highest quality Behavior Consultation services. We elevate your experience and tailor your results: - Your Behavior Support Plan (BSP) is continually updated based on current data to ensure effectiveness. - Your BSP uses only non-restrictive, positive behavioral supports to teach effective, sustainable behaviors. - Supports are versatile to help generalize skills and maintain success across a variety of environments. - Your chosen support network (including family, friends, and service providers) receives training to ensure you have the supports you want. Jump to the bottom of this page for more details on what to expect during Behavior Consultation.

Participant Assistance and Care (PAC) Services help you acquire and maintain daily life skills in both the home and in the community with the one-on-one attention of a Life Skills Technicians (also called Direct Support Professionals).​ Our Life Skill Technicians work with you in ways that feel casual and comfortable to help you make progress toward your own goals. They get to know you as a whole person and shape activities around your interests.

Our peer-group courses — covering cooking, health and safety, homecare, and self-advocacy — allow you to expand your daily living skills while making social connections with peers. Our instructor has years of experience supporting clients and radiates compassion and enthusiasm. Courses are offered in rotation throughout the year with sessions building to higher level skills. Watch our social media for current and upcoming offerings. Want to experience a quick sample? Attend our monthly Lasagna Love event where we volunteer to cook lasagnas for families in need. Email Amanda@PartnersinAutism.com to learn more.

Locally unique to Partners in Autism, our specially designed, on-site environments provide calm, private settings where clients of all ages and abilities can develop new skills comfortably. With all the necessary resources and supportive step-by-step guides on hand, our training spaces allow you to develop skills for both daily living and your career, in social and sensory comfort ... all at your own pace. Our staff are ready to work with you in our kitchen, grocery, apartment, laundry room, office, tool shop, mailroom, library, and more!

Our Life Skills Services are for everyone who wants to grow in independence and confidence. Our training spaces and staff bring together the area's most client-centered resources to help you grow in ways that are tailored to your own personal goals. All of Partners in Autism's services are available to individuals with and without autism.  Behavior Consultation, PAC Services, and Skill Training Spaces are designed for all ages and abilities. Our current Life Skills Courses are designed for adults who can engage with tasks for up to two hours.

Partners in Autism staff will help you build or improve whatever skills are meaningful to you... - grocery shopping - health and safety - exploring interests - social interactions in small and large groups - household chores - meal prep - public transportation - community activities - homework strategies ...and many, many more!

Our Life Skills staff build trusting relationships by getting to know each client as a whole person. This rapport builds the foundation for the encouragement and guidance they will provide.  Goals are never prescribed without client input and engagement. Check-ins happen regularly throughout care to see if clients feel goals need to be adjusted. ​ Clients never tackle goals alone. A client's Behavior Support Team includes any individuals who are significant to them - family, friends, etc. - as well as any other service providers. By bringing everyone together, we can equip the people closest to the client in incredibly meaningful ways. We provide each member of the team with training to support the client as they pursue their goals. Receiving consistent support from this team strengthens existing bonds and propels clients to even greater success.

Caregivers: You devote time, energy, and care to the ones you love. Wouldn't it be great if someone supported the care you provide? We do! We can provide you with resources, training, and income as a Family Support Technician. Similar to a Life Skills Technician, a Family Support Technician provides PAC services to someone they already know and love. Parents can be Family Support Technicians if their child is over 18. Other relatives, in-laws, or family friends can be Family Support Technicians for any age. ​ We equip Family Support Technicians with in-depth training to enrich the skills you already use with your loved one. You'll also have access to resources and professional support. ​ Want to learn more about being paid for the support you currently give to a loved one? Contact our Director of Life Skills and Career Development for more information.

We provide the best autism-specific, dignity-focused training to our staff, written by our Director of Behavior Quality Assurance. This equips Partners in Autism staff to approach each interaction with compassion anchored in understanding. Staff can collaborate with our Director of Behavior Quality Assurance at any time to ensure plans and strategies are the best fit for each client. We also equip our staff with a wide range of resources to support skill building through community engagement. This includes hosting our own social events to foster connections between clients as well as between families. As trained professionals, Partners in Autism staff are able to: - help access resources in the community - provide individualized sensory management strategies - practice interactions in a comfortable environment - reduce large tasks into less overwhelming steps - provide feedback and encouragement - serve as a model for skills and behaviors - communicate accurate data about progress towards goals

​As caregivers ourselves, we understand how important it is to feel you can trust the professionals working with your loved ones. When matching Life Skills Technicians or Behavior Consultants to our clients, Partners in Autism relies on input from our clients. We start by listening to your goals and interests and getting to know you as a person. We then host a meet-and-greet in which you can interview the staff we recommend. You, the client, determine whether they are the right fit for your personality and needs.

Partners in Autism is an approved Indiana Medicaid Waiver Services Provider. Life Skills Services are funded by the Family Supports Medicaid Waiver or by private-pay. We can help you navigate Waiver funding. Email us at WaiverServices@PartnersinAutism.com