A Capital Campaign for the RECREATION COMPLEX

Expanding recreation activities available at The Els Center of Excellence® campus.

Recreation Complex
Professional Development

Teaching Education Autism Methods (TEAM)

Practicum / Internship / Observership

Teaching Educational Autism Methods (TEAM) provides learning opportunities for college students seeking placement for internships, externships, and practicum experiences. TEAM also provides opportunities for professionals, working in the field of autism spectrum disorder, to observe the implementation of evidence-based practices across disciplines and age ranges.

The TEAM professional observership program is a fee-based service. Internships and practicum experiences have no associated costs. All TEAM program experiences allow students to integrate their experiences and knowledge in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. Professionals will be provided opportunities to learn from dynamic observation, training modules, and professional team meeting-based experiences.


Internships

Are you interested in joining Els for Autism?  We have a highly qualified transdisciplinary team of professionals in all fields including Behavior Analysis, Speech and Language Pathology, Mental Health Counseling, Occupational Therapy, and more.  The team works together to develop unique & individualized programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

We are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our employees are a collective sum of individual differences through our knowledge, experiences, and talent. We are inspired by differences in age, color, disability, sex, gender expression, religion, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, veteran status, and others.

Internships
+ Behavior Analysis

The Els for Autism Foundation can serve as a practicum site for students interested in obtaining their BCBA or BCaBA. In order to participate in the practicum program, you must enroll in a course through your university. Each university has slightly different requirements for the host practicum site, which can be discussed during the interview process. Below is a general outline of the experience offered via the TEAM Behavior Analysis practicum program.

  • Completion of a supervision contract
  • Weekly meetings with the supervising BCBA (minimum 5% of your time worked)
  • Must work a minimum of 10 hours per week and a maximum of 35
  • Attendance and participation at both staff meetings and client team meetings
  • Required readings related to ABA and autism spectrum disorder
  • You will be provided with experiences in using ABA principles in a variety of programs including 1:1 ABA therapy sessions, vocational training programs, and recreational activities
+ Speech - Language Pathology

The Foundation can serve as a practicum site for students needing advanced practicum experience for their graduate school speech and language pathology program. In order to participate in the practicum program, you must enroll in a course through your university if  the Foundation has a signed agreement with your university department. Each university has slightly different requirements for the host practicum site, which can be discussed during the interview process. Below is a general outline of the experience offered via the TEAM Speech -Language practicum program.

  • Observations of speech and language therapy sessions with clients across ages and across programs/settings
  • Direct service treatment and assessment hours with pediatric or adult client populations in 1:1 therapy sessions, vocational training programs and recreational activities
  • Clinical writing experiences
  • Hearing screening opportunities as needed and as available
  • Participation in research projects related to speech and language pathology as available per semester
  • Weekly meetings with the supervising Speech-Language Pathologist
  • Attendance and participation at both staff meetings and client team meetings
  • Required readings related to speech language pathology and autism spectrum disorder
+ Sports and Recreation

The Foundation delivers and disseminates fitness and therapeutic arts programs developed for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Foundation can serve as an internship site for college students looking for experiences working with individuals with ASD, during sports and recreation-based activities (e.g., golf, tennis, soccer, yoga, dance, theater, music). Internships opportunities are available during year-round afterschool programs, spring break camps, and summer camps.

+ General Autism Internship Experience

The Foundation delivers and disseminates various educational, therapeutic, recreational, and life-enhancing programs for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The Foundation can serve as an internship site for professionals looking for experiences working with individuals with ASD.  These internships can be available during year-round afterschool programs, spring break camps, and summer camps. The internship experience will provide access to training models and observations of best practices when providing intervention to individuals with ASD.  The experience does not necessarily provide clinical supervision. All interns will be assigned a supervisor.

+ Marketing and Development

The Foundation can serve as an internship for students in high school or college interested in nonprofit marketing and development.  Areas of focus may include:

Events: Assist in supporting the Foundation’s fundraising events including the Golf Challenge.  Tasks will vary but may include:

  • Solicit local, regional and national businesses for auctions and raffle donations
  • Assist in packing/shipping and/or receiving return shipments from events
  • Maintaining/organizing the event storage room (located in lower school)
  • Preparing and printing event signage, labels and other marketing materials used at events
  • Support developing content for event presentations
  • Donor Perfect support

Website: Basic understanding of WordPress is required and can be learned during the internship. Tasks will vary but may include:

  • Assist with setting-up SEO on the elsforautism.org website and assist with website redirects
  • Support website content updates

Testimonials: For use in future brochures, grant reports and on the elsforautism.org website, develop a set (number to be determined). Tasks will vary but may include:

  • Interviewing testimonial candidates
  • Writing the story, approximately 6-8 paragraphs, and get final approvals from the Marketing Manager

Press Clip OrganizationMaintain the press clip file on the shared drive by scanning and organizing the existing clips and updating the binder of existing physical clips.

Social Media: Understand the Foundation’s social media goals and provide new and creative ideas to achieve and enhance the goals.

Campaign Support:  A campaign example is “Giving Tuesday”, the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Tasks will vary but may include:

  • Brainstorm campaign ideas
  • Develop social media breakthrough ideas that are a financial success based on achievable, established goals

Photography: Take photos of campus activities for specific events and download and organize the photos to the Foundation’s shared drive.





    ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

    The Els for Autism Foundation delivers and disseminates various educational, therapeutic, recreational, and life-enhancing programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The Foundation can serve as a site for students looking experiences observing programs involving individuals with ASD.  Students seeking to complete their observation hours at the Foundation may be interested in the following: behavior analysis, speech-language pathology, social work, sports and recreation, occupational therapy, marketing and development, mental health counseling or across disciplines.  Observations, non-specific to discipline, may be available during year-round afterschool programs, spring break camps, and summer camps. All programs at the Foundation are based on evidence-based practices for individuals with ASD.


    Professional Observership

    The TEAM Professional Observership Program offers professionals from around the world opportunities to observe and learn from a highly qualified transdisciplinary team of professionals (e.g. Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Speech-Language Pathologists, an Occupational Therapist, and Music Therapists). Observations of speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, ABA therapy (i.e., behavior therapy) and adult service programs, both on and off campus will be included in each session.

    Professional Observership - Therapist with Child

    Observations of diagnostic assessments, research programs, Recreation Services (e.g., golf, tennis, soccer, yoga), Reach and Teach Through the Arts services (e.g., music, art, drama, and dance) may be included based on availability. In order to participate in the program, professionals must be proficient in English and have worked in the field of autism spectrum disorder for at least one year.

    All professionals participating in the TEAM Observership program will be invited to view the Els for Autism five staff training modules.  A certificate of completion will be provided at the end of these five, 1-hour training modules. Please note, all acceptances are contingent on the results a level 2 or international background check. One background check is included within the fee charged per each professional.  Below is a general outline of the experience offered via the TEAM Professional Observership program.

    Fees & Hours
    • The fee for each professional accepted into the Professional Observership program is $2500 dollars per week (5 business days)
      • 1 background check is included in this fee
    • Professional Observership sessions are 4 hours a day, across 5 days
      • 50% advance, non-refundable, payment will be due upon scheduling of the level 2 background check
      • The remaining balance will be paid upon the first day of the program
    Application Process
    • Applications must be submitted 6-12 months in advance of the desired time frame
      • Along with an application, all applicants must submit the following documents prior to an interview being scheduled
        • Curriculum Vitae
        • 3 professional references
        • 3 letters of personal references from families
        • Passport and Visa (as necessary for travel)
        • English Proficiency certification
    • Applicants and accepted professionals must be proficient in English
    • Applicants and accepted professionals must have at least 1-year experience working in the field of autism
    • Acceptances are contingent on a cleared level 2 or international background check
    Admission
    • No Stipends/Scholarships are available for travel, accommodations and/or any of the observership activities
    • Accepted professionals must sign an “Observership Letter of Agreement” with Els for Autism Foundation
    • Upon acceptance, a lead TEAM staff member will be assigned as your Professional Observership host
    • A schedule of observations and activities will be sent 2-weeks in advance of the Observership session
    • Access to Els for Autism corporate hotel rates may be available upon request
    • Professionals may request a letter describing/outlining their experience at the completion of the program, but no certificates of training (other than the certificate of completion for the 5 core training modules) or competency will be provided.
      • All requests for letters will be reviewed by the TEAM Professional Observership committee
      • Letter approvals are not guaranteed
      • An approval to write a letter for an applicant is up to the discretion of the committee and will be based on the result of each professional’s performance evaluation

    Conferencing Services

    The state-of-the-art auditorium serves as a hub for professionals in the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to gather and disseminate research findings, best practices, and connect the global autism community via lectures and video conferencing.

    Els for Autism staff hosts conferences annually, fulfilling our mission to facilitate the sharing of best practices and programs.

    Conference
    Els for Autism Teaching Educational Autism Methods (E-TEAM)

    E-TEAM provides learning opportunities for college students seeking placement for internships, externships, practicum work, and student teaching. Online presentations and webinars on a variety of topics are accessible, through our digital resource library, to parents and professionals around the world.



    Webinars & CEUs – E-TEAM

    E-TEAM provides learning opportunities for college students seeking placement for internships, externships, practicum work, and student teaching. Online presentations and webinars on a variety of topics are accessible, through our digital resource library, to parents and professionals around the world. Please note that the current prevalence rate for Autism is 1 in 36 in the United States effective 2023.

    Free Webinars

    Join us for FREE learning webinars covering a variety of topics on ASD.


    View Free Webinars
    Continuing Education Units

    Els for Autism offers webinars to Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who would like to receive continuing education credit.


    View Webinars for CEUs

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    Giving Tuesday

    18 Days of Giving

    Help us build our specialized autism-friendly recreation complex

    Founded by World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els, Els for Autism is transforming the culture of sports, specifically golf, for individuals with autism. Since a round of golf has 18 holes, we are sharing 18 ways we support autistic individuals through our recreation services. Help us reach our goal of raising $18,000 to support our capital campaign to build our specialized autism-friendly recreation complex.


    Current Progress $18,000
    Learn More