Parent and Professional Training

The purpose of our trainings 

Our training programs leave parents, caregivers and professionals feeling empowered to help someone with autism succeed in their daily lives.

Structured Teaching Classroom Setup (CSU) Training
An intensive four-day training in a classroom setting for professionals who work with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

  • A direct, supervised experience in a demonstration classroom setting

  • Interactive experience with students with autism of varying ages from elementary through transition and with varying functioning levels

  • An intense period of active learning

  • Presentations and demonstrations of Structured Teaching philosophies and methodologies

  • An opportunity to work as a team to set up a classroom including arranging the physical structure of the room and working with students primary through high school

Registration for this summer training has not begun

BEST+ Training
This highly successful training is specifically focused on meeting the needs of special educators!

  • One training per month for 3 months.

  • Participants will have a classroom assignment following

    day 1 and 2 to better implement the principles of

    Structured Teaching.

  • Participants will observe and work with individuals with

    ASD across the spectrum.

  • Participants can access virtual “office hours” between

    sessions.

2025 Session:

  • January 29, February 26 and March 19

For more information and to register, please click here.

Make and Take for Related Service Providers
Are you a related service provider looking to elevate your skills and enhance your impact? This training offers you the tools, techniques, and strategies to improve your sessions and empower those you work with. This training is designed to optimize your teaching approach when working with students with autism.

Why attend?

  • Expert-Led Training: Learn from experienced instructors who specialize in structured teaching methods tailored to various related service providers

  • Practical Techniques: Through make and take opportunities gain hands-on strategies to apply immediately, improving outcomes for your clients or students.

  • Enhanced Learning Outcomes: Master methods that cater to diverse learning styles and needs, ensuring better engagement and retention.

  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals and build a community of practice that will support your growth long-term.

What you’ll learn?

  • Structured Teaching Principles: Understand the core components of effective teaching, including pacing, organization, and reinforcement.

  • Individualized Approaches: Tailor your teaching to meet the specific needs of each person you serve.

  • Behavior Management Techniques: Use positive reinforcement and proactive strategies to maintain engagement and foster progress.

  • Real-World Application: Video examples to help you apply concepts to your specific context.

Winter 2025: January 15

To register, please click here.

Funding provided in whole or in part by The Autism Program of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Have Dreams provides autism-specific training and educational programs for parents, caregivers and professionals to connect successfully with a person with ASD.

We recognize that individuals with ASD require substantial structure and engagement. As part of the Have Dreams training program we have created a free resource for parents and caregivers to access autism-friendly activities. 

Our trainings start at the beginning defining autism and the diagnostic process to the characteristics of autism and how it effects their day to day life. We cover communication, social skills, motor and play skills to behavior, learning styles and academics. Additionally, we offer a variety of useful tools, from maintaining schedules to participating in activities at home and in the community.

Scroll down for Structuring Teaching in Action, Autism 411 and Structured Teaching Overview videos!

Questions about our in-person trainings? Email hdtrainings@havedreams.org

On-line Trainings

Have Dreams has taken its popular Basic Elements of Structured Teaching (BEST) training and made it virtual! For those that can't make our in-person BEST training, this is a GREAT option! We also offer a library training course. Click here to visit our “on-line trainings” page!

Visual Supports & Educational Activities

Visual supports and educational activities are available to download!  This includes easy to create differentiated schedules, to do lists to keep your child or student on task, wait strips and more. Click here to visit our “activities” page! For highly structured units for fun and learning, visit our “store” page!

Questions or Suggestions?

For more information, questions about activities and supports or suggestions please contact our training team at HDTrainings@havedreams.org 

Watch our Autism 411 and Structured Teaching Overview videos here

Bridget Hellstrom - Training Participant 

Connection to Have Dreams I’m an elementary special education teacher at Washington School in Glenview. I was trained by Have Dreams in the structured teaching method, and have applied that method to my classroom. 

How has Have Dreams made an impact on your life?

I absolutely love structured teaching. I can't imagine implementing any other program. Have Dreams has made a significant difference in my classroom by introducing me to the concept of individualized to do lists and schedules for my students.

It's really helped decrease behaviors as well as build independence in all of the students. I observe each student and see what works best for them. And then I create individual plans for each of them. Really individualizing them, you gear them towards what that student needs. My students work best with the structure. It's what makes sense to them. So, coming into a room and seeing their individualized schedule, it is calming to them because they know what's coming. They see “math” and they know exactly what to expect and what to do in that area of the classroom, as well as the other areas in the classroom.

When I first started teaching, all my students had the same schedules, and now differentiating them has made a difference. It's amazing. My classroom has become very calm and content. The students are happy. 

Have Dreams’ methods should be taught to more teachers at more schools. I tell people all the time how amazing this program is and how I wish it was in other places.  It does so much for the students. That's what it's all about.