“The difference in my understanding of SIS before and after the AAIDD (formerly AAMR) training workshop was like night and day.” Jonathon Crumley, Regional Supervisor with Georgia’s Middle Behavioral Services

“The most valuable part of the training was trying out the interviews and getting feedback from the instructor on the scoring and which questions worked. Because of the need to have the instructor give feedback on interviews you conduct, the advanced training is essential to ensure proper administration of SIS.” Steve Mason, Chief Operating Office, Hillsborough ARC (HARC), Tampa, Florida

More testimonials>

Read articles on SIS training from past issues of the SIS Vantage newsletter.

Why consider SIS training
In a nutshell, with a Supports Intensity Scale training workshop, your staff will understand how to score the tool properly; transition to a supports-based (as opposed to deficits or skills assessment) mindset of assessment; and gain valuable interviewing skills to maximize feedback from respondents and obtain accurate assessment scores. With proper training, you can be more assured that results from SIS assessments are reliable and that you can base critical decisions on services to persons with intellectual disabilities on SIS scores. Click here to read a more comprehensive summary of how SIS training enhances staff knowledge, confidence, and more.

Training workshop offerings
In general, you can choose from a one-day introduction to SIS; train-the-trainer workshops; and training staff to be SIS interviewers. All trainings are conducted by AAIDD-certified trainers and trainings can be conducted at any pre-determined location of your choice.

The content and the length of AAIDD SIS training workshops vary depending on which of the three options above you choose as well as the number of workshop attendees. In general, if you elect to do more than a one-day training, the workshop is conducted in phases. A typical SIS training workshop begins with a one-day, in-depth overview of the Scale, including why SIS was created and best practices in administering it. The introductory session also includes guided interviews and role playing by AAIDD trainers. Both in the train-the-trainer workshops and in training SIS interviewers, attendees work in pairs and independently on conducting interviews with persons with intellectual disabilities. Typically, depending on the length of the training, trainees convene at the end to discuss challenges in interview techniques, style, and the understanding of SIS. In train-the-trainer workshops, AAIDD trainers offer individualized critiques based on observations, and at the end, individual trainers are evaluated to ascertain if they have a sound understanding of SIS and hence are reliable trainers or administrators. In general, SIS training workshops are customized to fit the needs of the organization or state, although the outcome is the same--to train trainers or administrators to be reliable interviewers of SIS.

Who should be a SIS trainer?
You are considering seeking an AAIDD SIS training workshop to train your internal staff to be SIS trainers and are wondering what you should look for in potential candidates to be SIS trainers, read the following guidelines issued by AAIDD.

Click here to send an email to AAIDD requesting a quote on training your staff to be reliable SIS trainers or interviewers.

Read what past attendees have to say about SIS training.