Adaptive Skills Training Professional & Specialist (service code 605) Service Description Formerly known as Adaptive Skills Trainer; these services enhance an individual’s existing skills. They also may remedy an individual’s skill deficits in communication, social function, or other related skill areas, including, but not limited to, the following categories: (a) safety skills; (b) skills needed to access the community; (c) hygiene and dressing skills; (d) skills needed to access technology; (e) skills needed to buy and prepare food; (f) competency training; (g) housekeeping skills; (h) toileting skills; (i) feeding skills (including addressing picky eating, food refusal, and sensory-based issues with food); (j) staff and personnel training; (k) communication; (l) challenging behavior; (m) sleep and sleep hygiene; (n) choice making; and (o) specialty counseling. An individual must have a master’s degree to be vendored and may hire individuals with a bachelor’s degree to provide services. Adaptive Skills Training Professional designs and implements adaptive skills training plans and provides supervision to Adaptive Skills Training Specialists. Providers must have a master's degree in one of the following: education, psychology, counseling, nursing, social work, applied behavior analysis, behavioral medicine, speech and language, rehabilitation, marriage and family therapy or a comparable degree in a human services field; and at least one year of experience in the design and implementation of adaptive skills training plans. Adaptive Skills Training Specialist designs and implements adaptive skills training plans under the supervision of an Adaptive Skills Training Professional. Providers must have a bachelor’s degree in one of the following: education, psychology, counseling, nursing, social work, applied behavior analysis, behavioral medicine, speech and language, rehabilitation, marriage and family therapy, or a comparable degree in a human services field; and at least one year of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Providers should have experience in the area for which adaptive skills training is to be provided. Adaptive Skills Training Professionals & Specialists shall meet the staff requirements in Title 17 of the CCR section 54342(a)(3), while including the new components listed below. Social Recreation Activities: Leisure activities shared with other individuals for the purpose of promoting personal enjoyment, healthy lifestyles, social interaction, self-esteem, and community integration. WRC is committed to providing information on free and low-cost social and recreational opportunities with organizations in our catchment area that provide social outlets for individuals within their own communities. Examples of social recreational activities include but are not limited to participation with others at: Parks and Recreation, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Special Olympics, etc. Social recreational activities do not include activities vendored as community-based day programs. Non-Medical Therapies: provide therapy and/or training to individuals and their families, for the individual to achieve an Individual Program Plan objective. Examples of nonmedical therapies include, but are not limited to, specialized recreation therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, equine therapy, and music therapy.
