All trainings provided by the MAEP are free to Montana Public School Educators and Service Providers.
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ASD Recognition, Response & Risk Management for law enforcement, first responders, and school administrators.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Recognition, Response & Risk Management: High Risk Contacts with Autistic Individuals is designed for law enforcement, first responders, and school administrators. This training is sponsored by the Montana Office of Public Instruction Montana Autism Education Project and is free of charge to attendees; though registration is required and space is limited.
Dennis Debbaudt is a globally recognized expert in autism and law enforcement interactions, with over 30 years of experience training professionals across public safety, criminal justice, education, and emergency response. As both a former investigative journalist and father to a son diagnosed with autism in 1987, Debbaudt brings a unique blend of personal insight and professional expertise to his work. His engaging and practical training sessions are tailored for law enforcement, 911 dispatchers, correctional officers, educators, and behavioral health professionals.
Debbaudt has consulted and trained agencies including the FBI, NYPD, Homeland Security’s FLETC, Chicago PD, Detroit PD, Houston PD, and departments throughout the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and beyond. His contributions include curriculum development for the NYPD, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Maryland Police Training Commission, as well as numerous publications such as Autism, Advocates, and Law Enforcement Professionals and a 2024 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders study. He has been featured by HBO, ABC 20/20, The New York Times, People Magazine, and WIRED, and his work is widely respected for improving safety, awareness, and communication between law enforcement and autistic individuals.
James Marble is a 26-year law enforcement veteran, who has served in capacities from patrolman through Chief of Police, and has been a certified law enforcement instructor in Montana for 16 years. James has specialized in various disciplines of instruction including firearms, use of force, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) recognition, communication strategies, and de-escalation techniques. Along with completing Dennis Debbaudt’s Autism Risk and Safety Management Law Enforcement Instructor Course, James brings a unique combination of law enforcement and personal experience. James was diagnosed with ASD in 2020. James’s unique experience of a law enforcement professional and an adult with ASD allows for him to speak intelligently from both perspectives. James is dedicated to advocating for law enforcement, and people with ASD and their families, in order to bridge the gap between both communities.
This 4-hour training will focus on identification of individuals at varied independence levels
- recognition & disclosure of autism spectrum disorder (ASD);
- communication tips;
- sensory and scene management tips;
- search and rescue of missing & vulnerable children and adults;
- development of vulnerable/voluntary informational data bases;
- suspicious persons contacts;
- persons in crisis emergencies with aggression;
- use of force/custody;
- interview of an autistic victim, witness, or suspect;
- threat assessment;
- partnership opportunities with autism support organizations & related training policies.
Monday 9/29/25 8:30-12:30 Flathead High School - Flex Room. 644 4th Ave W. Kalispell, 59901
Tuesday 9/30/25 8:30-12:30 Missoula Schools Admin Building B - Professional Learning Lab. 909 South Ave W. Missoula, 59801
Wednesday 10/1/25 8:30-12:30 Helena Schools Lincoln Center. 1325 Poplar St. Helena, 59601
Thursday 10/2/25 8:30-12:30 Belgrade Schools Learning Center. 106 North Broadway St. Belgrade, 59714
Friday 10/3/25 8:30-12:30 Billings Schools Lincoln Center. 415 N. 30th St. Billings, 59101
MonTECH: Boosting Inclusion through AT and Adaptive Equipment (Field Trip, Anyone?)
This session will focus on designing inclusive programming and the tools needed for successful implementation. We will discuss the impact of inclusive classroom activities, recreation, field trips, and the arts and provide examples of equipment for accessing playgrounds, trails, snow, and beyond.
(ADOS®-2) Initial Training | BILLINGS
Chronic Absenteeism
Learn efficient and effective tools to help identify root causes of school refusal and chronic absenteeism and support school attendance.
(ADOS®-2) Initial Training | GREAT FALLS
 The OPI Montana Autism Education Project, in collaboration with The Montana Center for Inclusive Education and Institute for Neurodiversity at Montana State University Billings (MSUB), is pleased to host the first annual Mountain West Neurodiversity Conference at MSUB, September 19-20, 2025, with a pre-conference intensive behavior workshop for educators on September 18, 2025.
This is a free conference designed for educators, related service providers, families, and advocates. The conference will feature leading experts in the field alongside autistic and neurodiverse individuals, sharing their lived experiences, evidence-based approaches, and tools to support meaningful inclusion across educational and community settings.
6 Week Virtual Behavior Academy
Behavior is complex. Knowing what to do with it is even harder. Join us for our behavior academy. Become adept at knowing what to do before, during, and after behavior. Participants will explore competing pathways model, function-based strategies, preference assessments, behavior support plan templates, response strategies, treatment integrity, and more.
Experienced school personnel should walk away from this course prepared to be effective mentors in teaching models for behavior intervention strategies to their colleagues.
- Wednesdays, September 24, 2025- October 29, 2025 3:00-4:00
- This training is limited to 30 people
- 6 OPI renewal units are offered for this training
STAR Autism Intervention Capacity Building Program
This year-long program is FREE to selected districts.
Who Can Participate
Public education agencies are encouraged to form diverse teams of up to 10 members & 2 classrooms that may include:
- Early childhood special education teachers
- Elementary special education teachers
- General education teachers
- Related service providers
- Teaching assistants or paraprofessionals
- Administrators
We recommend identifying a "district coach" - typically an instructional coach, autism or behavior specialist, related services staff professional, or special education teacher to help sustain the program's practices long-term. Your team will learn practical and effective instructional strategies for teaching students with developmental disabilities in high-quality learning environments.
What Your Team Will Receive
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Comprehensive Training : Your team will participate in a 2-day workshop covering evidence-based teaching strategies and practices. The workshop provides background knowledge and practical implementation techniques specifically designed for children with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder.
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Personalized Consultation : Each team will receive 10 days of individualized coaching and training visits to help apply workshop concepts in your specific educational setting. These visits can be customized to address your team's unique challenges and questions.
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Resources and Materials : Each participating team receives one STAR Combo Kit and Media Center license, providing access to curriculum materials, visual supports, and online resources that facilitate immediate implementation of learned strategies.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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