The Bolivian video presentation series aims to provide informational support for family members and professionals who care for and serve individuals with autism. The Autism Project began as an outreach project through Partners of the Americas, where eight autism researchers have traveled to Bolivia for information gathering, training, workshops, and presentations since 2012. This video presentation series project allows for ongoing professional support and training while reducing travel costs. Twenty-six presentations were recorded and made available to family members and professionals throughout Bolivia for no cost. The video presentations are grouped into three subseries: screening, evaluation, and diagnosis; interventions; and medical management for individuals with autism.
The most immediate needs, identified via consultation and collaboration with newly formed autism committees in four cities in Bolivia, are training for families and professionals so that individuals with autism can receive appropriate intervention and support from their current care providers. Because travel expenses prohibit frequent visits for ongoing training with autism experts, local committees suggested the use of technology to help meet these training needs. The video presentations have been offered for use by families, providers, and university programs of study in healthcare and education. Academic programs can include autism evaluation and intervention content within their curriculums by incorporating the archived presentations into their courses, supported by related discussions and assignments managed by the course faculty. Consequently, the next generation of professionals can enter the workforce with enhanced training in autism.