New UH Mānoa training aims to reduce waitlists for Hawaiʻi families seeking Autism assessments

Families in Hawaiʻi can face waits of two to three years for an autism evaluation. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is offering specialized training to help expand the number of local clinicians equipped to conduct these assessments.

The College of Education’s Center on Disability Studies will host an in-person introductory training December 9–11 on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), a widely used tool for evaluating autism. The training is designed for clinicians who already have experience in diagnostic assessments and testing individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions.

By building local expertise in autism evaluations, the training aims to strengthen clinical practice across Hawaiʻi and help address the workforce challenges that contribute to long waitlists for families seeking answers and support for their children.

“Behind every long wait for an autism evaluation is a family looking for answers and trying to connect their child with the right support,” said UH Mānoa Center on Disability Studies Director Meghan Miller. “By investing in the skills of clinicians already working in our communities, we hope to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s capacity to provide autism evaluations and help more families access the services their children need.”

The three-day training will introduce participants to the basic principles of administering and scoring ADOS-2 modules for toddlers through older children and adults with different developmental levels and language abilities. Instruction will include lectures and live demonstrations. The introductory course is also a prerequisite for professionals interested in pursuing advanced or research training in ADOS-2.

Registration is open to clinicians practicing in Hawaiʻi (including clinical and school psychologists, psychiatrists, developmental-behavioral pediatricians, other physicians and pediatric specialists and other licensed behavioral health or developmental specialists, and clinical trainees in these areas), as well as UH Mānoa clinical psychology PhD students and Hawaiʻi Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (MCH-LEND) Program trainees.

Training details

• Dates: December 9–11, 2026, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
• Location: John A. Burns School of Medicine, Medical Education Building, Room 304
• Registration fee: $500 for general participants; $200 for eligible UH Mānoa clinical psychology PhD students and Hawaiʻi MCH-LEND Program trainees
• Registration deadline: November 13, 2026

Participants must bring their own copies of the ADOS-2 toddler and Modules 1-4 protocols. Access to the ADOS-2 manual is also recommended. These materials are not included in the registration fee, and participants who do not have the required protocols must defer their registration to a future training.

Eligible UH Mānoa clinical psychology PhD students and Hawaiʻi MCH-LEND trainees may request a discount code by emailing cdsados2@hawaii.edu with proof of current enrollment.

To register, visit the Center on Disability Studies website for training and registration information.