Training & Education

Advance your expertise in supporting individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs. NADD offers training and education designed for professionals at every stage of their career.

Learn From The Leaders In The Field

Our courses are developed by experts and grounded in the latest research and best practices. Whether you’re pursuing certification, or simply deepening your skills, NADD’s trainings give you practical, evidence based tools you can put to work right away.

For Members to Take

Online Courses

NADD’s online courses are designed to meet professionals where they are. Offering flexible, self-paced learning that builds competency in IDD/MH Dual Diagnosis care without requiring time away from practice.

Whether you’re a Direct Support Professional building foundational skills, a clinician pursuing certification, or an experienced practitioner maintaining your credentials, NADD has a learning pathway for you.

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Browse the full catalog to find the training that fits your goals.
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Free Monthly Webinars

NADD Members access live and recorded webinars on topics relevant to IDD/MH Dual Diagnosis practice, policy, and care.

Access Our Full Webinar Library

NADD members enjoy unlimited access to our complete webinar archive. Join today to take advantage of this and all other member benefits.

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Featured Speaker

Stacy Nonnemacher, Ph.D.

Stacy Nonnemacher, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized expert in autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities, with almost 30 years of experience in clinical practice, policy, and systems change. She currently serves as Director of Cross System Strategies at the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), leading initiatives to improve supports for individuals with complex needs across service systems.

NADD Training
for Organizations

NADD offers training on a wide range of topics related to intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs. Our experienced trainers provide practical, engaging education for direct support professionals, clinicians, case managers, administrators, educators, families, and other partners.

Organizations may select from our current training offerings or work with NADD to develop a new training that addresses a specific topic or need. We tailor each training to the organization’s goals, audience, service setting, and preferred format.

Popular Training Topics

We are still working on the description for our “Understand Dual Diagnosis Basics” training.
This training provides a comprehensive overview of the complex and often overlapping health conditions experienced by individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). It explores key health disparities, common chronic illnesses, and barriers to treatment access—including communication challenges, polypharmacy, and others. The session emphasizes strategies to promote wellness through person-centered care, supportive communication, medication management, and coordination with healthcare providers. Participants gain tools to support improved outcomes through inclusive practices, health monitoring, and empowerment of individuals with IDD to engage in their own care.
We are still working on the description for our “The Genetics of IDD: Syndromes and Phenotypes” training.
Working Effectively to Support People With Autism is a practical, evidence-informed training designed for professionals who support autistic individuals across clinical, educational, and community settings. This training provides participants with a foundational understanding of neurodiversity, autism as a developmental disability, and the lived experiences of autistic people. Through a biopsychosocial lens, attendees will explore communication differences, sensory needs, emotional regulation challenges, mental health considerations, and common diagnostic disparities. Participants will learn strategies to enhance rapport, reduce distress, interpret behavior as communication, and create supportive, person-centered environments. The training emphasizes autistic voices, identity-affirming practices, respect for autonomy, and collaboration with the broader support network.
This training explores trauma-informed, person-centered, and evidence-based approaches to assessment, intervention, and service delivery for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and co-occurring behavioral health needs. Participants will examine how biopsychosocial assessment, recovery-oriented practices, and adapted therapeutic models—including CBT, DBT, supportive psychotherapy, and positive psychology—can support emotional regulation, resilience, and improved outcomes across settings. Topics include trauma-informed care, functional assessment, person-centered planning, wellness and recovery tools, family engagement, and practical strategies for adapting interventions to meet the cognitive, communication, and sensory needs of individuals with IDD.
This training provides a comprehensive overview of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and its critical role in ensuring equitable access to language-based communication for individuals with speech-related disabilities. Participants will explore what communication is, why access to effective communication is essential for autonomy, safety, education, employment, health care, and citizenship, and who may benefit from AAC. The session examines myths and misconceptions about AAC, the difference between speech and language, trauma-informed considerations, communication rights under federal law, and the importance of presuming competence. Practical guidance is provided on AAC best practices, etiquette, policy frameworks, funding sources, and strategies to remove barriers and ensure communication access across settings.
People who are drawn to human services and the helping professions often excel at putting others’ needs ahead of their own. However, this strength can also leave them vulnerable to secondary stressors such as compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. In this training, participants will assess their own secondary stressors and explore strategies to cultivate compassion satisfaction—the antidote to burnout and secondary trauma. Together, we will learn to engage in active resilience planning to support physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being throughout your career.
We are still working on the description for our “Comprehensive Assessment Practices” training.
We are still working on the description for our “Mental Status Exam” training.
We are still working on the description for our “Overview of the Diagnostic Manual for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (DM-ID-2)” training.
This training introduces participants to the signs and symptoms of major mental health conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and psychosis. It emphasizes the importance of observation, noting how symptoms may present differently in individuals with IDD, and highlights diagnostic challenges such as communication barriers and diagnostic overshadowing. Participants will explore behavioral equivalents of mental health conditions, learn strategies to support wellness, and review treatment approaches that incorporate positive behavioral supports and individualized care. The session equips professionals with practical tools to recognize mental health concerns early and respond effectively to support individuals with dual diagnoses.
This training explores positive, person-centered strategies for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants will examine positive behavior support, environmental influences, choice and self-determination, relaxation techniques, effective communication, and verbal and nonverbal de-escalation. The training also addresses mental wellness, meaningful relationships, quality of life, and responsible communication and monitoring related to medications.
This training provides a framework for identifying, preventing, and managing crises among individuals with IDD and mental health needs. Participants will explore crisis triggers, intervention strategies, and the role of trauma in crisis development.
Adapting Therapy Practice: CBT and DBT for Individuals with IDD is a clinician-focused training that provides practical guidance on modifying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to meet the cognitive, communication, and emotional-regulation needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Grounded in NADD Psychotherapy Competencies, this training introduces foundational assessment considerations, concrete teaching strategies, and adaptation methods that enhance skill acquisition, generalization, and therapeutic engagement. Participants examine how to simplify cognitive concepts, incorporate visual and multimodal supports, adjust pacing, and strengthen rapport—all essential elements for effective CBT and DBT practice with individuals with IDD.
This training explores the stages of childhood and adolescent development and the ways disability can affect self-image, self-esteem, and maturation. Participants will examine family systems, cultural perspectives, and the importance of privacy and sexuality education for youth with IDD. The workshop addresses healthy versus unhealthy risk-taking, warning signs of depression, anxiety, and suicide, as well as the early onset of mental health disorders. Strategies for supporting youth through transitions, goal-setting, and relationship-building are emphasized, equipping participants to provide developmentally and culturally responsive care.
We are still working on the description for our “Clinical Assessments in Youth with Complex Needs” training.
This training module explores wellness and aging in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), with a particular focus on mental wellness and the evolving support needs that can emerge later in life. Participants will examine how the aging process may affect people with IDD in ways that are both similar to—and different from—typical aging, and why support teams need to understand these changes to respond effectively. The training highlights common age-related health concerns, including dementia and other medical conditions, as well as the challenges in recognizing and accurately diagnosing them. Participants will also review the psycho-social aspects of aging, including the importance of relationships, community inclusion, and maintaining meaningful social connections over time. Throughout, emphasis is placed on enhancing supports that promote health and wellness, preserve quality of life, and ensure individuals aging with IDD receive proactive, person-centered care aligned with their needs, strengths, and preferences.
This training examines how the justice system affects people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Participants will explore historical perspectives, common vulnerabilities, competency, court diversion, incarceration, and treatment and rehabilitation needs. The session also provides communication and support strategies to help service providers and clinicians advocate for positive outcomes, including successful reintegration into the community.
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a critical role in the lives of individuals with IDD and mental health needs. This training highlights their impact, explores workforce and supervision challenges, and emphasizes the importance of competency development. Participants will learn strategies for including DSPs in planning, empowering them through feedback and collaboration, and applying the NADD DSP Competency Standards and NADSP Code of Ethics. The session also addresses barriers DSPs face in practice and provides tools to strengthen their role as valued, skilled professionals who directly influence quality of life outcomes.
This training focuses on the importance of inter-system collaboration between mental health (MH) and intellectual/developmental disability (IDD) service systems. It explores common barriers to service delivery, the principles of person-centered planning, and the key elements required for effective cross-system teamwork. Participants will learn strategies to improve communication and cooperation across agencies to enhance support for individuals with dual diagnoses.
This training provides a comprehensive overview of disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders, including Conduct Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Kleptomania, and Pyromania, with specific attention to their co-occurrence in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Participants explore the diagnostic criteria, behavioral presentations, and challenges of differential diagnosis in individuals with IDD, with guidance from the DSM-5 and DM-ID 2 frameworks. The session emphasizes evidence-based interventions, risk factors, comorbidities, and prognosis throughout the lifespan. Strategies for support, therapeutic response, and understanding intent in youth with IDD are also highlighted to strengthen assessment and service delivery practices.
This program explores the intersection of substance use disorder (SUD) and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), highlighting the unique challenges faced by individuals with co-occurring conditions. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of addiction as a complex brain disease, the DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder, and the five major categories of psychoactive drugs. The session also examines the social, psychological, and financial impacts of addiction on individuals with IDD and discusses the heightened risks they face, including forensic involvement, homelessness, and severe mental health complications. Attendees will learn about barriers to accessing substance use prevention, harm reduction, and treatment services for people with IDD, and explore evidence-based strategies to improve inclusivity and care. The program addresses the role of stigma in shaping treatment access and outcomes, emphasizing health literacy, community support networks, and systemic change.
This training explores the importance of teaching individuals with IDD about healthy boundaries, social relationships, and sexual health. It provides a framework for discussing appropriate behaviors, consent, and safety, while also addressing trauma-informed approaches.
Don’t see the training you need? NADD can develop a new training or customize an existing offering to address your organization’s priorities.
NADD DSP / Specialist / Clinical Core Competencies & Certification →

Training Inquiry Form

Interested in hosting a NADD training? Please complete the form below. Your inquiry will be sent directly to NADD’s Director of Training, who will contact you to learn more about your needs, answer questions, and discuss content, format, scheduling, and next steps. NADD trainings are arranged for organizations and their designated participants. This form is not intended for individuals seeking to register for an upcoming public training.
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