AAC – Project FIND Advanced Certificate Training

The Advanced Forensic Interviewing Individuals with Disabilities (Project FIND) certificate is designed for established forensic interviewers with previous basic training and extensive experience in forensic interviewing and or working with individuals with disabilities The certificate is founded in forensic interviewing best practices with considerations and adaptations to account for individual disability mental health disorder language capacity and cultural background The curriculum is designed to support forensic interviewers to gather information from alleged victims and witnesses in the most reliable and legally defensible manner Curriculum topic areas include:
Statistics and History of Disabilities;
Myths Bias and Assumptions;
Assuming Normal Intelligence;
Change in Language and Perspective;
Individuals with Disabilities and Mental Health Disorders including Intellectual Disabilities;
Autism Spectrum Disorder;
Cerebral Palsy;
Physical Disabilities;
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD);
Communication Disorders;
Mental Health Disorders;
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders;
Bipolar and Related Disorders;
Depressive Disorders;
Anxiety Disorders;
Trauma-Related Disorders;
The Role of Race and Culture in Interviewing;
Interviewing Individuals with Disabilities;
Introduction to the Adapted Protocol for Individuals Who Do Not Speak;
Interview Considerations for Individuals with Mental Health Disorders; and
Post Interview Considerations
Participants learn through readings didactic instruction video examples case scenarios participating in activities throughout the training All attendees complete a practicum that is scored on a pass/fail basis

Minimum requirements include:

Completion of basic forensic interviewing training (min 32 hours)
Completion of 100 interviews and or a minimum 2 years’ experience working with individuals with disabilities and/or an expert review/letter of recommendation