Training

Eitas provides workshops & trainings on topics related to developmental disabilities for community members, industry professionals, and eitas staff. These sessions cover a wide variety of topics like self-advocacy, Gentle Teaching, and effectively administering medication. Our hope is that by providing a professional, dedicated source of in-depth educational opportunities, we improve the quality of care and empower those we support.

Our courses are for Jackson County residents who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities or support someone with an intellectual or developmental disability. If you qualify based on the previous statement you are encouraged to contact the eitas training program at 816-822-8900 to receive the promo code that will allow you to take the class for free.

Many courses are available virtually, but most take place at our Training Center on Hillcrest Road. For on-location training options, please contact our staff.

To ensure equal access, the maximum number of participants per agency is limited to 5, allowing other agencies the opportunity to enroll.

If you need accommodations to participate in a training session, please notify our Provider Training Coordinator, Rita Trotter or through the our Contact Us page at least one week prior to the training session.

We have updated our Available Training Classes section. The page now displays available classes by date. To see the next page of classes please click the “more times >” at the top right of the Currently Available Courses section.

Courses Offered on a Regular Basis

  • This is a four-hour course into the basics of Gentle Teaching and is taught by Gentle Teaching educator Tracy Mauk. Gentle Teaching is based on a psychology of human interdependence. During the interactive training, caregivers are asked to look at themselves and their spirit of gentleness. The training exercises assist the caregiver in identifying ways to express warmth and unconditional love toward the people in their lives, especially those supported who are the most disenfranchised from family and community life. Outcomes of this training are an understanding of and ability to teach others to feel safe, loved, loving, and engaged through their own presence, words, touch and eyes; and to understand the concepts of community, companionship and connectedness.

    Gentle Teaching - Creating a Culture of Gentleness is an approved training that meets the positive support training required by Missouri Department of Mental Health for providers. Gentle teaching is also an approach that is beneficial to support those who have experienced trauma and a course that complements eitas’ training, ‘Trauma and Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’.


    Click here to sign up for Gentle Teaching- Creating a Culture of Gentleness.

  • There is no cost for providers in Jackson County who support people with IDD. We have several spots available in February for the full class.

    All Medication Aide seminars are three (3) days.

    Individuals successfully completing this 20-hour course and accompanying examination will be certified as a Medication Aide through Department of Mental Health.

    Participants must attend the full three-day course. The course will be taught from the 1993 Level I Medication Aide Guide.

    Click here to sign up for Medication Aide.

  • This four hour training course is designed for individuals needing to renew their certification as a Medication Aide. (The Department of Mental Health requires an update every 2 years.) To register for this course, students must forward a copy of their Level I Medication Aide certificate with the registration form.

    Click here to sign up for Medication Update.

  • Recognize and care for a variety of injuries and respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies. Individuals successfully completing this course and examination will be certified in Child CPR/AED/First Aid through the American Heart Association for a two-year period.

  • Learn basic life support skills. Individuals successfully completing this course and examination will be certified in FIRST AID/CPR/AED through the American Heart Association & Health and Safety Institute for a two-year period. (Participants should be aware that some work sites require yearly renewal.)

    • 5-hour course

    • Individuals successfully completing this course and examination will be certified in CPR through the American Heart Association & Health and Safety Institute for a two-year period

    Click here to sign up for Adult First Aid / CPR / AED Training.

  • A must for every employee! The instructor will provide an overview of bloodborne pathogens and infection control. Students will learn about Hepatitis A, B and C, as well as HIV and AIDS transmission. The class will review safe health practices and cleanup procedures.

    • 1.5-hour course

    Click here to sign up for Bloodborne Pathogens.

  • Come explore how trauma affects social, emotional and health outcomes. We will discuss science of trauma, and the situations behind trauma .and more Join us to learn how to shift our perspective to view the world through a trauma lens.

    Click here to sign up for Trauma Awareness.

  • This 3-hour course is perfect for provider agency managers, supervisors, direct support professionals and support coordinators. The objective of this training is to provide participants with a clear understanding of the definition of trauma as it relates to the individuals we support as well as tips and tools to help support those who have experienced trauma and possibly prevent further trauma. This training is very interactive and discussion is encouraged through questions and real life examples.

    Click here to sign up for Trauma and Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

  • This course is for anyone, provider or caregiver, interested in learning basic information regarding the different diagnoses of dementia and how they may appear different in adults with ID. Participants will be able to apply this information to better provide supports to adults with ID affected by dementia.

    Click here to sign up for ID & Dementia.

  • Project STIR is a training program for self advocates designed to provide individuals with tools to advocate for themselves, mobilize others in advocacy and gain leadership experience.

    This is a five-week class, and each session lasts up to 1 ½ hours. Participants are required to attend all five sessions. If a participant misses a session, they will need to speak with the trainer.

    There are currently no available courses scheduled. To request information about future availability, please contact us.

Courses Offered Intermittently or by Arrangement Only

  • How do you ensure your special person will be cared for when you’re no longer there? This workshop explains the issues, the options, and how to get started.

    Click here to sign up for Legacy Planning for Loved Ones with Special Needs.

  • This is a two-part interactive American Sign Language (ASL) class designed to introduce basic “survival signs” to people who have casual or occasional contact with people with hearing disabilities. Participants will learn signs including everyday signs of food, clothing, people, responding to an emergency and giving directions.

    • Two-day course

    There are currently no available courses scheduled. To request information about future availability, please contact us.

  • Develop skills in person centered thinking.

    • Understand plans that support choice while addressing issues of health and safety.

    • Practice the processes and structures of quality planning.

    There are currently no available courses scheduled. To request information about future availability, please contact us.

  • Great class for direct-care staff! The instructor will provide information on assisting persons with developmental disabilities with daily living skills. This interactive class will address feeding, lifting, bathing and grooming, toileting, universal precautions as well as privacy and respect.

    There are currently no available courses scheduled. To request information about future availability, please contact us.

  • Learn basic life support skills. This training focuses on CPR for children ages 0 – 8. Individuals successfully completing this 4-hour course and oral examination will be certified in CPR through the American Heart Association for a two-year period.

    • Participants should be aware that some work sites, as well as the American Red Cross, require yearly renewal.

    There are currently no available courses scheduled. To request information about future availability, please contact us.

Currently Available Courses

Additional Training Information

Training Policy Manual