What people are saying…

  • “As the Training Officer and Paramedic for Highland Rescue Team, I was pleased to invite Kim Marklund and Gina Scarbrough to teach their Autism Sensitivity Training to our Paramedics and EMTs. The class was excellent - very practical for both recognizing autism and offering techniques for how best to assess, treat and interact with autistic patients. It was the perfect mixture of personal stories and examples and EMS-related scenarios. In short, it is one of the most useful and practical classes I have taken during my 12 years in EMS. Highly recommended. Thank you, Kim & Gina!”

    — Steven R. Drago, MA, NRP
    Paramedic / Training Coordinator
    Instructor: ACLS/PALS/BLS/OEC
    Highland Rescue Team Ambulance District

  • “I strongly recommend the Autism and First Responder training offered by Kim Marklund and Gina Scarbrough. When Evergreen Fire/Rescue was first approached about this opportunity, I was immediately struck by the fact that we do very little if any training on autism awareness and recognition and how greatly it is needed for fire responders. The class was excellent. The ability to recognize an individual on the spectrum will significantly impact the responders' ability to manage the incident appropriately, leading to a better outcome.”

    — Mike Weege
    Fire Chief, Evergreen Fire/Rescue

  • “Thank you again for your outstanding class on Autism Awareness for Law Enforcement. Being in Law Enforcement for over 27 years, your training brought to my attention several holes in my communication training. The concept of a sensory kit and picture communication sheet were eye-opening. The Colorado State Patrol strives to be the leader in Colorado for professional law enforcement and providing your training to our cadets has helped us raise the bar. Your personal and professional experience with Autism makes your class great. The last class you taught for us were all lateral cadets. These cadets were officers at other agencies prior to joining the State Patrol. When I debriefed the class, every cadet said that they wished they had had this training earlier in their law enforcement careers."

    — Mike Duncan
    Sergeant, Colorado State Patrol
    Continuing Education


  • “I highly recommend the course offered by Kim and Gina. They provide invaluable insights and practical strategies for effectively communicating with and providing care for individuals on the autism spectrum during emergencies. With a focus on tailored approaches, empathy, and patience, this class equips responders with the critical skills needed to ensure the safety and well-being of all patients, catering to their needs and ensuring inclusive care."

    — Bob Fager
    Chief, Highland Rescue Team Ambulance District

  • “This training presented many good approaches to assessing and treating any patient on the Autism spectrum, but especially pediatric patients. My dept has implemented many of the suggested approaches including adding fidget spinners to our ambulances. Kim and Gina have put together a very good, simple training program based upon their real world experiences.”

    — Tom Henery
    Lieutenant, Indian Hills Fire/Rescue

  • "As a Primary Paramedic educator, this program went above and beyond the normal curriculum and allowed us to make prehospital clinicians who can better serve persons on the Autism Spectrum. I strongly recommend this program for Primary to Continuing education to help increase the knowledge of this poorly understood population!"

    — D. Wesley Brookshear
    M.Ed., EMT-P, NRP
    Primary Educator, St. Anthony’s Paramedic Program at Penrose

  • “In the search and rescue community, we have so much to learn about effective patient care of individuals with autism. In their training, Gina Scarbrough and Kim Marklund offered guidance that simplified the complex topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder, in easy-to-understand concepts. What made their presentation even more powerful is the fact that they approach this work from their own very personal experiences with individuals with autism."

    — Charlie Shimanski
    Education Director
    Mountain Rescue Association

  • "This invaluable training equips individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals with autism during emergency situations. By fostering empathy, understanding sensory sensitivities, and promoting effective communication, this presentation ensures medical professionals and search and rescue individuals come equipped with skills and background to successfully carry out search and rescue operations that involve an autistic individual. Gina and Kim’s presentation is one I would not miss, as they bring in real-life examples and personal experiences to help answer questions and share knowledge. I encourage all professionals in this field to embrace this training, as it has the potential to save lives and make a profound difference in our communities, and search and rescue operations."

    — Eva Sophia Shimanski
    Mountain Rescue Association

  • "Thank you, Kim and Gina!! Your training was received by our fire department as one of the most popular and important trainings of the year. As we learned, autism diagnosis is on the rise and not only are first responders not educated about this population in school, but working with them doesn't exactly come 'instinctively' to most people so this information was beyond invaluable. The exercises you utilized to engage our members helped us understand a little more about what the autistic person might be experiencing and how best to approach them in a stressful situation. Thanks to you, we had tools to use in some recent 911 calls that involved people on the spectrum and luckily, the outcome was positive!! Thanks again for the lifelong lessons that will never be forgotten."

    — Suzannah Epperson, RN, EMT-P, CP-C
    MS Captain
    MACP Manager
    Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District

  • “Kim and Gina had a significant positive impact on my orthodontic practice through their professional, fun, and interactive training. My staff not only gained a deeper understanding of autism, but they now feel more confident in managing autistic meltdowns, should they occur during treatment. Additionally, we feel better prepared with the sensory kit items we purchased from them. I have had every single member of my team personally tell me how helpful this is for them and how they think this should be common knowledge for everyone. Kim and Gina were also very mindful of the time we had available, as we were operating on a tight patient schedule."

    — John DuRussel, MS, DDS, MS
    Board Certified Specialist in Orthodontics
    Evergreen Orthodontic Specialists

  • Another testimonial coming soon!

  • Another testimonial coming soon!