Advancing our students with autism

1. Advancing our students with autism SST9 Chris Wnoroski, Special Education Consultant; Chris.Wnoroski@email.sparcc.org August 1, 2012

2. what is Autism Spectrum Disorder? • Autism is a neurobehavioral syndrome resulting from a dysfunction of the central nervous system that leads to disordered development. • IDEA – Education Definition: “Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interactions, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in routine, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.”

3. Employment Status of Individuals with ASD • Only 6% of individuals with ASD have full-time employment • Only 12% of individuals with AS have full-time employment • Adults say that finding a job would improve their lives more than anything else Barnard et al., 2001

4. Autism Spectrum Disorder A neurobiological disorder that affects how a person thinks, communicates, and interacts with others • Currently affects 1 in 88 (according to CDC 3/12) • 1.5 million Americans have some form of ASD • Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. • Autism costs the nation $137 billion per year

5. Autism Facts continued • There is no medical detection or cure for autism • More prevalent in males – 5 times • Live a normal lifespan • Knows no racial, ethnic, income, social, or educational boundaries • No known cause

6. Cause ??? Research continues • Genetic link that predisposes some individuals • Environmental trigger • Abnormal growth of the head during first 18 months • Suspected relationship with gastrointestinal disorders

7. Number of Students Identified in Ohio Schools

8. Number of Students Identified with Autism in Stark County Schools - 2011 730

9. Who are our students with ASD??

10. Autism is identified as a spectrum disorder • Students with autism present with unique characteristics • The “Autism Umbrella” includes autism, asperger syndrome, PDD-NOS PrevasiveDevelpmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

11. Autism • Display characteristics prior to 36 months of age • Often accompanied by mental retardation (75%) • Cognitive skills are often uneven (i.e., splinter skills, hyperlexia) • Deficits in executive function (forward planning and cognitive flexibility) • Fine and gross motor skill deficits DSM-IV-TR

12. Asperger Syndrome (AS) • Normal language development • Very literal, speak beyond their maturity level, have difficulty with comprehension and abstract reasoning • Difficulty with social situations and unstructured time • Sensory difficulties • Motor functioning issues • Organization issues Myles, 2001

13. PDD-NOS • Includes atypical autism • A severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills • Generally used when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific pervasive developmental disorder such as autism, Asperger Syndrome, schizophrenia, schizotypical personality disorder, or avoidant personality disorder

14. Underlying Characteristics • Social • Communication • Restricted patterns of behavior • Sensory differences • Cognitive differences • Motor differences • Emotional vulnerability • Medical or biological differences Aspy & Grossman, 2007

15. Inflexible Thinking • Difficulty with change • Insistence on sameness • Preference for routines • Rigid, egocentric thinking or perceptions • Rule-bound • Perfectionistic-fear of failure • Concrete thinkers • Irrational fears • Over focus on details/ miss the “big picture”

16. What should we do??? • To ensure that our students with autism receive educational benefit in our schools we need to: • Build internal CAPACITY to teach students with ASD within our districts and • Develop and support a TEAM who possess competence and confidence to provide effective education to our students with autism

17. This is what you said • Results of Stark County Autism Survey 2011/2012 identified that districts wanted: • Increased professional development related to Applied Behavior Analysis, TEACCH and strategies and intervention for general education staff related to students with Asperger’s syndrome • Increased consultation availability for school staff related to specific students and programs

18. Professional Development throughout the year…..

19. Paraprofessional training • Start the School Year Off Right with your Paraprofessional , Denise Uitto–August 14, 2012 • Audience – Teachers who work with paraprofessionals preK-12 • Will address collaboration, communication and scheduling strategies associated with utilizing paraprofessionals as well as establishing expectations for student support and assigning responsibilities

20. Paraprofessional training continued • Paraprofessional Training, Denise Uitto, -August 31, 2012 • Audience- Paraprofessionals preK-12 • Participants will be engaged in: • An overview of IDEA laws and regulations • An introduction to Standards for Paraprofessionals • Discussions about professionalism, ethics and confidentiality • The provision of instructional supports for students • The development of team work and communication

21. TEACCHSeptember 20 and 21 - 2012 • Treatment and Education of Autistic and other Communication Handicapped CHildren – Dr. Sloan Burgess, KSU • Audience – educational professionals preK – 12 • 2 Day interactive workshop will provide participants with a basic working knowledge of TEACCH methodology and its role in working with students with ASD • Effective interventions for students with ADHD, cognitive disabilities, multiples disabilities, learning disabilities as well as ASD • Emphasis on visual supports, physical structure, work “activity” system, daily schedule

22. Applied Behavior Analysis – ABAOct.10 and 12, Dec. 12 and 14 - 2012 • Using Applied Behavior Analysis to Improve Outcomes for Students with Autism – 4 days; Dr. Richard Cowan, Dr. Melody Tankersly, KSU • Audience – Educational professionals prek-12 • Provide comprehensive knowledge and skill in making data based decisions to guide evidenced based practices • Provide positive behavior and learning supports that can be easily applied in everyday classrooms DATA, DATA, DATA, DATA, DATA

23. MORE PD – coming Soon!!! • Autism Series – A series of 5 after school sessions, 1 per month – Topics to include: Autism 101, Social Competence and Communication, Behavioral Issues and Interventions, Sensory Needs, Family/School Collaboration • Audience- educational staff and families • Strategies and Interventions for students with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism • Audience – Educational professionals (especially regular education teachers) prek-12

24. More PD – coming Soon!!! • District Autism Team Training (DAT) – OCALI • 2-day institute plus follow up on site visits involves a district process-planning framework for designing comprehensive programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorders • including assessment • intervention design • implementation and progress monitoring. Participants will utilize tools to conduct baseline assessment on key components essential to the development and implementation of comprehensive programming for ASD

25. Your Cost for Professional Development FREE!!!

26. Consultation

27. Collaboration with the ESC and SST9 – Purpose to assist districts build capacity to provide for students with ASD • Two types of consultation available 1. Student Specific Consultation – Obtained through the ESC – • Fee assessed • Need parent Permission 2. Program Consultation – Obtained through SST9 • Assessment/review of current classroom practices 3. Both Consultation Models • Require referral from Special Education Director • Provide onsite observation/collaboration with building level teams • Require a commitment from building level teams to meet to discuss needs and solutions • Number of meetings vary based upon needs

28. Collaboration, Communication, and Commitment

29. www.sst9.orgwww.starkcountyesc.orgInformation Available

30. Stark County Schools are committed to provide exemplary services to students with Disabilities through the collaboration of families and staff based upon the specific needs of the student.