http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ec/instructional/autism/ AU T I S M S P E CT R UM DI S OR D E RS CONTACT :: Claire W. Greer, Consultant; 919-807-4036; Email: cgreer@dpi.nc.gov The Autism Spectrum Disorders Program serves as a resource to local education agencies, including charter schools. The Consultant is available for telephone and onsite consultation regarding provision of appropriate services for students with autism. One goal of the program is to provide training in a wide range of techniques and methods that have been proven effective in the education of students with this particular learning style. Working with local school administrators to identify and train groups of regular and special educators in schools is a key in meeting this goal. Creating local experts that support the school-based teams is also a key. Contact your local school districts Autism support staff member LEA Autism Support Contact: _____________________________________ Evidence-Based Practices 2011 The Exceptional Children Division is committed to assisting each local educational agency (LEA) in its efforts to provide training and ongoing support to school personnel responsible for the education of students with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Individuals with autism spectrum disorders require individually designed interventions that meet their needs. In fact, no one intervention has been universally identified as being effective for all children with ASD. It is important, however, that parents and school professionals work together as a team to select empirically valid techniques (National Research Council, 2001; Olley, 1999) http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/ec/instructional/autism/evidence-based.pdf Creating the Autism Map in Education This presentation provides an overview of connections between research, educational practice and needs so that we can better evaluate program effectiveness. It reviews the NCLB requirement that educational programs be based on scientifically-based research. It outlines the findings of the National Research Council regarding 'best practices' in educating students with autism. It reviews Dr. Richard Simpson's critique of many of the most frequently used methodologies. Last, it points to how we can connect needs and learning style features of a ECAC is North Carolina’s Parent Training and Information Center All of our services are free for families. www.ecac-parentcenter.org 1-800-962-6817 student to methodologies that would adequately address the needs. The primary purpose of the presentation is to show that a variety of methods can incorporate and use the 'best practice' guidelines. As Dr. Richard Simpson notes, it is "increasingly evident that there is no single universally accepted method for all students ... with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Accommodations for Students with Problems in Organization Here you will find a list of possible accommodations for teachers and IEP teams to consider. These accommodations are some of the strategies that have worked with visual learners, learners with deficits in executive functioning, and learners with deficits in social interaction and self-regulation of emotions. This document is divided into sections: 1. 2. 3. 4. Transitions; Classroom Design and Structure; Presentation of Assignments, Instruction, and Testing; In Case of Stress or Agitation. Refer first to the brief description at the top of each section. This alerts the teacher to potential aspects of learning style that suggest a need for the accommodations in that section. Then the teacher can review the accommodations in that section to see what to try. Pragmatic Language and the Standard Course of Study Students with autism spectrum disorders often have significant difficulty with the pragmatic use of language. The following document provides some clarification of what teaching staff and related service personnel must address within the Standard Course of Study. The Puzzle of Autism The NEA has produced a new resource in collaboration with the Autism Society of America, the American Speech-language-Hearing Association, and the National Association of School Psychologist. This article is an informational guide for all education personnel who work with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The guide explains common autistic characteristics and suggests effective classroom strategies for improving the communication, sensory, social, and behavioral skills of children who have autism. Create Safety: Specific Methods for Preventing & Reducing Violence in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. A Cooperative training project between the Department of Public Instruction, (DPI), North Carolina Justice Academy, TEACCH and the Autism Society of North Carolina for School Resource Officers (SROs) and School Administrators. Clarifications on the Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information between School Personnel and School Resource Officers This document clarifies for LEA districts what the law does and does not allow when sharing personally identifiable information about children with special needs with School Resource Officers. ECAC is North Carolina’s Parent Training and Information Center All of our services are free for families. www.ecac-parentcenter.org 1-800-962-6817 Related Service Definitions: Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI,2008 Speech Therapy NC 1500-2.4 (b) (12) (12) Speech or language impairment means(i) A communication disorder, such as an impairment in fluency, articulation, language, or voice/resonance that adversely affects a child's educational performance. (ii) Language may include function of language (pragmatic), the content of language (Semantic), and the form of language (phonologic, morphologic, and syntactic systems). (iii) A speech or language impairment may result in a primary disability or it may be secondary to other disabilities. Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI, 2008, NC 1500-2.4 (b) (12)) SLP Services NC 1500-2.28 (c)(15) (15) Speech-language pathology services includes-(i) Identification of children with speech or language impairments; (ii) Diagnosis and appraisal of specific speech or language impairments; (iii) Referral for medical or other professional attention necessary for the habilitation of speech or language impairments; (iv) Provision of speech and language services for the habilitation of communication impairments, including form, content, and function of language; and (v) Counseling and guidance of parents, children, and teachers regarding speech and language impairments. Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI, 2008, NC 1500-2.28 (c) (15) Assistive technology NC 1501-2.3 (a) Each public agency must ensure that assistive technology devices or assistive technology services, or both, are made available to a child with a disability if required as a part of the child's(1) Special education; (2) Related services; or (3) Supplementary aids and services. (b) On a case-by-case basis, the use of school purchased assistive technology devices in a child's home or in other settings is required if the child's IEP Team determines that the child needs access to those devices in order to receive FAPE. Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI, 2008, NC 1501-2.3 ECAC is North Carolina’s Parent Training and Information Center All of our services are free for families. www.ecac-parentcenter.org 1-800-962-6817 Physical Therapy: NC 1500-2.28 (c) (9) (9) Physical therapy means a continuum of services provided by a licensed physical therapist or a licensed and supervised physical therapy assistant. School-based physical therapy services are provided to develop and maintain performance levels, within an individual student’s physical capabilities, for independent and safe access to educationally related activities. School based physical therapy is a related service, and is provided only as required to assist a child to benefit from special education. Physical therapy services may include: (i) Development and maintenance of student’s functional ability to participate in and benefit from his/her special education program; (ii) Modification and adaptation of the student’s physical environment; (iii) Provision of training for school personnel; (iv) Communication and/or education of the student’s teachers and family; (v) Communication with state and community agencies; and (vi) Involvement in total program planning for children with disabilities, including transition planning. Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI, 2008, NC 1500-2.28 (c) (9) Physical education NC 1501-2.6 LEAs must comply with the following: (a) General. Physical education services, specially designed if necessary, must be made available to every child with a disability receiving FAPE unless the LEA enrolls children without disabilities and does not provide physical education to children without disabilities in the same grades. (b) Regular physical education: Each child with a disability must be afforded the opportunity to participate in the regular physical education program available to nondisabled children unless-(1) The child is enrolled full time in a separate facility; or (2) The child needs specially designed physical education, as prescribed in the child's IEP. (c) Special physical education. If specially designed physical education is prescribed in a child's IEP,the goals should be drafted and monitored by individuals knowledgeable of the physical education curriculum. The LEA responsible for the education of the child must provide the services directly or make arrangements for those services to be provided through other public or private programs. (d) Education in separate facilities. The LEA responsible for the education of a child with a disability who is enrolled in a separate facility must ensure that the child receives appropriate physical education services. Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI, 2008, NC 1501-2.6 (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(5)(A); 34 CFR 300.108) ECAC is North Carolina’s Parent Training and Information Center All of our services are free for families. www.ecac-parentcenter.org 1-800-962-6817 Occupational Therapy: NC 1500-2.28 (c) (6) Occupational therapy is a student-centered continuum of services provided by a licensed occupational therapist or a licensed and supervised occupational therapy assistant. Occupational therapy services assist a student to engage in meaningful and/or necessary occupations that allow that student to participate in and benefit from his or her educational program. These occupations may include student role/interaction skills, learning academics and process skills, personal care, play and recreation, written communication, and community integration and work. Occupational therapy services may include: (i) Screening, evaluation, intervention, and documentation; (ii) Assistance with occupational performance when participation is impaired; (iii) Modification of environments (both human and physical) and tasks, and selection, design, and fabrication of assistive devices and other assistive technology to facilitate development, promote the acquisition of functional skills and engagement in meaningful occupations; (iv) Integration of occupational therapy interventions into a student’s educational program to assist the student in participation and acquisition of goals; (v) Collaboration with appropriate individuals to meet student’s needs including transition planning; and (vi) Provision of education and information to families and school personnel to assist with planning and problem solving. Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, NCDPI, 2008, NC 1500-2.28 (c) (6) SENSORY INTEGRATION Sensory Integrative Dysfunction in Young Children OT Edge (Sensory Integration) SInetwork The Alert Program - an innovative program that supports children, teachers, parents, and therapists. The Therapy Shoppe - products for therapy sessions (for information only; does not imply endorsement) ECAC Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center 907 Barra Row, Suites 102/103 Davidson, NC 28036 704 892 1321 www.ecac-parentcenter.org ECAC is North Carolina’s Parent Training and Information Center All of our services are free for families. www.ecac-parentcenter.org 1-800-962-6817