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National Autism/DD Teacher Competencies

Approximately three years ago, the Autism Society funded a grant to develop teacher competencies in ASD.   The goal was to establish competencies that could be used to guide university and college course development, and also could provide professional development guidance to school districts.   The Autism Society worked closely with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), and partners from the Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP), including the Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA).  As a result of the dedication of this committee, we now have teacher competencies in Autism/DD that are approved by CEC and NCATE.   They should be on the CEC website (under the redbook link) sometime within the next couple of months.  In addition to the competencies, there are other resources. The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) has been working with a number of national organizations to develop modules that reflect evidence-based practices and can supplement these competencies.  You can find the Autism Internet Modules at http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/.    In addition, AAPC has published a textbook, “Learners on the Autism Spectrum: Preparing Highly Qualified Educators.” You can find this textbook at http://www.asperger.net/.

CAST Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Lesson Builder

The CAST Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Lesson Builder provides educators with models and tools to create and adapt lessons that increase access and participation in the general education curriculum for all students and is accessible at http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/.

Transitioning from High School to College for Students with Disabilities Podcast

The Disability Law Lowdown podcast just posted Part One of Transitioning from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Jacquie Brennan interviews Jean Ashmore, Director of Disability Support Services at Rice University, about facts, myths, and tips for students with disabilities transitioning from high school to college.  The Disability Law Lowdown podcast is available at www.DisabilityLawLowdown.com , as well as on iTunes. People can listen to the podcast directly from a computer or can download it to an MP3 player, like an iPod.  The Disability Law Lowdown provides the latest information about disability rights and obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other disability-related topics. Subscription is free.

Supporting, Engaging and Enhancing Comprehension (SEEC) for Students in High School

The SEEC Toolkit provides high-school educators with strategies, procedures, activities, and resources informed by Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles for increasing reading proficiency in subject area content. The toolkit integrates UDL instructional methods and flexible digital curriculum content with empirically validated reading practices. It guides teachers in the use of effective vocabulary instruction and reading comprehension strategies that promote access, participation, and progress in subject-area content for all students. To view this toolkit please visit http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/toolkits/tk_introduction.cfm?tk_id=141.

Reducing Stereotype Threat in Classrooms: A Review of Social-Psychological Intervention Studies on Improving the Achievement of Black Students

The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance within the Institute of Education Sciences has released a report from REL Southwest, “Reducing Stereotype Threat in Classrooms: A Review of Social-Psychological Intervention Studies on Improving the Achievement of Black Students”.  Stereotype threat arises from a fear among members of a group of reinforcing negative stereotypes about the intellectual ability of the group. The report identifies three randomized controlled trial studies that use classroom-based strategies to reduce stereotype threat and improve the academic performance of Black students, narrowing their achievement gap with White students. To view, download and print the report as a PDF file, please visit http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?projectID=135.

Training in Supported Employment Available Online!

The Florida APD-Approved 18-Hour Pre-Service Certificate for Supported Employment is available online. In this course you will be introduced to the importance of employment to people with disabilities, a group historically with the highest unemployment rate in the country. You will also learn about some of the unique obstacles they face in getting hired and succeeding at work.  You will also learn about assisting people to make informed choices through self-determination and using the tools of vocational assessment. The section continues with the process of person-centered planning, how to build on each individual’s interests and aptitudes, and developing personal career profiles and goals that lead to a career plan.  Learn more at http://trn-store.com/drupal/node/762.   

Evidence-Based Practices in Secondary Transition Users Guide Now Available

This Users Guide was developed by an IDEA Partnership* cross-stakeholder group of practitioners and Technical Assistance Center personnel to provide efficient access to and use of research and materials located on the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center website. These tools reference educational practices and specific strategies supported by rigorous educational research which have yielded evidence of positive results for students. Included in this Users Guide are a glossary of terms and a PowerPoint with presenter information. Highlighted throughout are various materials regarding transition research synthesis, lesson plan starters, and professional development resources. To access the Users Guide, please go to www.ideapartnership.org and click on the Guide under Partnership User Guides on the right side of the home page.

Online Post School Transitions Trainings

For information on both free and fee-based courses related to post school transitions offered through Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center visit their website at http://www.worksupport.com/training/webcourses/autism_course.cfm. 

Piecing Together the Puzzle: A Conference on Autism

The conference will feature the expertise and practical advice of a variety of experienced local professionals and parents, and there is no charge to attend. Planned topics include speech and occupational therapy, behavioral therapy (ABA), sensory integration, education and IEPs, diet and nutrition, biomedical treatment, advocacy, community resources, faith, and fathers of children with autism.  “Many parents don’t have the time and money to go to the bigger state and national conferences,” said conference co-organizer Kelly Powell, local autism advocate and mother of a young son with autism. “We wanted to coordinate something here in Southwest Florida that took advantage of local expertise and featured practical advice that parents could go home and use immediately to help improve the quality of their child’s life and their family’s life.” The conference will feature a variety of hour-long break-out sessions with time for questions and answers in each session. The information will be geared to parents of affected children ages two to ten. A vendor fair at the conference will feature information and materials from advocacy organizations, support groups, related businesses, and more.

The Crisis Facing Children: Southwest Florida Televised Town Hall Meeting

The goal of the town hall meeting is to promote a dialogue about children and this is best done by linking people from all parts of the community, young and older alike.  The audience can be members from your boards of directors, advisory groups or clients.  We encourage outreach to citizens and citizen groups who don’t necessarily have a children’s focus.  Any citizen who follows current events and who has opinions about the quality of life in the community would be wonderful participants. For more information watch this brief video about the Campaign to Protect Children and the rationale for addressing these issues at this time http://iamforkids.org/C2PC_Video.asp

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