Autism Conversations in the School (PED)

Consultation is a collaborative process. Consultants are responsible for explaining the role of the consultant, listening carefully to the teacher’s concerns and asking relevant questions prior to engaging in problem solving. In order to establish a meaningful relationship, teachers and school staff are responsible for accepting the limitations of the consultant’s role (i.e. – the consultant may n...

In this episode, we explore deaf-blindness in educational settings. Who is considered deaf-blind? How does deaf-blindness impact a student in the classroom? What does communication look like for students who don’t use symbolic language? We examine how behavior can serve as communication, how educators can identify meaningful supports, and the significant ways deaf-blindness affects learning and so...

Collaboration is a crucial part of contributing to an IEP team. Join us for a discussion on best practices for developing a meaningful IEP whereby everyone’s voices are heard and respected, including those of caregivers and the student. Links: Audiogram

Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans can be a challenge to develop for any educator. Join us for an engaging discussion about the nuances of how to collect meaningful behavior data, determine the function of a behavior, and translate these into a meaningful behavior intervention plan that staff will follow and most importantly, outlines how staff will teach and reinforce...

Early childhood programs are often the foundation by which school services for children with autism begin their education journey. Join us for a chat with an EC support consultant as we discuss the identification and needs of student with autism in the early childhood setting and beyond. Links: Audiogram

Visual supports can be much more than a Velcro icon schedule that you post near your classroom door. Join us for a creative discussion with a dynamic teacher on some of the creative ways to use visual supports to assist with proactive behaviors, academics, and communication skills. Links: Audiogram

“Multi-Layered System of Supports (MLSS) is New Mexico’s comprehensive overhaul of the Response to Intervention (RTI) that improves support systems by removing administrative barriers to providing timely evidence-based supports and focuses on holistic student success through robust family partnerships.” ( https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/multi-layered-system-of-supports-mlss/mlss-history-and...

“Multi-Layered System of Supports (MLSS) is New Mexico’s comprehensive overhaul of the Response to Intervention (RTI) that improves support systems by removing administrative barriers to providing timely evidence-based supports and focuses on holistic student success through robust family partnerships.” ( https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/multi-layered-system-of-supports-mlss/mlss-history-and...

Participating in culturally responsive teaching requires a teacher to view their classroom as a learning environment in all aspects and not limiting educational lessons to typical academic subjects. Providing a culturally responsive classroom settings in Native American communities requires the school staff to invite and support local community members to become part of the school environment. Tea...

Establishing instructional control is an integral step in creating an effective classroom. Creating a structured, reinforcing classroom environment is not only an excellent way to quickly build rapport with students, it can also foster a learning atmosphere with less challenging behavior and more time spent on-task. This podcast describes the seven steps as described by Robert, Schramm and Megan M...

Some evidence-based interventions are actually many interventions that work together to serve the same purpose. An example of that is antecedent Interventions which we will talk about today. Antecedent interventions are designed to alter the environment before a behavior occurs. Almost anything that prevents a behavior from happening is an antecedent intervention. Links: Audiogram

Some Evidence Based Practices focus on the reduction or elimination of behaviors that interfere with a student’s ability to participate in school, home, and community settings. Extinction is a strategy based on applied behavior analysis that is used to reduce or eliminate unwanted behavior. Extinction involves withdrawing or terminating the positive reinforcer that maintains an inappropriate inter...

An important Evidence-Based Intervention for almost all children with ASD is Functional communication. Every individual (regardless of disability) needs a way to communicate that allows them to get what they need or want in a way that is acceptable and understandable to the wide world beyond school, therapy and home. Links: Audiogram

Prompting refers to providing assistance or cues to encourage the use of a specific skill. Sometimes the instructor provides one or more prompts. Sometime the prompts are part of the material used (such as a stop light). As teachers, we do a lot of it without even thinking about how and what we are doing. Prompting is an essential tool but must be used thoughtfully. The end goal is always independ...

Transition is a topic that is most often addressed when students are in middle school preparing for the transition to high school and what our students will do when they are no longer our students. However, as most teachers and parents know, significant transitions occur throughout the school years. In my experience of an educator, this topic is one that although extremely important is sometimes n...

The 11 IEP Considerations for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder help IEP teams consider some essential issues when developing an individualized education program for students with ASD. These considerations were developed to address parent concerns about the provision of services to students with ASD. The 11 Considerations were adopted into New Mexico law in July 2011. They apply to all studen...

It is important to think about how to determine what is actually reinforcing for students. In order for something to be reinforcing, the delivery of that item/activity, etc. must increase the likelihood that a behavior will happen again. Reinforcement is all about motivation! We must have effective reinforcers (things that will motivate our students to learn to do those things that will benefit th...

Although teachers are required to collect data related to academic development as well as interfering behaviors, collecting information without using it to make instructional and/or environmental changes may be frustrating and does not make the best use of valuable time. In this podcast, we will discuss ways in which data can be easily collected and then used to make decisions about teaching strat...

Reinforcements and rewards – what’s the difference and what’s the big deal? You may be aware that it involves giving kids what they want in order to encourage them to do what they don’t want but understanding some of the subtleties will make a big difference in how successfully you use both reinforcement and rewards! Join us and our guests to learn from their experiences.” Links: Audiogram