• June 3, 2013

• July 1, 2013

• August 5, 2013

This course is designed to provide paraprofessionals with skills and knowledge needed to support students with an ASD in the school setting. The course will provide an overview of the potential roles and responsibilities the paraprofessional may be asked to deliver. Participants will learn how to carry out their responsibilities while maintaining respect for the students and exhibiting sensitivity to beliefs, values, and cultures.

*This course meets the requirements of H.B. 325.

• June 17, 2013

This course will provide participants with an understanding of the primary characteristics of ASD, which include impairments in communication and social development and the presence of repetitive patterns of behavior. Secondary characteristics, including sensory processing differences and motor deficits will also be explored. The course will discuss the impact ASD has on the person as well as the family unit. The course will also provide an overview of learning styles, the history, cause, and early signs of ASD.

This course is designed to provide teachers, related service providers, paraprofessionals, administrators, families and other service providers with skills and knowledge needed to support students with an ASD who demonstrate interfering behavior in the school setting. The course will provide participants with information regarding the impact of the core deficits of ASD on behavior and positive approaches to understanding behavior. Participants will gain knowledge of the functional approach to behavior, providing behavioral support in the educational environment, understanding the behavior chain, the process of conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment, development and implementation of a behavior intervention plan, strategies for intervening with interfering behavior, and identifying and teaching replacement behavior.

There are many strategies for instruction and intervention with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to teach skills needed to lead independent, productive, and happy lives; yet, these practices are often implemented without carefully monitoring the effectiveness of instruction. In this course, a structured and systematic approach to developing, implementing, and monitoring goals and objectives written for students with ASD is provided. The course begins by outlining how to write objective and measurable goals that will allow educators to determine whether a student is making adequate progress. Next, an overview of data collection, including types and purposes of data, is provided. The final section describes how to graph data and use graphs to make informed decisions. A focus is placed on regularly reviewing student performance on goals and objectives and making person-centered changes in approaches when needed to facilitate progress.

This introductory course contains four modules designed to help medical personnel gain the knowledge and skills to ensure timely and appropriate screening for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The course is designed for pediatricians, medical residents and any other medical personnel who may screen for ASD. Participants will learn about the screening process and best practices for supporting a family through screening and diagnosis for ASD.

This course is designed to introduce families to the characteristics, needs and recommended services for young children with autism spectrum disorders. This course will provide a brief description of the defining characteristics of an autism spectrum disorder. The focus of this course, however, is on effective services, supports and strategies to be implemented.