Adam Dreyfus

Appropriate classroom placement for students with autism spectrum disorder is a difficult task given the spectrum of abilities and deficits these student’s possess. In order to select an appropriate placement, one must consider communication, social skill and behavioral needs of each individual student. Placement decisions require a team approach that includes administrators, teachers, related service providers and parents. Henrico County Public Schools, in partnership with VCU-ACE, are piloting a guidance document that defines the student’s current skill level in relation to determining classroom placement. This webcast will outline this guidance document on classroom placement for the student with ASD and describe the team model established by Henrico County Public Schools to effectively use the document.

Adam Dreyfus, M.A., BCBA, joined the VCU Autism Center for Excellence after working in a variety of school divisions across the Commonwealth. He served as a consultant in Alleghany County Schools, Lynchburg City Schools, and Westmoreland County Schools. He was also an embedded autism specialist in Caroline County Schools. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received his graduate education at Columbia University’s Teachers College under the supervision of Dr. Douglas Greer. At Columbia, Adam studied the CABAS (Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis for Schools) model. He graduated with a dual degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Language and Child Development. He has worked with children diagnosed with autism as well as other neurobiological disorders including: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Angelman’s Syndrome, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities and many others. He has worked as a SEIT Teacher (Special Education Itinerant Teacher) in New York as well as working in schools in Morristown, New Jersey and Nyack, New York. He has experience with students of all ages and ability levels. He has most recently specialized in developing and designing ABA model classrooms in public school settings.