Enhanced Autism Program - Parents Of Autistic Children of Northern ...

Enhanced Autism Program 

(Applied Behavior Analysis/Verbal 

Behavior Program) 

POAC-NoVA/ FCPS Quarterly 

Discussion 

2/1/05

Original Parent Goals for 

Teaching Children with Autism 

� Applied Behavior Analysis / Verbal Behavior (ABA/VB) as the teaching 

methodology 

� Use of the ABLLS (the only VB assessment & curriculum guide available) 

� ABA/VB training for teachers & IAs, including a hands-on portion 

� Documentation of each student’s progress 

� Consistency in Education 

� Consistent ratio among classes and 1:1 for most (not all) students 

� Consistent training for teachers and IAs 

� VB training for parents to promote consistency between school and home programs 

� Grouping Students by Abilities (within 3 levels defined in the ABLLS) 

� Classes grouped primarily by ability (early/intermediate/advanced), secondarily by age 

� Staff Competency Measures and Accountability 

� Inclusion into General Education 

� As appropriate, reintroduce into general education 

� Ultimate goal, beginning with support, measurable goals, and behavioral expertise training for 

supporting staff 

� Not just for the sake of inclusion

FCPS Enhanced Autism Program 

� Improvement Noted 

� More IAs are in the classes 

� VB training initiated 

� ABA Coaches hired 

� Areas That Need to be Addressed 

� Standardized use of VB methodology, including the ABLLS 

� Teacher training (weakest component of current program) 

� Consistent ratios among classes 

� Classrooms by ability (hard to implement with a decentralized 

program) 

� Consultants (conflicting advice, Autism Partnership has no VB 

expertise) 

� Motivation for teacher and IAs to implement ABA/VB methodology 

� Recognition of IAs as important part of instructional team

� Problems 

Verbal Behavior (VB) 

Methodology 

� Training not consistently VB based 

� Most employees not conversant in VB 

� Some teachers not using VB in classroom (need access to research 

behind this methodology) 

� Consultants not aligned (Autism Partnership is the senior 

consultant to this program, but has no VB expertise) 

� Solutions 

� Additional hands-on ABA/VB training for teachers and IAs, 

specifically covering classroom applications 

� Retain just one external consultant while working towards building 

internal expertise

� Problems 

Interfacing With Parents 

� Parent training isn’t comprehensive enough 

� Parent representative meetings have declined in frequency 

� Classroom data sharing with parents is not sufficient 

� Parents feel that input is not seriously considered 

� Coordination with home programs is often limited 

� Solutions 

� ABA/VB training for parents to include (ABA fundamentals, NET, 

manding, instructional control, teaching techniques) 

� Make/distribute teacher training materials available to parents (have a 

coordinated method to get information out to staff and parents) 

� Monthly or bi-monthly parent representative meetings 

� Meeting minutes (summary) to broadcast by FCPS on web 

� Post specific escalation/ grievance path for parental concerns

� Problems 

Consistency 

� Need consistent training for teachers and IAs 

� Consultants come from different philosophies 

� Adult to student ratio inconsistent among classes 

� Wide variation in skill level within some classrooms (making 

teaching difficult) 

� Solutions 

� Review training and standardize such that teachers and IAs are 

given equivalent training in ABA/VB 

� Review class sizes and adjust staffing (some ratios are significantly 

higher than others)

� Problem 

Accountability 

� Teachers and IAs are not accountable to the Autism program and 

hence some are not motivated to become proficient in ABA/VB 

methods 

� Solution 

� Recognition for teachers & IAs with best ABA/VB 

implementation 

� IAs provide a significant amount of teaching. Make them feel like 

they are an integrated part of the team- include in IEPs and 

training available to teachers 

� Have the coaches report to Liz Mackie & principals regarding the 

proficiency of the teachers and IAs

� Limitations on classroom visits 

Additional Issues 

� Classroom visits by parents and outside professionals often arbitrarily limited 

� Need visits to coordinate class ABA/VB programs with home ABA/VB programs 

� Potentially beneficial to class and home programs with sharing of ideas 

� ESY – Summer 2005 

� What will be included in the standard program? 

� What options are available? 

� Status of $3M 

� Will some of this funding be used for Summer 2005 ESY? 

� Services for Students Outside of the Enhanced Autism Classes 

� Additional parent/FCPS partnership opportunities

Future 

� What about 6th graders and their placement next year? 

� Plans for secondary school autism programs 

� Increasing student base & funding 

� 2002-2003: 662 students with primary diagnosis of autism 

� 2003-2004: 786 students with primary diagnosis of autism (19% 

one year increase) 

� Move towards decreasing reliance for external consultants 

� Know of only two BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) 

within FCPS 

� Internal technical leadership

Enhanced Autism Program - Parents Of Autistic Children of Northern ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?