Autism Program: Middletown Township Public Schools Robert Dunn, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Autism Program: Middletown Township Public Schools

Robert Dunn, District Director of Special Education Sharon Thimons, Director of Special Class Programs Amanda Zimmer, BCBA Denise Shannon, Bayshore Teacher

ABA is a scientific approach for identifying environmental variables that influence behavior of social significance and for systematically developing a functionally related methodology to program for behavior change. What the does that mean?

• Evidence based -research to support methods
• Target behaviors are important for individual, family, etc. (impede

learning, may cause individual harm, improve overall quality of life, etc.)

• Observation and data collection
• Teaching methods, behavior intervention plans written and applied and

specific way

Autism Program Improvement Project

• Grant through Monmouth University
• BCBA Coaches
• Video Modeling
• Continual Professional Development/ Feedback Sessions
• APIP

Paraprofessional

• Paraprofessionals on rotating schedules
• Promoting independence

○ Ask leading questions ○ Encourage and praise attempts ○ Break down task and support only where needed ○ Allow for peer support ○ Use of visuals

• Prompt and prompt fading

○ Plan ahead on how prompts will be used and faded for each skill ○ Follow a prompting hierarchy

Classrooms

• Small Class Sizes
• Discrete Trial Instruction
• Implementation of Behavior Intervention

Plans/Behavior Support strategies

• 2:1 ratio
• Visual Schedules/Supports
• Routines
• Data Collection/Program Books
• Community Based Instruction
• Collaboration with Service Providers
• Parent/Teacher Communication

Evidence Based Practices

• Discrete trial instruction
• Natural environment instruction
• Task Analysis
• Prompting
• Functional Communication Training
• Modeling
• Scripting
• Reinforcement

Source: The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu

• Picture Exchange Communication
• Technology Aided Instruction and

Intervention (Speech Generated Devices)

• Self Management
• Social Narratives
• Social Skills Training
• Time Delay
• Video Modeling
• Visual Supports
• Antecedent based interventions
• Differential reinforcement
• Extinction
• Functional Behavior Assessment
• Response Interruption/ Redirection

Reinforcement

• Positive Reinforcement – A

consequence to a behavior that increases or maintains the occurrence

• f that behavior
• Reinforcement is individualized
• Liking something is not enough; if it

does not impact behavior, it is not a reinforcer

• Reinforcement changes

Behavior Supports

• Behavior is everything we say
• r do.
• Behavior is communication.
• Behavior is learning.
• Environment impacts behavior.
• Skills (and deficits) in a

student’s reipiotore impact behavior.

• All behavior serves a function,

even if the reason is unclear.

Gain/ Maintain Access to Tangibles

Gain/Maintain Attention

Escape/ Delay

Sensory/ Automatic Reinforcement

Sensory/ Automatic Reinforcement

Tips at Home

• Be consistent
• Stick to a schedule
• Reward desired behaviors, limited attention for problem behavior
• Establish a safe zone for when your child needs to decompress
• Make time for fun
• Find a way to take time for yourself
• Learn about and utilize local resources

Resources

• Autism NJ - 800.4.AUTISM Helpline provides families and medical professionals with specific and

important information about autism treatment and services available in New Jersey. ○ https://autismnj.org

• POAC Autism Services provides free trainings for parents, educators and law enforcement.

Additionally it has support groups, family events, and more. ○ https://www.poac.net

• Ideas for increasing language and communication with common toys and activities.

○ https://paradigmbehavior.com/playroom

• A video detailing the functions of behavior by Amanda Kelly, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA aka Behavior Babe

○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G_4U_6IB1U

Clap Activity

Volunteer :)

Questions