Autism & Positive Behavior Supports

UW ECHO in Autism & Positive Behavior Supports provides ongoing support for educators and other professionals working with students with Autism by providing professional development and specific program planning for students.

Network participants include school administrators, general and special education teachers and paraeducators, case managers, school counselors, school psychologists, state agency staff, and special education service providers, including OTs, PTs, SLPs, etc.

Sessions

Sessions are on Tuesdays, bi-weekly,
3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. MT
via Zoom video conferencing technology.

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Instructions for joining Zoom are available. Zoom also provides access for users with physical disabilities, blindness, and low vision through a range of keyboard shortcuts.

Spring 2023 Learning Topics

January 24: Neurodiversity

Participants will be introduced to the neurodiversity movement, including ongoing issues related to neurodiversity and common support strategies for neurodivergent youth.

Presenter: Theresa Andrzejewski, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming

February 7: Executive Functioning

Participants will receive an introduction and overview of the various executive functioning skills along with the milestones for when individuals should engage in each executive functioning skills. The overview will include milestones, assessment tools and methods to teach each executive functioning skill.

Presenter: Caitlin Pischer, M.S., BCBA, Board Certified Behavior Analyst

February 21: Transitions: Early Childhood

The best way to start thinking about transitions for children with ASD is to plan ahead, be prepared and be consistent. In this session we will discuss the importance of establishing structure and predictability as well as tools to teach these children how to better handle transitions across all settings and situations in their world.

Presenter: Staci Horsley, M.Ed., BCBA, Autism/Behavior Specialist and Consultant

March 7: Transitions: Adolescents/Teenage Years

If you are a teacher or caregiver of someone with ASD, preparing them and yourself for the transition to adulthood can be a game-changer. Planning can make the difference between a successful transition or a stressful situation for both the teenager on the autism spectrum and their parent or caregiver. We will discuss transition steps and a focus on independence.

Presenter: Staci Horsley, M.Ed., BCBA, Autism/Behavior Specialist and Consultant

March 21: The Power of Community for Employment and Transition

This session will focus on the value of building community partners to support students in employment, daily life skills, communication skills, and leisure skills for transition to life after high school. First we will discuss common family concerns as students transition from school. Next we will discuss how to implement work programs at the high school level. Finally we will discuss how to build those community relationships for the diverse needs of students.

Presenter: MaryBeth Mason, M.S.Ed., Special Education Teacher/Transition Specialist, Children's Learning Center

April 4: Teaching Daily Living Skills with a Task Analysis

This session will cover task analysis and how to use them to teach living skills to learners of all ages. It will also cover total task, forward chaining and backward chaining in regards to task analysis.

Presenter: Bryanna Fox, Peak Behavioral Services, LLC

*April 4 Session Registration*

April 18: Diagnosis

Participants will be able to describe diagnostic processes for autism and will be able to identify factors that impact diagnosis and contribute to misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of autism.

Presenter: Theresa Andrzejewski, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming

*April 18 Session Registration*