The Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance

Projectwww.illinoisautismproject.org

Kathy Gould, Project DirectorIATTAP Lombard State Office1590 S Fairfield Ave., Lombard, IL 60148Phone: 630-889-7398

• Autism Spectrum Disorders– Pervasive Developmental Disorders– Autism – Asperger’s Syndrome– Childhood Disintegrative Disorder– Rett’s Disorder– PDD-Not Otherwise Specified

Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Neuro-biological disorders• Complex combination of developmental, behavioral and

learning strengths and deficits• Differences in language, attending, processing, cognitive,

learning, social interaction, organization, prediction, regulation, fine or gross motor skills

• Visual processing often better than auditory processing• Can co-occur with other disabilities• Of 2,074,167 Illinois school children, 12,239 students are

listed under the autism category• 1 :150 are diagnosed under ASD• www.illinoisautismprogram.org ISBE 2007 Annual Report

Illinois Statewide Technical Assistance Center

• ISTAC- Parent

• Positive Behavioral Intervention Support Network

• Project Choices

• The Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project

Project Goals• Build local capacity to establish and implement effective

educational supports and programming for children and youth with autism/PDD

• Promote a proactive approach to working with individuals with autism/PDD and their families

• Help children and youth with autism/PDD remain with their families in their home communities and become productive community members

• Increase the percentage of students on the autism spectrum who are educated in the general education classroom

• Increase effective and meaningful involvement of parents in their children’s education

• www.illinoisautismproject.org

Experiential Practicum Team Training

• Trainers: Educational professionals hired by IATTAP

• Teams of professionals from school districts

• Students with ASD

Integrating Strategies Across the Day

• Supports Needed During:

– Direct Instructions– Independent Activity– Social Interaction– Restructured Peer

Interaction

• Visual Cues• Individual Schedule• Environmental Structure• Communication Supports• Task Organizer• Activity Structure• Waiting Structure/ Supports

Intern Participation

* Extensive On-Line Training Course on AutismPartnership with Illinois State University’s Autism Spectrum Institute

* Illinois Experiential PracticumRegional Resource Teams composed of school personnel and parents provide a week-long, hands-on experiential practicum for school teams. Coaching and networking are provided follow up services throughout the year

Intern Participation• Focus Family Support and Technical Assistance

ServicesThrough the use of Positive Behavioral Supports with Person-centered planning, IAATAP focuses on an intensive family centered support team to work on goals in home, school, and community

* I Pod Touch• Illinois State University professors designed task analysis

of various occupational duties and a means for students to check their daily schedules on Apple I Pod Touch instruments

Role & Work of Intern

* Completed On-Line Autism class

• Member of Training staff• Intern as Trainee• Support Trainee (Assisted

groups who needed additional support)

• Member of Family Focus Support Group

• Assisted with Planning of use of I Pod Touch for occupational use

• Web quest and data entry to complete data base of supports for families:

* hospitals *physicians

*agencies *therapists

Role & Work of Intern

Impact

Impact on Others:Supported trainees in recognizing

“fine points” of trainingProvided information to families

and professionalsImpact on Self:

Realization of importance of sharing information aboutautism with othersCritical need for persons with autism to be included in general

population

Illinois Autism Training Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance and Technical Assistance

Project Project

A LIFE LINE