The Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project

1. The Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project www.illinoisautismproject.org Kathy Gould, Project DirectorIATTAP Lombard State Office1590 S Fairfield Ave., Lombard, IL 60148Phone: 630-889-7398

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

3. Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

4. 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

5. Illinois Statewide Technical Assistance Center • ISTAC- Parent • Positive Behavioral Intervention Support Network • Project Choices • The Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project

6. 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

7. Experiential Practicum Team Training • Trainers: Educational professionals hired by IATTAP • Teams of professionals from school districts • Students with ASD

8. Integrating Strategies Across the Day • Supports Needed During: • Direct Instructions • Independent Activity • Social Interaction • Restructured Peer Interaction

9. Supports Needed by Students • Visual Cues • Individual Schedule • Environmental Structure • Communication Supports • Task Organizer • Activity Structure • Waiting Structure/ Supports

10. Intern Participation * Extensive On-Line Training Course on Autism Partnership with Illinois State University’s Autism Spectrum Institute * Illinois Experiential Practicum Regional 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

11. Intern Participation • Focus Family Support and Technical Assistance Services Through 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

12. 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

13. Role & Work of Intern • Web quest and data entry to complete data base of supports for families: * hospitals *physicians *agencies *therapists

14. Impact Impact on Others: Supported trainees in recognizing “fine points” of training Provided information to families and professionals Impact on Self: Realization of importance of sharing information about autism with others Critical need for persons with autism to be included in general population

15. Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project A LIFE LINE