LINKS Program links ( lingks ), v. to unite or connect A Peer to Peer Approach

1. LINKS Program links (lingks), v. to unite or connect A Peer to Peer Approach Turner Howson Elementary School Parent’s Night May 9, 2012

2. Mrs. Otten 2nd Grade Angela Craven Social Worker Mrs. Hagen 4th Grade Mrs. McDonoff 4th Grade Rachel Byma Special Education Supervisor Jessica Clark Rudyard Center Teacher Mrs. Treml 5th Grade Carrie Carr ASD Specialist Mrs. Paquin 5th Grade T h e T u r n e r H o w s o n L I N K S T e a m

3. Janis Weckstein Anthony Thaxton President – MAASE Director - MAASE • LINKS – A Peer to Peer Approach • Recipient of the • Michigan Administrators of Special Education • 2012 PRESIDENT’S AWARD!!!!

5. T r u e o r F a l s e ? • Autism is a disorder of the eyes and ears. • There are 9 students with ASD in Rudyard Schools and the Rudyard Center. • Only certain students interact with students who have ASD. • LINKS take the place of an adult professional. • LINKS is a program that benefits all of the kids involved.

6. A n s w e r s • FALSE: Autism is a neurological disorder. • FALSE: There are 15 students with ASD being educated in the Rudyard Area Schools and the Rudyard Center. • FALSE: All of the students at Turner Howson interact with students who have ASD. • FALSE: LINKS are peer friends who help (like any other friend) in addition to the adult professionals a student with ASD needs. • TRUE: LINKS is a program that benefits all of the kids involved.

7. Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District A look at the data trends in the incident of Autism Spectrum Disorder Prepared by Carrie Carr ~ ASD Specialist EUPISD

8. What is autism? A brain disorder characterized by impaired social interactions and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior Social Interactions Behaviors Communication

10. A Walk In tHeir shoes…

13. Spelling Test

14. Evidence-based practices for students with ASD Functional Communication Training • 24 identified evidence-based practices: Social Skills Groups Parent-Implemented Intervention Social Narratives Antecedent-Based Interventions Computer-Aided Instruction Functional Behavior Assessment PECS Self-Management Differential Reinforcement Extinction Pivotal Response Training Discrete Trial Training Visual Supports Structured Work Systems Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention Reinforcement Prompting Speech Generating Devices Naturalistic Intervention Task Analysis Time Delay Response Interruption/Redirection Video Modeling

15. W h y L I N K S ? LINK mentors help the students with ASD just like they would help any peer. The difference is they understand the unique needs of the student with ASD so they know why the student may react different in different situations. The LINKS program lets the adults talk with the peers so we can take away the fear of not understanding.

16. So... Why is a Peer to Peer Model Beneficial?

17. Who can best model age appropriate social and communication skills? • It’s not that kids with ASD don’t want to be social…just sometimes lagging the skills on how to be. • Kids with ASD have qualities that make for excellent friends! • Adults just aren’t cool! • LINK Benefits, too!

18. Components of LINK Programs

19. L I N K S I n t e r a c t i o n s *PE * Music * Library * Lunch * Recess * Assemblies * General Education Classes * Special Education Classes * Computer Lab

21. Q & A P a n e l D i s c u s s i o n