Autism Services
What is Autism Services?
Autism Services supports school staff; including special education teachers, general education teachers, para-professionals and any staff needing support; as they work with students identified as have an eligibility of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please read the from PPS Special Education Director, Robert Ford, for more information.What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that affects how an individual is able to use verbal language, understand language and how an individual learns to interact with people and their environment.
Autism Services is working towards building capacity within school buildings to support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Specialists and a para-coach will support schools by:
- Providing trainings to schools staff in general education classes, learning centers and focus continuums, including para-educators, through professional development opportunities on the district learning campus, scheduled trainings within buildings or scheduled trainings for individual staff members
- Attending school special education staff meetings when requested to support teams in working with students with autism.
- Providing access to resources through a building Autism Library. Resources can be checked out through your Autism Specialist.
- A para-educator coach will also be able to support para-educators in working on creating independence and fading prompts in both the general education environment and in focus classrooms.
How can a building access training for staff?
A building can schedule a training for general education staff, special education staff, para-professionals or any other staff working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder by contacting Lauren Page. Additionally, training opportunities are available at Columbia Regional Program.
How can a team access the Autism Library?
The Autism Team has created an extensive library of materials that are available to be checked out through your Autism Specialists. This library includes, but is not limited to materials concerning social thinking, language, comprehension, video modeling, visual activities, and strategies. Follow the link to see the resources available.
How can a building special education team access support for a complex evaluation?
PPS will utilize the current central office evaluation team to assist teams for “complex” autism evaluations. The team consists of Autism Specialists, Evaluation Specialists, Speech Language Pathologist, School Psychologists, Occupational and Physical Therapists.
A case is considered complex if:
- The team has completed all of the evaluation components, considered other suspected disabilities, and is still having difficulty making the eligibility determination.
- The student to be evaluated is a safety risk to himself/herself or to others.
- The team needs support in sharing information related to Autism with the family.
Support for complex evaluations for ASD eligibility will include:
- Observations
- Behavior Checklists
- Distinguishing between characteristics of Autism and mental health
For information regarding complex evaluations for Autism Eligibility, contact your program administrator. This is referral form to request complex evaluation support.
How can a team make a student with an eligibility of ASD Regionally Eligible for ASD Consult Services?
When a student receives an educational eligibility of Autism Spectrum Disorder a referral for regional services can be requested. This referral will enable consult services from an Autism Specialist. You can access the form here.
