Staff members of the Kentucky Autism Training Center can work directly with teams of professionals and parents to facilitate their development, implementation, and evaluation of educational and community-based programs for children and adolescents with autism. School systems, educational cooperatives, or individual schools can schedule workshops and application sessions.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about School-Based Services

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COMPREHENSIVE TEAM CONSULTATION

Click here to download and print the Comprehensive Team Consultation Intake Form

The goals of a Comprehensive Team Consultation are to provide local educational teams with tools, strategies, and specialized skills needed to build a school environment that meets the unique learning needs of students with autism, and to promote a student’s access to the Core Curriculum. The model for this level of support is outlined in the following paragraphs.

A Field Training Coordinator (FTC) travels to the school to observe of the local educational team’s interaction with a student. The local educational team is comprised school administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, parents/guardians, and when necessary may also include additional personnel such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and librarians.

After the observation, the FTC and local educational team meet to identify and prioritize areas of instructional need for the team. Based on information gathered during the observation and team meeting, the FTC develops a Training Agenda to meet the individualized areas of need for the local educational team.

The Training Agenda outlines:

• The instructional content to be delivered to the local educational team by the FTC.
• Proposed number of instructional sessions. Typically six to eight sessions of a half day each are recommended.
• The format of the sessions.

Instructional sessions have two formats:

• Small group lectures: Small group lectures are comprised of a meeting of the local education team and are facilitated by an FTC.
• Hands-on demonstrations: Hands-on demonstrations are comprised of an FTC who models a specific strategy with a target student.

Generally, a Training Agenda blends both small group lectures and hands-on demonstrations. An FTC and local educational team members are in contact throughout the instructional period. The FTC collects data, and monitors this process through direct observation, and provides feedback to the team.

At the completion of the instructional sessions, the FTC leads an exit meeting to provide feedback and to discuss ongoing support with the local education team. At this meeting the FTC focuses on the newly acquired skills of the local education team and how these skills are enhancing educational opportunities of the student. The FTC also advises the local education team that the FTC is available to renew the relationship with local educational teams upon request.

CLASSROOM CONSULTATION

Click here to download and print the Classroom Consultation Intake Form

The goals of a Classroom Consultation are provide a classroom teacher with the tools, strategies, and specialized skills needed to build a classroom environment that meets the unique learning needs of students with autism and promote access to the Core Curriculum.

A FTC travels to the school to observe the classroom. The FTC meets with the teacher to discuss appropriate strategies and techniques to be implemented within the classroom to promote student involvement and academic success. The FTC develops a Training Agenda.

The Training Agenda provides the teacher with specific support sessions focused on research based strategies and best practices with the goals of:

• Developing pedagogical approached specific to the unique learning needs of students with autism.
• Adapting and modifying curriculum.
• Developing a classroom schedule.
• Developing visual supports.
• Incorporating communication systems.
• Structure of the educational environment.
• Incorporating the grade level curriculum.
• Implementing behavior plans.
• Promoting collaboration among professionals and families.

FOCUSED CONSULTATION

Click here to download and print the Focused Skill Consultation Intake Form

The goal of a Focused Consultation is assist a local educational team implement a focused skill, strategy. A FTC travels to the school to provide direct instruction on specific topics including:

• Implementing social skills
• Autism awareness
• Completing a functional behavior analysis
• Incorporating communication systems
• Implementing visual supports

The FTC trains the local educational team to implement the identified skill via small group and hands-on training sessions. This type of consultation typically requires three or four sessions of a half-day each.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Professional Development Workshops are initiated by the school system or local educational agency. Duration, attendance and content are determined by the school system.

The KATC is also available to provide district wide professional development workshops.

Click here for the Presentation Request Form and Topic List.