The Training Site Initiative continues

By Laura Ferguson, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA

During the 2008-2009 school year, the training site project began in Jefferson County Schools under the guidance and partnership with the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum. The following year the KATC began to expand the project into other areas of the state. Last year the KATC worked in all of the special education cooperatives throughout the state. Again, this year the work will continue throughout the entire state. Our work in the classroom involves monthly visits to support the local educational team in planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction. We work with the school team to select objectives and instructional plans for specified students as well as classrooms. Through the project our goal is to increase the school’s capacity for serving children with autism spectrum disorders by supporting their implementation of research-based strategies.

This year, KATC added two new field trainers to work in schools. Michelle Antle will be working in the western part of the state. She will work with the schools in the Greater River Region Educational Cooperative, as well as schools in the Western KY Educational Cooperative. Kim Howard will be working in the eastern part of the state. She will work with schools in the Big East Educational Cooperative, along with schools in the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative. I will be covering the Central part of the state working in schools in Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative, Southeast/Southcentral Educational Cooperative, and Northern Kentucky Educational Cooperative.

This year we are excited to work in the following counties: Bardstown, Barren, Beechwood, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Calloway, Campbell, Carter, Casey, Christian, Fleming, Floyd, Hardin, Hart, Letcher, Lincoln, Mason, McCracken, Oldham, Pendleton, Pike, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Somerset, and Warren. Each of the sites took part in a one day training this summer. The training informed them of their responsibilities in the training site initiative, data collection procedures, and a refresher on autism spectrum disorders. We are looking forward to working with new school teams and students, as well as new areas of the state. Our hope is that the initiative continues to build capacity in districts throughout Kentucky.

Laura Ferguson is a certified behavior analyst and a Field Training Coordinator for the KY Autism Training Center. She provides direct training and technical assistance to education staff, social and community personnel, counselors, job coaches and families.

KY Autism Training Center Summer 2014 Newsletter August 2014