Autism Strand

Asperger Syndrome:Understanding and Addressing the Complexities and Subtleties-Day 1
Presenter: Diann Grimm

Intended Audience: All Educators
Instructional Time: 6 hours

Asperger Syndrome is a lifelong social disorder characterized by significant social impairments,difficulties with transitions and changes,
intense interest in specific topics, and extreme difficulty reading nonverbal communication cues. Although these students have average
intellectual abilities and good verbal skills, they can be challenging in a school environment. Participants will:

Gain a clear understanding of the Asperger Syndrome diagnosis
Learn to distinguish between Asperger Syndrome and similar disorders
Understand the impact of Asperger Syndrome on social development, learning
and communication
Learn a number of intervention techniques and educational strategies for children
and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome: Understanding and Addressing the Complexities and Subtleties-Day 2
Presenter: Diann Grimm

Intended Audience: All Educators
Instructional Time: 6 hours

This training expands on the information presented in Asperger Syndrome: Day 1. The focus will be on additional intervention strategies
to help students with Asperger Syndrome succeed in school. Participants will:

Add numerous creative and effective intervention techniques to their "toolbox"
Learn how educators have successfully implemented simple intervention strategies
with students with Asperger Syndrome
Have an opportunity to problem-solve challenges specific to their particular students

Prerequisite: Attendance at Asperger Syndrome: Understanding and Addressing the Complexities and
Subtleties-Day 1 is required.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Best Practices for Assessment
Presenter: Jennifer Simmons

Intended Audience: School Psychologists and Speech and Language Pathologists
Instructional Time: 6 hours

The number os children in California diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased dramatically in recent years and
continues to rise. With greater and greater frequency, school assessment teams area asked to determine if students have ASD, and to
provide meaningful assessment for students with ASD diagnoses. Participants will:

Appreciate the importance of team assessment for ASD
Approach assessment from a developmental perspective
Select appropriate tools and methods: make use of historical data
Include differential diagnosis in the assessment process

Promoting Positive Classroom Behavior
Presenters: Rebecca Steinberger

Intended Audience: General and Special Education, Preschool - 8th Grade Teachers
Instructional Time: 3 hours

This workshop presents practical techniques to create a positive learning environment. It is designed to address the kinds of behavior typically
present in classrooms that interfere with instruction; it does NOT address severe behaviors. Through group activities, video clips and real-life
examples participants will learn to:

Increase positive behavior
Decrease or prevent disruptive behavior
Structure classroom for success

Students with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism in General Education: How
Principals Can Lead The Way
Presenter: Diann Grimm

Intended Audience: Principals of Elementary, Middle, Secondary Levels
Instructional Time: 3 hours

Many students with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) can function well and are able to attend general education classes.
However, their difficulties with social competence, communication, and repetitive patterns of behaviors can be confusing to staff and interfere with their
progress. Principals can assist by being well-informed, communicating to their staff, accurately interpreting student behavior and effectively intervening.
This training will provide accurate information about these disorders on the autism spectrum and ideas on how principals can lead the way to academic
and social success for these students. Participants will learn to:

Understand why students with AS/HFA behave in ways that can be difficult in general education settings
Shift their perception of students with AS/HFA from "troublesome and odd" to "unique and struggling to fit in"
Facilitate positive learning environments for students with AS/HFA

Transition Planning for Adolescents with autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Presenters: Priscilla Harvell and Cathy Thoni

Intended Audience: Secondary Educators
Instructional Time: 3 hours

This workshop is for secondary educators who work with students on the Autism Spectrum. Participants will learn about Transition Law under
IDEIA 2004 and how it impacts postsecondary outcomes for students with ASD. Participants will how to prepare these students for adult
options and activities:

Education
Employment
Community
Social/communication skills across environments

Note: "The ABC's of a Transition Functional Assessment Model (TFAM) Connecting Assessment to Transition Goals"
is an expansion of this training.

Teaching Students with Autism
Presenters: Rebecca Steinberger and Ann England

Intended Audience: Pre-school-8th Grade IEP Teams and Families
Instructional Time: 6 hours

Teaching students with Autism provides a unique challenge. The workshop presents an overview of current methodologies with specific techniques
and strategies to help these students (in preschool through 8th grade) meet their potential. This training is most useful when taken by the entire IEP
team; general and special educator, speech-language pathologist, paraprofessional, and other team members. Participants will:

Have a deeper understanding of Autism and how this diagnosis influences the student's learning style and needs
Leave with ideas and tools to use for instruction and behavioral change.

Note: This training will not address Asperger's Disorder or high school/post secondary age students.

Understanding Autism: An Overview for Administrators
Presenter: Mary Anne Nielsen

Intended Audience: General and Special Education Administrators
Instructional Time: 2 hours

This two hour workshop for school administrators provides current information regarding educating students with Autism Spectrum
Disorders.
Participants will increase their understanding of:

Autism Spectrum Disorders
Education characteristics
Interventions and strategies: what to look for in classrooms



Asperger Syndrome:Understanding and Addressing the Complexities and Subtleties-Day 1 Presenter: Diann Grimm Intended Audience: All Educators Instructional Time: 6 hours Asperger Syndrome is a lifelong social disorder characterized by significant social impairments,difficulties with transitions and changes, intense interest in specific topics, and extreme difficulty reading nonverbal communication cues. Although these students have average intellectual abilities and good verbal skills, they can be challenging in a school environment. Participants will: Gain a clear understanding of the Asperger Syndrome diagnosis Learn to distinguish between Asperger Syndrome and similar disorders Understand the impact of Asperger Syndrome on social development, learning and communication Learn a number of intervention techniques and educational strategies for children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome: Understanding and Addressing the Complexities and Subtleties-Day 2 Presenter: Diann Grimm Intended Audience: All Educators Instructional Time: 6 hours This training expands on the information presented in Asperger Syndrome: Day 1. The focus will be on additional intervention strategies to help students with Asperger Syndrome succeed in school. Participants will: Add numerous creative and effective intervention techniques to their "toolbox" Learn how educators have successfully implemented simple intervention strategies with students with Asperger Syndrome Have an opportunity to problem-solve challenges specific to their particular students Prerequisite: Attendance at Asperger Syndrome: Understanding and Addressing the Complexities and Subtleties-Day 1 is required.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Best Practices for Assessment Presenter: Jennifer Simmons Intended Audience: School Psychologists and Speech and Language Pathologists Instructional Time: 6 hours The number os children in California diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased dramatically in recent years and continues to rise. With greater and greater frequency, school assessment teams area asked to determine if students have ASD, and to provide meaningful assessment for students with ASD diagnoses. Participants will: Appreciate the importance of team assessment for ASD Approach assessment from a developmental perspective Select appropriate tools and methods: make use of historical data Include differential diagnosis in the assessment process

Promoting Positive Classroom Behavior Presenters: Rebecca Steinberger Intended Audience: General and Special Education, Preschool - 8th Grade Teachers Instructional Time: 3 hours This workshop presents practical techniques to create a positive learning environment. It is designed to address the kinds of behavior typically present in classrooms that interfere with instruction; it does NOT address severe behaviors. Through group activities, video clips and real-life examples participants will learn to: Increase positive behavior Decrease or prevent disruptive behavior Structure classroom for success

Students with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism in General Education: How Principals Can Lead The Way Presenter: Diann Grimm Intended Audience: Principals of Elementary, Middle, Secondary Levels Instructional Time: 3 hours Many students with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) can function well and are able to attend general education classes. However, their difficulties with social competence, communication, and repetitive patterns of behaviors can be confusing to staff and interfere with their progress. Principals can assist by being well-informed, communicating to their staff, accurately interpreting student behavior and effectively intervening. This training will provide accurate information about these disorders on the autism spectrum and ideas on how principals can lead the way to academic and social success for these students. Participants will learn to: Understand why students with AS/HFA behave in ways that can be difficult in general education settings Shift their perception of students with AS/HFA from "troublesome and odd" to "unique and struggling to fit in" Facilitate positive learning environments for students with AS/HFA

Transition Planning for Adolescents with autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Presenters: Priscilla Harvell and Cathy Thoni Intended Audience: Secondary Educators Instructional Time: 3 hours This workshop is for secondary educators who work with students on the Autism Spectrum. Participants will learn about Transition Law under IDEIA 2004 and how it impacts postsecondary outcomes for students with ASD. Participants will how to prepare these students for adult options and activities: Education Employment Community Social/communication skills across environments Note: "The ABC's of a Transition Functional Assessment Model (TFAM) Connecting Assessment to Transition Goals" is an expansion of this training.

Teaching Students with Autism Presenters: Rebecca Steinberger and Ann England Intended Audience: Pre-school-8th Grade IEP Teams and Families Instructional Time: 6 hours Teaching students with Autism provides a unique challenge. The workshop presents an overview of current methodologies with specific techniques and strategies to help these students (in preschool through 8th grade) meet their potential. This training is most useful when taken by the entire IEP team; general and special educator, speech-language pathologist, paraprofessional, and other team members. Participants will: Have a deeper understanding of Autism and how this diagnosis influences the student's learning style and needs Leave with ideas and tools to use for instruction and behavioral change. Note: This training will not address Asperger's Disorder or high school/post secondary age students.

Understanding Autism: An Overview for Administrators Presenter: Mary Anne Nielsen Intended Audience: General and Special Education Administrators Instructional Time: 2 hours This two hour workshop for school administrators provides current information regarding educating students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Participants will increase their understanding of: Autism Spectrum Disorders Education characteristics Interventions and strategies: what to look for in classrooms