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

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

LINKS – A Peer to Peer Approach Recipient of the Michigan Administrators of Special Education 2012 PRESIDENT’S AWARD!!!! Janis WecksteinAnthony Thaxton President – MAASEDirector - MAASE

1.Autism is a disorder of the eyes and ears. 2.There are 9 students with ASD in Rudyard Schools and the Rudyard Center. 3.Only certain students interact with students who have ASD. 4.LINKS take the place of an adult professional. 5.LINKS is a program that benefits all of the kids involved.

1.FALSE: Autism is a neurological disorder. 2.FALSE: There are 15 students with ASD being educated in the Rudyard Area Schools and the Rudyard Center. 3.FALSE: All of the students at Turner Howson interact with students who have ASD. 4.FALSE: LINKS are peer friends who help (like any other friend) in addition to the adult professionals a student with ASD needs. 5.TRUE: LINKS is a program that benefits all of the kids involved.

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 Year Number of students found eligible as AI Total # of Students Eligible for Special Ed. Programs and Services Number of School Aged Students Percentage of students identified as ASD eligible within Sp. Ed. Population Incidence Rate of students with ASD per 10,000 school aged children ,1477,468 8% ,2367, % ,2697, % ,2487, % ,1827, % ,2088, % ,2998, % ,2158, % ,2038, % ,1748, % ,0968, %24

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

A WALK IN THEIR SHOES…

Spelling Test

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

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.

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

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!

Training & Information Staff StudentsParents Case Conferences ASD Information Positives/Areas of Concern/Ideas Medium of Exchange Connecting Students Celebrations Celebrating Successes Motivation to Continue! Components of LINK Programs

*PE* Music * Library* Lunch * Recess* Assemblies * General Education Classes * Special Education Classes* Computer Lab