NEWS
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FYI Newsletter February 27, 2012
QUICK SCAN:
- When Actions Speak Louder than Words Workshops
- BLS Series 2
- Journal Article Coauthored
- IRCA at ICASE
- City of Bloomington Promotes Special Needs Registry for First Responders
- Bloomington Celebrates Disability Awareness Month during March and Community Accessibility Month during April 2012
- Library Corner
WHEN ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS WORKSHOPS: The Institute’s Early Childhood Center in conjunction with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, will host three workshops designed to build an understanding of how different behaviors are communicative, to understand what their messages might be and how to begin to interpret those messages and to provide positive approaches for supporting behavior. Thinking about behavior as communication presents a different perspective to support our developmental strategies that encourage positive behaviors. This is crucial information to consider so that when an individual “misbehaves” we can learn to pause and ask, “What is this individual saying?”
Workshop dates and locations include:
March 16, 2012 - Terre Haute, IN: Holiday Inn
April 12, 2012 - Mishawaka, IN: John Young Middle School
April 20, 2012 - Richmond, IN: Richmond High School
Certificates of Attendance for 5.25 instructional hours will be available at no charge and can be used for Professional Growth Plan points and Library Education Units. Registration fee is $125.00 per person. If you have questions about workshop content, contact Kim Davis (davisk@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508. All questions regarding registration should be directed to Donna Beasley (dbeasley@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508.
BLS SERIES 2: Coming this spring, past participants of the Institute’s Center for Aging and Community’s Building Leadership Series (a series of workshops for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities), will be coming together for a second set of workshops. They’ll learn about, and discuss topics, focusing on relationships and intimacy, civic engagement, and healthy living. Sponsored by Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services and the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, these workshops provide an opportunity for participants to learn in a safe, highly interactive environment with their peers. For more information contact Jennie Todd at jeptodd@indiana.edu.
KUDOS
JOURNAL ARTICLE COAUTHORED: The Institute’s Scott Bellini, Assistant Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA), Daniel Henry, Auburn University, and Cathy Pratt, Director, IRCA, have coauthored a journal article titled From Intuition to Data: Using Logic Models to Measure Professional Development Outcomes for Educators Working With Students on the Autism Spectrum.
Journal Abstract: Given the substantial increase in the numbers of students identified with an autism spectrum disorder, it is imperative that effective training for classroom teachers, administrators, and other support staff be undertaken to increase the capacity within schools to effectively educate these students. Although many professional development programs exist, the outcomes of these programs are seldom evaluated. This article discusses the benefits of using a logic model framework to develop and measure the outcomes of professional development programs. The article discusses two main types of goals that need to be developed and included in such evaluations: (a) knowledge, awareness, and perception goals and (b) action goals. This article presents detailed information about the use of logic models in training program evaluations and gives examples of how program elements can be planned, presented, and evaluated in light of the utility of logic models.
Bellini, S., Henry, D., & Pratt, C. (2011). From intuition to data: Using logic models to measure professional development outcomes for educators working with students on the autism spectrum. Teachers Education and Special Education, 34(1), 37-51. doi: 10.1177/0888406410384153.
For questions, contact via e-mail, Bellini (sbellini@indiana.edu) or Pratt (prattc@indiana.edu).
ACROSS THE COURTYARD
IRCA AT ICASE: Cathy Pratt, Director and Kristie Lofland, Research Associate, of the Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism, presented sessions at the 2012 Spring ICASE Conference last week.
Pratt’s session titled a Systematic Approach to Addressing Challenging Behaviors of Students on the Spectrum highlighted the process of FBA and discussed behavior plans that focus on individual programming as well as contextual changes (e.g., classroom organization, school-wide behavior programming, etc.).
Lofland’s presentation, Apps for Autism, shared information about new mobile technologies for individuals with Autism along with their benefits and limitations.
IN BLOOMINGTON
CITY OF BLOOMINGTON PROMOTES SPECIAL NEEDS REGISTRY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS: The City of Bloomington and Monroe County encourages individuals with disabilities to sign up with the Special Needs Registry for First Responders, the community’s voluntary emergency registration system. The Bloomington and Monroe County Special Needs Registry allows first responders to access disability-specific information easily during emergency situations.
In the event of an emergency, information provided by residents lets emergency personnel know about visual, hearing, mobility impairments, dementia, and developmental disabilities for those who have signed up with the registry. "Anything that can help emergency personnel provide the highest level of care as quickly as possible is a big win for everyone," said Mayor Mark Kruzan. “This really is a great initiative with positive community impact.”
The registration form may be printed from the website, completed and mailed to Bloomington/Monroe County Special Needs Registry, 220 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401. Alternative formats of the registration form are also available: paper, large print, Braille and Spanish language forms may be obtained by calling (812) 349-3429 or e-mailing human.rights@bloomington.in.gov. Anyone needing assistance completing the form may use the same contact information. After registration, a City representative will contact registrants every six months to ensure the information is up to date.
“This registry is an extremely important step toward improving effective emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities in Monroe County,” said Katie Herron, Chair of the City of Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility. “Information gathered will allow first responders to maximize the effectiveness and quality of care provided. Having disability-specific information prior to arriving at the scene of an emergency could mean the difference between life and death.” For more information, please contact Craig Brenner at (812) 349-3471 or brennerc@bloomington.in.gov.
BLOOMINGTON CELEBRATES DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH DURING MARCH AND COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY MONTH DURING APRIL 2012: The months of March and April offer Bloomington a time to consider ways in which our community is a welcoming one to people with disabilities. During March, Bloomington and communities across Indiana celebrate Disability Awareness Month. In April, the City of Bloomington’s Council for Community Accessibility celebrates Accessibility Awareness Month.
A wealth of activities will be occurring in Bloomington and on the IU campus over these next two months. Individuals with disabilities, family members, service providers, faculty, and other community members are encouraged to participate.
LIBRARY CORNER
NEW ITEMS: The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Center for Disability Information and Referral at
the Institute. To check out materials, contact the library at 1-800-437-7924, send e-mail to cedir@indiana.edu, visit us at 2853 East Tenth
Street in Bloomington.
Cannon, L. (2011). Unstuck and on target!: An executive function curriculum to improve flexibility for children with autism spectrum
disorders. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co. (Call Number: 40.3 .C29)
Carnahan, C., & Williamson, P. (2010). Quality literacy instruction for students with autism spectrum disorders. Shawnee Mission, KS: AAPC
Textbooks. (Call Number: 40.3 .C376)
Smith, T. (2012). Making inclusion work for students with Autism spectrum disorders: An evidence-based guide. New York: Guilford Press.
(Call Number: 40.3 .S658)