Catherine is available to present workshops to fit a variety of needs. These workshops center on Structured Teaching (an evidence based practice developed by the TEACCH program in North Carolina). Workshops can be tailored to individual needs but all emphasize practical strategies that participants can implement.

1 Day Workshop. This workshop outlines the rationale for using structured teaching as well as the research evidence. The majority of the workshop is then spent exploring all the basic structured teaching strategies (including the physical set up of the classroom, visual schedules, work systems and tasks) using examples in photographs and videos to illustrate these.

Length of workshop: One Full Day
Suggested Audience: School Personnel

2 Day Workshop. This workshop includes everything outlined in the one day workshop but also a 2nd day. Day 2 allows exploration of more detailed information on topics such as how to utilize Structured Teaching to enhance teacher assessment, teach social communication skills and manage behavior.

Length of workshop: Two Full Days
Suggested Audience: School Personnel

1 Day Workshop. This workshop outlines the rationale for using structured teaching as well as the research evidence. The majority of the workshop is then spent exploring all the basic structured teaching strategies (including the physical set up of the residential home or vocational setting, visual schedules, work systems and tasks) using examples in photographs and videos to illustrate these.

Length of Workshop: One Full Day
Suggested Audience: Professionals Working with Adults with ASD in Residential and/or Vocational Settings

2 Day Workshop. This workshop includes everything outlined in the one day workshop but also a 2nd day. Day 2 allows exploration of more detailed information on topics such as how to utilize Structured Teaching to enhance vocational assessment, teach social communication skills and manage behavior.

This workshop provides parents with an understanding of the importance of using visual structure with their son or daughter. The majority of the workshop will be spent illustrating (using photographs and videos) practical strategies for use in the home and community.

Length of workshop: Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parents/Primary Caregivers

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is perplexing partially due to the fact that it defies generalization and also because there are still so many questions about it. It is important to learn as much as possible in order to support these students in the classroom, even though all of the ‘answers’ are not known. Experience and past practices along with the most current insights can provide much of information. This workshop will discuss the autism spectrum and how it does defy generalization. Movement difference which is a relatively new approach to understanding the behavioral and communication challenges of individuals with ASD will be introduced. It suggests that many of their challenges come of differences within their central nervous system which inhibit effective actions, interactions and challenges.

There will also be discussion about questions to consider when confronted with behavior challenges to assist in deciphering the reasons behind the behaviors, because behavior does not happen without reason. Finally simple proactive strategies will be suggested that have been used in the past and still have merit today.

Objectives:

• Become aware that autism is a spectrum disorder with many distinctions.
  
• Become aware that ASD is a central nervous system dysfunction which has a great impact on that individual and also those who support him or her.
  
• Become aware of how autism can impact learning.
  
• Become aware of questions to ask when there are behavior challenges.
  
• Become aware of simple pro-active strategies to support individuals with ASD.
  

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: All

The intent of the behavior – communication link is 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. Thinking about behavior as communication presents a different perspective to develop strategies that encourage positive behaviors. When an individual ‘misbehaves’ we can learn to ask why and what is being said instead of merely reacting and assuming we know. We can begin to think, “What is this individual saying”.

Length of Workshop: Full Day with Kim Davis and Susan Dixon
Suggested Audience: All

For some families even thinking about the future for their child with a disability can be daunting. Person-Centered Planning is a technique that has been used with many individuals who have disabilities to help create a future that is meaningful. Creating a Circle of Support can be the beginning of a new way to see the future. Using the Circle of Support and the planning tools of MAP and PATH, a caring group of committed people can forge a rich and full life for individuals. It is neither a quick fix nor a one shot meeting. Person-centered planning takes time and dedication. This presentation will provide the bare necessities of this process and introduce the audience to the concepts.

Objectives:

• To learn about Person Centered planning tools: MAP, PATH and Circles of Support
  
• To learn the steps to creating a Circle of Support
  
• To understand the dedication needed for a successful futures planning
  

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: All

Everyone needs time to unwind and we all do that in different ways. Unfortunately for individuals with autism and other disabilities, recreation can be limited. This presentation will help push the boundaries of possibilities by suggesting that support staff change their thinking about recreation. Getting to know the individual, exploring the community, and helping the individual with autism become a part of their community instead of being apart from it will be the message. Person centered planning is one tool to help with this process and it will be discussed briefly as well.

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: All

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological disorder that impacts each individual differently. For some individuals there may be sensory processing difficulties; for others movement differences may challenge participation. Both sensory and movement difference challenges can impact communication, the ability to control body movements and how one relates to the environment. Any of these can be interpreted as challenging behaviors. By focusing on the symptoms of movement difference and the dynamic system, participants will see how our perception of movement and sensory differences can impact our perception of people diagnosed with ASD.

This presentation will discuss both movement differences and sensory integrations challenges including auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, vestibular and proprioceptive challenges. The presenter will discuss the impact movement differences have on the individual and share methods or personalizing strategies and accommodations that assist the individual to regulate, control or change a movement.

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: All

Movement difference is a new approach to understanding the behavioral and communication challenges of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It suggests that many of their challenges come from differences that inhibit effective actions, interactions, and communication. This is not a new diagnosis but further exploration of ASD which may shed new understanding of the challenges that these individuals face with movements, behavior and communication. By focusing on the symptoms of movement difference and the dynamic system, participants will see how our perception of movement and sensory differences can impact our perception of people diagnosed with ASD.

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: All

Has it been a while since you sent a group of people to autism team training? Would you like to get organized by creating a focus for your autism team? This workshop is geared for you because it will cover what other teams are doing around the state, an introduction of 22 evidence based practices (EBP) and how EBP’s are being implemented in Indiana. In the afternoon, individual teams will brainstorm their needs at schools and in the community to design a two year plan for the autism teams to implement with specific activities (e.g., training, support for behavior, peer mediation, survey, first responder training), what is needed, who is responsible and a timeline. Each team will walk away with an action plan for the school year.

Length of workshop: Full Day Presentation
Suggested audience: School Districts/Cooperatives That Want to Form Several Autism Teams

Students with autism spectrum disorder are placed in classrooms (e.g., general and special education) with teachers who are educated with varying degrees of knowledge of this disability. A teacher may have attended one or several days of training, individual conferences related to a methodology, or read an article or book. After preparing for having a student on the autism spectrum, the teacher may still feel inadequate to implement necessary strategies to help the student. Part of the teacher’s struggle may be in understanding the student on the autism spectrum and their challenges. One model to help coordinate an intricate program for an individual on the autism spectrum who is struggling to be successful in the classroom and to guide the teacher on specific strategies that are effective while providing hands-on training to the staff in the natural classroom setting is called coaching. Coaching provides an opportunity for one-on-one training, guiding, instructing, observing, modeling, evaluating performance, and providing feedback. Coaching support is available in classrooms and on job sites.

Length of workshop: One Day or Multiple Days
Suggested audience: School Personnel, Employment Personnel

During this full day of training, staff will learn about the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Asperger Syndrome, and how it is similar and different from other autism spectrum disorders. Learn a few evidence based practices (e.g., positive reinforcement, prompting, peer mediation instruction, and visual supports) and how they were applied with students in Northwest Indiana. In addition, the presenter will problem solve with the group one or two case studies of students/adults.

Length of workshop: Full Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parents, Primary Caregivers, School Personnel, Vocational Providers

Attendees will learn how to use strategies you already know work with your son/daughter and apply to teaching them about their bodies changing through the cycle of puberty. Specific topics include: hygiene, menstruation, building friendships, and being safe in the community. A list of resources and materials will be provided at the workshop. Time allowed for questions and answers.

Length of workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested audience: Parents, Primary Caregivers

Attendees will learn about your daughter’s/female client’s reproduction, sexual anatomy and physiology, puberty, reproduction, body image, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and sexual health. Practical health tips and strategies to help caregivers become comfortable talking about sexual health. You will leave with resources for visuals, lesson plans, and websites to use for teaching your daughter/female clients about her body and sexual health. Time allowed for questions and answers.

Length of workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested audience: Parents, Primary Caregivers, Group Home Providers

Attendees will learn about your sons/male client’s reproduction, sexual anatomy and physiology, puberty, reproduction, body image, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and sexual health. Practical health tips and strategies to help caregivers become comfortable talking about sexual health. You will leave with resources for visuals, lesson plans, and websites to use for teaching your sons/male clients about his body and sexual health. Time allowed for questions and answers.

Length of workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested audience: Parents, Primary Caregivers, Group Home Providers

Will learn resources you can borrow, curriculum available to adapt, and how to adapt materials to meet your student’s needs to learn about their sexual health. Plus the information from “Teaching Sex Education to Adolescent Boys and Girls” adapted for this level of cognitive ability. Time for problem solving.

Length of workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested audience: School Personnel

This basic presentation is an opportunity for family and friends to better understand the challenges our loved ones face in meeting their day to day needs. Together we can gain insight to characteristics and engaging interaction with individuals on the autism spectrum.

Length of Workshop: 2 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: All

Networking is a key element in survival! The role that Dads play in the life and planning in our journey with our children is varied, though many of us have the same concerns. This session breaks down the typical barriers and allows for open conversation of men only to address the concerns of the group.

Length of Workshop: 2 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Dads, Grandfathers, Men/Primary Caregivers

This presentation will provide required training for certification or recertification of First Responders in autism. From initial assessment to assisting in interaction, this training will be useful for Fire & Rescue, EMS and Law Enforcement Officers. ‘Classic’ characteristics and challenges will be discussed as well as proactive ideas toward positive encounters with individuals on the autism spectrum.

Length of Workshop: 2-3 Hour Training
(ILEA training credit hours available)
Suggested Audience: Fire & Rescue, EMS and Law Enforcement Officers

This workshop will increase staff awareness of the use of scripts for background information, social behavior, schema information, and behavioral scripts (a component of a positive behavior support program). Staff will have opportunities for group work and practice at writing scripts.

Length of Workshop: 3-6 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: School Staff – Public, Specialized Day or Residential Schools.

The workshop will foster discussions between special education staff or only speech pathology staff about intervention issues and strategies to foster better communication development for this challenging group of students.

Length of Workshop: 3-6 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: School Staff – Public, Specialized Day or Residential Schools.

The workshop will raise staff awareness of the language/communication issues that will impact school performance in terms of literacy, social interaction, and comprehension of instruction. It can help build staff capacity to use strategies that might help these students.

Length of Workshop: 3 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: School Staff – Public, Specialized Day or Residential Schools.

This workshop will Increase staff awareness of aspects of positive programming and staff ability to foster successful programming for students with ASD. Communication issues play an important role in positive programming. Can include overview of autism, if longer time period is selected.

Length of Workshop: 3-6 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: School Staff – Public, Specialized Day or Residential Schools.

This workshop will raise staff awareness of the characteristics of ASD and how this differs from other disabilities.

Length of Workshop: 1-2 hours
Suggested Audience: School Staff – Public, Specialized Day or Residential Schools.

This workshop will Increase staff ability to recognize “red flags” that may suggest an autism spectrum disorder and to employ strategies to foster various areas of development, including communication, for these challenging youngsters.

Length of Workshop: 3 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Head Start Staff

This workshop can help your on-line staff or supervisors know basic strategies for matching their supports to the comprehension abilities of their clients. Interaction also depends on the clients having a means of communication and opportunities to further develop their skills. The workshop can help your staff understand the importance of their role in making that happen.

Length of Workshop: 2-6 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Adult Agencies

Specific types of behaviors such as hitting staff, kicking them, and going limp will never be acceptable communicative behaviors. In order to teach a person a substitute behavior, staff must be able to analyze the problem situation and know a range of communication options that might be taught as a substitute communicative response; this workshop focuses on this goal.

Length of Workshop: 2-3 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Adult Agencies

Length of Workshop: 1-3 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Public Library Systems

The workshop covers what staff need to know to serve youngster’s and families in summer or weekend programming, reading/comprehension problems of many children/adults with ASD, how to adapt the environment to accommodate the young children and how to respond to repetitive/ unusual questions and social overtures of high-functioning adults and their social overtures

Length of Workshop: 3-6 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Public Library Systems

Parents will learn about aspects of literacy for children with ASD and how to help them. Coverage can be customized depending on allotted time. An activity can be included.

Length of Workshop: 3 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parent Groups

Parents can become acquainted with the underlying components of communication that are important in developing and supporting a successful program for the child who is unable to use speech in a typical fashion to adequately meet the demands of daily life. Know how to support your child to move forward in language/speech/communication development. Coverage can be customized depending on allotted time.

Length of Workshop: 3 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parent Groups

Parents can learn about the use of scripting to present background information, social information, schema or general event information, and scripts to supplement a positive behavior support plan.

Length of Workshop: 3 Hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parent Groups

Daily living provides many opportunities to teach vocabulary and aspects of communication for a child with ASD. Parents can become adept at enriching activities without spending excessive time in planning or developing materials.

Length of Workshop: 3 hour Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parent Groups

This session teaches individuals how to write goals that are meaningful and can be held to the highest standards of accountability. Participants have an opportunity to practice writing these goals in a collaborative manner. The case conference process is also discussed.

Length of Workshop: Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parents and Professionals

Individuals who engage in problematic behavior create a tremendous challenge for professionals and family members. This session will discuss the role of crisis management, strategies for conducting a meaningful functional behavior assessment, and will focus on teaching alternative skills when designing a behavior support plan.

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parents and Professionals

This session discusses the role of school culture and curriculum in designing an educational program. In addition, strategies that have proven effective with students on the autism spectrum will be highlighted. Finally, the role of parent-professional collaboration will be discussed.

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parents and Professionals

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a tremendous technology that can be highly effective in reducing problematic behaviors and in teaching prosocial skills. Unforttunately, often ABA is misunderstood or seen form a limited perspective. This session will discuss the ethics associated with ABA and the numerous strategies associated with this technology. Information will focus on practical implementation of ABA.

Length of Workshop: Full or Half Day Presentation
Suggested Audience: Parents and Professionals