Indiana Institute FYI

Week of November 19, 2007

FYI Spotlight

· Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the Public School
xSetting Workshop
· Indiana APSE State Conference
· Audit of First Steps Early Intervention System
· Library Holiday Hours

Upcoming

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the Public School Setting Workshop: The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism will host a one-day workshop, Thursday, November 29 at the Carmel Educational Service Center, focusing on applied behavior analysis strategies proven effective in public school settings for students with autism. Specific techniques such as reinforcement, teaching strategies, behavior modification, and social skill development will be explored and examples of each will be discussed. Videotape and role play will be used to demonstrate techniques.

James Ball, Ed.D., BCBA, will be the featured speaker. Ball has been in the field of autism for 20 years working in the private sector providing educational/employment/residential services in a variety of settings to children and adults affected by autism. Currently, he is the Clinical Director of Caring Technologies, a web-based company, with a mission to explore the way technology can enhance the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families as well as the Director of Clinical Services for New York Families of Autistic Children (NYFAC).

Registration fee is $120.00 per person. This workshop is geared for general and special education teachers, administrators, early intervention providers, family members, and those interested in learning more about educating students on the autism spectrum. Certificates of Attendance will be provided. Upon approval by the Indiana Professional Standards Board, Certification Renewal Units (CRUs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available. For information pertaining to Training Funds for family members or individuals with disabilities, contact the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities at (317) 232-7770 or the Family Involvement Fund (FIF) administered by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. For information on the FIF, call 1-800-825-4733 or e-mail fif@indiana.edu. For workshop content information, contact Cathy Pratt at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail prattc@indiana.edu. Registration questions can be directed to Donna Beasley at (812) 855-6508 or dbeasley@indiana.edu.

Indiana APSE State Conference: The Indiana Chapter of APSE: The Network on Employment, invites you to participate in the 17th annual state-wide conference dedicated to the employment of people with disabilities on December 5-6, 2007 at the Holiday Inn North Select – At the Pyramids, Indianapolis.  

Attendees will:

· Sharpen skills and reignite their commitment to advancing disability
xemployment in their own communities;
· Gain new knowledge based on research and practical experiences; and
· Share and obtain new information on tools and techniques utilized to
xenhance the employment outcomes and the lives of people with disabilities.

Indiana’s conference is one of the largest supported employment conferences in the nation. Conference participants include CEOs, employment providers, advocates, persons with disabilities and family members, program managers, direct service personnel, employment specialists, educators, WorkOne staff, mental health agencies, Vocational Rehabilitation counselors, and other state agency personnel.

Registration fee is $205.00 (INAPSE Member) and $225.00 (Non-Member). Registration fee for Wednesday, December 5 or December 6 only (INAPSE Member $125.00 – Non-Member $150.00). For more information, contact Bitta DeWees at (812) 332-2168 ext. 241 or e-mail bdewees@stonebelt.prg. Visit http://www.apse.org to download a registration form.

What’s New

Audit of First Steps Early Intervention System: Indiana’s First Steps Early Intervention System has undergone several major changes in the past decade and there has been ongoing interest in understanding what impact those changes have made on both the system and Indiana families. The Indiana Institute’s early Childhood Center is conducting an audit of the First Steps Early Intervention System. The procedures, analysis, and finding of this audit will be sent to an independent Review Panel of outside experts who will look at the quality, accuracy, and validity of the results.

The Early Childhood Center research team will also review the personnel preparation efforts in other states in order to identify their effective professional development practices. These practices will then be compared to Indiana’s current Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) practices. These practices will then be compared to Indiana’s current Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) practices. Stakeholder and community input is an important component of this research project. The audit will include the input of those individuals who respond to the audit questions. Through the use of short surveys, families, providers, ED teams, SPOEs and service coordinators will be asked to provide a picture of personal experiences within the FS System. We invite all providers, families, and interested individuals to go to http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ecc/ecc/FSauditproject.htm to become more familiar with the activities and research involved with the audit. The site hosts a gateway to documents and applicable research as well as a blog inviting comments that will also become part of the process.

Upon the completion of the data analysis and report writing, the Early Childhood Center will subcontract the services of an independent panel of experts in the field of early intervention. Their input will provide an objective review of the findings of the Early Childhood Center. They will then submit a report to the state that can be used for future decision-making and continued improvement of our early intervention system for the benefit of young children with disabilities in Indiana. For additional information, contact Michael Conn-Powers (mipower@indiana.edu) or Betsy Traub (etraub@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508.

Library Corner

Holiday Hours: In observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Library will close at noon on Wednesday, November 21st and will re-open at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, November 26th.

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