Indiana Institute FYI
Week of January 21, 2008
FYI Spotlight
· Grant Announcement in Autism Spectrum Disorders
· National Veterans Service Project
· Library Corner
Grant Announcement in Autism Spectrum Disorders: In last week’s edition of the FYI, this Editor inadvertently chose the wrong grant abstract. My apologies. I shall give it another go…
The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism was awarded a research grant in the area of autism spectrum disorders from the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), Arlington, VA. Increasing Social Engagement in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Video Self-Modeling and Peer Training will focus on addressing deficits in social functioning, through the implementation of a video self-modeling (VSM) procedure and a peer mediated intervention.
Impairments in social-emotional functioning are a central feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and can create great difficulties in the life of an individual on the autism spectrum. Social skill deficits increase the likelihood of the individual experiencing social failure, peer rejection, and isolation leaving the individual vulnerable to developing anxiety, depression, and other forms of psychopathology. VSM is a positive behavioral support strategy that integrates a powerful learning medium for children with ASD (visually cued instruction) with an effective intervention modality (modeling, coaching, and social problem solving). Results from the present study will be the first step towards the development of a manualized treatment protocol that will be available to parents and professionals throughout the nation wishing to design data-driven social skills intervention procedures for students with ASD.
The Organization for Autism Research funds pilot studies and targeted research within specific modalities and issues affecting the autism community, primarily for studies whose outcomes offer new insights into the behavioral and social development of individuals with autism with an emphasis on communications, education, and vocational challenges. Visit http://www.researchautism.org/about/philosophy/index.asp for more information on OAR. Contact Scott Bellini, Principal Investigator at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail sbellini@indiana.edu for additional grant information.
What’s New
National Veterans Service Project: The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, through a grant from the Corporation for National Service, has selected 15 Indiana schools to participate in a comprehensive national veterans service project entitled VETS: Voicing Experiences Through Service.
This three year project, under the Direction of Cate Hart, Research Associate with the Institute’s Center on Education and Lifelong Learning, will provide hundreds of students – special needs and general education populations, the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking new service program.
The VETS program provides students with multiple connections with, and service to, veterans. Program components are customized for each community based on interests, resources and needs and will include a wide range of activities such as one-on-one mentoring, special presentations in the class room, and team projects including service learning outings. Through these activities, students will collect and articulate the experiences of veterans and will submit over 120 final histories to the Library of Congress and the National Veterans History Project website. These histories will include audio, video, and written formats as presented by students.
Through the program, students will gain a greater sense of self-worth, appreciation of the value of service, community inclusiveness, and life skills required to prepare for the transition into adulthood. This is particularly important to the special needs participants who normally have limited access to early work and community mentoring experiences. Learning from veterans with their global encounters with life changing transitions provides needed perspective to these students. Veterans will have the opportunity to share and preserve their memories and experiences while becoming mentors to the participating students.
“Two notable elements of this program are its inclusive nature and the fact that it allows students to see service from a new perspective. Each school will select a diverse group of students, including special education cohorts, to work collaboratively as the giver of service rather than their usual position as the recipients,” said Hart. “By sharing and learning from one another’s life experiences, students and veterans alike will see that no matter what their ability, they can make a valuable contribution to their community.”
Indiana University was the lead organization in writing the initial grant. National Co-Directors Sandi Cole and Teresa Grossi invited educators from Vermont and Maryland to join the consortium based on those states’ focus on and experience with inclusive intergenerational service programs. Once the grant application was accepted, the schools were then selected to reflect diverse populations within each state. Administrators then worked with individual teachers to identify grade levels, classes, and/or individual students to participate in the program based on their curriculum, interests, and learning focus.
State advisory boards benefit from representatives from veterans groups, community partners, students, teachers, Area 10 Agency on Aging’s RSVP program, and government officials. Senator Richard Lugar’s office has been instrumental in the Indiana effort and has made valuable contributions to the advisory committee and the collection of Hoosier histories for the program.
Schools and local school coordinators that are participating include:
· Aurora Alternative High School, Rebecca Rupert
· Barr Reeve High School, Jamie Underwood
· Bloomington Batchelor Middle School, Jeff Rudkin
· Bloomington North High School, Shaun Caudill
· Columbus Community School Corporation, Faith Thomas, Greg Lewis and
xLibby Arthur
· Eastern Green High School, Teresa Butler
· Edgewood High School, Jeff Carmichael
· Loogootee High School, Paula Ringwald
· Monroe County Community Transition Program, Jennifer Robinson
· North Daviess High School, Beth Smith
· Owen Valley High School, Brenda Davis and Mary Ackerman
· Warsaw High School, David Hoffert
· Washington High School, Debbie Rodimel
For more information on the VETS program, contact Cate Hart at (812) 855-6508 or camhart@indiana.edu. Visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/vets/ or http://www.loc.gov/vets/ for additional information.
Library Corner
New Items: The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Center for Disability Information and Referral (CeDIR) at the Institute. To check out materials, contact the library at 1-800-437-7924, send e-mail to cedir@indiana.edu, or visit us at 2853 East Tenth Street in Bloomington.
Ernsperger, L., & Wendel, D. (2007). Girls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorders: Practical solutions for addressing everyday challenges. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism
Asperger Pub. Co.
Frender, S., & Schiffmiller, R. (2007). Brotherly feelings: Me, my emotions, and my brother with Asperger's syndrome. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Hudson, J., & Myles, B.S. (2007). Starting points: How to understand and support children and youth with Asperger syndrome. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Pub. Co.
Marquette, J. (2007). Becoming remarkably able: Walking the path to talents, interests, and personal growth for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Shawnee Mission, KS:
Autism Asperger Pub. Co.
Santomauro, J., & Santomauro, D. (2007). Asperger download: A guide to help teenage males with Asperger syndrome trouble-shoot life's challenges. Shawnee Mission, KS:
Autism Asperger Pub. Co.
Return to the Indiana Institute FYI Index
This material is available in alternative formats upon request
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indiana Institute Centers by Focus Areas 
