Kathy and Calvin's Home Page

Do you ever wonder what other states are doing about training teachers and certifying them to work with kids with autism? Well Michigan state has taken the bull by the horns and is offering coursework for special education. How about Oregon teachers?

ACE The Autism Collaborative Endorsement: a newly created Internet-based autism program. This endorsement program is designed to help teachers obtain an additional special education endorsement in the area of autism.

A story about Canadian parents asking for ABA. Of interest is the argument that parents are asking too much and parents wondering what is the difference between asking for ABA and asking for cancer treatment.

A very good article that points out the two sides.

By Michael Tutton

The Canadian Press

Parents of children with learning disabilities are on the legal warpath this fall for costly teaching programs they say could save their children's futures.

Full Story Here

I love POAC (Parents of Austic Children). They are based in NJ and have a very big bias toward trying to incorporate Verbal Behavior into the public schools. The catch is, they want to do it well! What a concept...

Anyways, this article is written by an attorney and really does a decent job of summarizing why IDEA and the Due Process system doesn't really work well.

A story about a blind child needing a braille teacher. The school district was unable to find a teacher to hire (even with a $10,000 signing bonus), but the court still ruled against them.

What interests me is:

What is the difference between a braille teacher for blind children and an ABA teacher for children with autism?

PDF File Here

Suzy Harris wrote an interesting article in September 1999 analyzing Due Process hearings both won and lost by ODE, and what they mean to the future of education.

I was thinking about how public school teachers and parents of special needs children are like groups from different planets.  Their perspectives are vastly different.  Neither are correct and neither are wrong.  The problem lies in the solution.  So here are some of the perspectives - I'll be adding to them and you can give me more ideas. Parent Perspective

• My child is not getting the help he/she really needs to learn
• I want teachers and aides to use [insert name of methodology] with my child in the classroom
• The school system doesn't seem to be set up to actually work for kids.  On the one hand there is the teacher unions that keep teachers from putting extra hours.  Another hand has the federal IDEA law which has mandates but no funding.  Another hand has the Teacher Standards and Practice Commission (TSPC) giving teachers licenses without any real knowledge in scientifically validated methods of teaching and even classroom management (see Direct Instruction and even Postive Behavior Supports). And another hand that pits parents of regular children against the parents of special needs children.  This monster has too many hands!
• Exploratory what?  Discovery eh?  Fuzzy math?  I don't care what you call it, I just need it to work.  My child needs to learn to communicate, use the potty, let me go shopping and eat at a restaurant once in a while. I just need teachers to use methods that give great results, not OK results, or heaven forbid make matters worse by reinforcing or teaching my child bad habits or methods of communication.

Teacher Perspective

• Wow, too many kids
• Can't keep up with standardized tests
• I probably have to spend my own time aligning the tests with the textbook/curriculum the school or district adopted
• I have no training in special needs
• I have limited training in special needs
• The special ed teacher is supposed to support me and the special needs student but has a huge caseload
• I never really got very good instruction on how to manage a classroom, let alone a classroom with many children with behavioral and/or emotional needs
• The parents want too much from the teacher
• Teacher's really don't have the time to learn how to work with special needs students.  We barely have time to create/manage curriculum, grade papers, help with fundraisers, and have a life outside of our profession
• The principal, school, district, state, and/or federal government limit my methodologies and curriculum choice
• I've never heard of Direct Instruction or Project Follow Through
• What is Applied Behavior Analysis?

An idea of how to meld the two - use science!

NEEDED: Copyright Attorney interested in probono work, applied behavior analysis, verbal behavior, or effective instruction for children with autism or developmental disabilities

Ok, so as a parent or educator you can't afford an assessment/skill tracking tool for your child or student?