Transcript Poetry In Motion - Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD

LINKS – A Peer to Peer Approach
Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District
Recipient of the 2012 MAASE
Mini-Grant President’s Award
24 Evidence-based practices for students
with ASD
Functional Communication Training
Parent-Implemented
Intervention
Social Narratives
Antecedent-Based
Interventions
Self-Management
Extinction
Social Skills Groups
PECS
Differential
Reinforcement
Structured Work Systems
Functional
Behavior
Assessment
Computer-Aided
Instruction
Discrete Trial Training
Pivotal Response
Training
Visual Supports
Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention
Prompting
Speech Generating Devices
Response
Interruption/Redirection
Task Analysis
Time Delay
Reinforcement
Naturalistic Intervention
Video Modeling
EUP was the 20112012 Host Site for
the K-12 Intensive
Training Series
So - What
is Peer to
Peer
Mediation?
Turner Howson Elementary School
Rudyard Area Schools
• K-5 Building
serving
approximately
450 students
• 8 students
with an ASD
attend the
school
• 3 receive
services at
the Rudyard
Area Center
Parent
Permission
Regular
Staff
Training
Activities
Turner
Howson
LINKS
ASD 101 +
LINKS
Overview in
Classrooms
Parent
Night
Medium of
Exchange
Staff Training
LINKS Lesson in Classrooms
LINKS PROGRAM
TURNER HOWSON ELEMENTARY
Kaidon’s Strengths
Kaidon’s Challenges
Many of Kaidon’s challenges occur because he has…
Some Quick Information…
•Autism Spectrum Disorder is sometimes called ASD
•Most students with ASD are born with it
•Autism is NOT contagious
•There are more boys than girls with autism
•Some students with autism talk, and some do not
•Most students with autism have strong interest areas
•Most students with autism have a difficult time understanding social situations
•Students with autism often need to learn in different ways
•Kids with an ASD are often very knowledgeable in certain areas
Autism, really, is just a different way of thinking…a different way that a brain works!
Teachers and staff are working really hard at Turner Howson to assist Kaidon.
But…many, many, many smart people have done a lot of research and studies and
found that the people who can best help kids with autism learn and grow are…
PEERS!
(other kids their age!)
That’s right!
You could be one of Kaidon’s strongest LINK
S to success!
So, you are wondering, just what is a LINK?
•A LINK will be a student who is about Kaidon’s age who will support him.
•Most importantly – a LINK is a good friend!
•A LINK will play and talk about things that Kaidon is interested in, and help him
discover other fun things, too!
•A LINK might work next to Kaidon on a classroom assignment.
•Kaidon will need a LINK at recess and lunch and perhaps even some other areas
like the classroom or speech
•The LINKS will meet frequently to talk about what is going well with Kaidon, where
he’s struggling, and discuss how YOU can help. The LINK meetings are usually pretty
fun and treats or special lunches are often involved 
•You can volunteer if you are interested. We have applications and permission slips
for you to fill out if you are.
•We’ll let you know when the first LINK meeting will be very soon!
Medium of Exchange
Linking General Education Students with
Students with an ASD
General
Education
Curriculum
General
Education
Students
Students with
an ASD
Regular LINK Meetings
Teaching
Case Conferences
Case Conferences
Positives!
Concerns?
Ideas…
Teaching Opportunities as Part of
the LINK Process
• Flexible Thinking
• Strong LINK vs. Weaker LINK
• Theory of Mind (20 Questions, Charades,
etc.)
• K’Nex – Cooperation
Quarterly LINK Activities
 Fun activities beyond the school building.
 Keeps LINKS motivated and actively engaged.
 Opportunities for social modeling
 New experiences of visiting places with peers instead of
adults.
LINK Celebration
 Half day barbeque and kickball game.
 Collect reflection questionnaires from
LINKS on their experiences
 Good time to recruit next year’s LINKS
• Decreased need for paraprofessional support
• Increased exposure to general education
• Decreased office referrals
• Increased interests and participation in general education
curriculum
• Friends –
• Last Year…
• This year…
Changing the School Climate
 Parent Perspective from Community Night
 Teacher perspective
 General Education Special Education Collaboration –
LINKS became our medium of exchange!
 LINKS become advocates.
Peer to Peer Resources
The MUST HAVES!
OCALI
Autism
Internet
Modules
Peer to Peer
Mediation
Statewide
Autism
Resources and
Training
(START)
National
Professional
Development
Council (NPDC) on
ASD
Peer to Peer
tab
Peer to Peer
Mediation Checklist
for implementation
Evidence Based
Practice Briefs
Rachel Byma
Special Education Supervisor
EUPISD
Carrie Carr
Autism Specialist
EUPISD
Jessica Clark
MoCI Classroom Teacher
EUPISD
Angela Craven
School Social Worker