A multi-university center to promote use of evidence-based practice for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Cooperative Agreement H 35G 070004U.S. Department of EducationOffice of Special Education Programs

Greetings From Wisconsin

Here’s where we spend our days…

Waisman Center,University of Wisconsin-Madison

National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders• FPG Child Development Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sam Odom and Ann Cox

• Waisman Center University of Wisconsin at Madison

Linda Tuchman-Ginsberg

• M.I.N.D. Institute University of California at Davis Medical School

Sally Rogers

The NPDC and Vermont:Model sites throughout the state

• Windham -Vernon Elementary School (K)

• Franklin-Missisquoi Valley Union High School.

• Rutland-Northeast Primary School

• Burlington-Champlain Elementary School

• Windham-Vernon Elementary School

• Franklin-Swanton Central School

• Rutland-Northwest Elementary School

• Burlington-JJ Flynn Elementary School

The NPDC and Vermont:A timeline

Fall 2010: Notification of selection of VT as partner

December 2010: Interagency Autism Planning Group meeting

July 2011: 5-day Summer Institute

Fall 2011: Initial APERS and Fall visits. Begin process of selecting and

implementing EBP

Need for Professional Development Related to ASD Pushed by

• Increasing numbers of children with ASD

• Emerging base of evidence about effective practices

• Responsibility to provide a free and appropriate public education

Why use evidence-based practices?

• The use of EBP with learners with ASD is sound practice

• Because teachers are accountable

Evidence-Based Practices and Current Federal Initiatives

The NCLB act defines Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) as “the use of practices, interventions, and treatments

which have been proven, through data based research, to be effective in improving outcomes for individuals when the practice is implemented with

fidelity.” No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Law 107-110

In 2001 the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) emphasized the need for

scientifically-based research and the use of evidence-based practices in the field

of education.

Evidence-Based Practices and Current Federal Initiatives

IDEA aligns with NCLB in its use of terminology related to evidence-based practice, i.e., ”scientifically based research” (§ 300.35) and emphasizes its importance in sections on educational placements (§ 300.116) as well as personnel development (§ 300.207), and related funding.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Public Law 108-446

Combating Autism Act

Signed into law by President Bush as PL 109-416 on Dec. 19, 2006

Goals Include:

• Improve Autism-Related Research

• Increase awareness about autism and related disorders

• Reduce barriers to screening and early diagnosis of autism

• Promote evidence-based early intervention

While the number of children identified with ASD increases,

so does what we know about effective educational practices.

However, many of these evidence-based practices have not yet reached school classrooms…

Goals of NPDC

•Promote evidence-based practices (EBP)

•Increase highly qualified personnel

•Increase the professional development capacity of states

• Year 1, Cohort 1: Master content and process in collaboration with NPDC staff (IN, NM, WI)

• Years 2-4: States complete competitive application Year 2, Cohort 2: KY, MN, MI Year 3, Cohort 3: CA,TX, VA Year 4, Cohort 4: VT, RI, ID

• Total number of states served: 12

State Involvement

Goals of the Center

Project goals:

Content Development

Technical Assistance Evaluation

Professional Development

• Provide training through

online introductory course on ASD

intensive summer institutes

ongoing technical assistance (TA)

• Establish training sites that demonstrate EBP

Project Goal:Professional Development

• Systems change perspective

• Outreach based on state strategic plan

• Promote ongoing consultation and coaching

• Use peer coaching

• Establish a network

Project Goal:Technical Assistance

• Assist states to implement EBP

• Collect follow-up data:

use of evidence-based practices

practitioner skills

child and family outcomes

Project Goal:Evaluation

• Online introductory course on ASD

• Identify/define criteria for evidence

• Identify evidence-based practices

• Briefs/modules on evidence-

based practices

Project Goal:Content Development