Making Connections:

1. Making Connections: Bridging PBIS Programs to Visual and Communication Supports for Students on the Spectrum Monica Addison-Walker and Maureen Meekins

2. Needs of students in the Communication and Learning Support Program • Visuals • Consistency • Sensory stimulation

3. What educators and support staff need to know • Students can only work on one rule at a time • Weak generalization between settings • Attention is not monitored in traditional methods • For every step forward there are 1-2 steps back • Behavior means something

4. Bridging PBIS to CLS Materials • Use the same materials for the entire school • Create additional visual supports for students with communication needs in their familiar method (e.g. pictures, photographs, Writing with Symbols, Boardmaker, etc.)

5. PBIS to CLS • Differentiation- some students will need additional visual and/or verbal prompts • Incentives- think about your students’ interests (crafts, computer,, dance, yoga, gym, recess, games, movies)

6. PBIS to CLS • Social stories (title, introduction- clearly state topic, body- describes situation and has conclusion), taught as situation arises • Address specific behaviors • Changes in routines or situations • songs and scripts- taught during circle time • Standard class supports (visual schedule, timers, self monitoring)

7. Character Education Place adapted materials on the reversed side of the original poster. • Caring • Responsible • Trustworthy • Fairness • Respectful • Citizenship

8. Questions? • Contact • Maureen Meekins • mmeekins@bcps.org • Monica Addison-Walker • maddisonwalker@cps.org Thank You!