LINKS- A Peer to Peer Approach Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District

1. LINKS- A Peer to Peer Approach Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District Recipient of the 2012 MAASE Mini-Grant President’s Award

2. 24 Evidence-based practices for students with ASD Functional Communication Training Social Skills Groups Parent-Implemented Intervention Social Narratives Antecedent-Based Interventions Functional Behavior Assessment Computer-Aided Instruction PECS Self-Management Differential Reinforcement Extinction Discrete Trial Training Pivotal Response Training Visual Supports Structured Work Systems Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention Reinforcement Prompting Speech Generating Devices Naturalistic Intervention Task Analysis Time Delay Response Interruption/Redirection Video Modeling

4. Rudyard Area Center and Turner-Howson Elementary • 3-26 age Building servicing 50 students • 15 Target students • K-5 Building serving approximately 450 students • 9 Target students

6. Staff Training

7. General education introduction lesson

8. kaidon

9. Kaidon’s Strengths Kaidon’s Challenges

10. 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!

12. 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!)

13. That’s right! You could be one of Kaidon’s strongest LINK Sto 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!

14. Medium of ExchangeLinking General Education Students with Students with an ASD

15. Regular LINK Meetings

16. Case Conferences

17. Teaching Opportunities as Part of the LINK Process • Flexible Thinking • Strong LINK vs. Weaker LINK • Theory of Mind (20 Questions, Charades, etc.) • PB&J: effective communication • Mrs. Craven Says

18. Links parent night

19. motivating LINKs Activities • Fun activities beyond the school building • Linkapalooza • m&M Award • Bowling and other field trips • Estimation jar activity • Snacks, snacks and more snacks!

20. LINK Celebration • Half day barbeque and kickball game. • Collect reflection questionnaires from LINKS on their experiences • Good time to recruit next year’s LINKS

21. Link outcomes • Decreased need for paraprofessional support • Increased exposure to general education • Decreased office referrals • Increased interests and • participation in general • education curriculum • Friends! –

22. 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

24. If you remember nothing else remember...

25. Rachel Byma Special Education Supervisor EUPISD Carrie Carr Autism Specialist EUPISD Jessica Clark MoCI Classroom Teacher EUPISD Angela Craven School Social Worker EUPISD

26. Links brochure

27. links poster

28. LIINK application

29. Parent permission

30. Class schedule

32. Link award

33. End of year summary