DOE ASD Evaluation Team Training
Project Description:
Goals of Project
The Center for Disabilities will provide the following:
1. In partnership with the Office of Special Education and Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, define what constitutes qualified school teams by:
a. Researching the gold standard for practice in autism spectrum disorder identification in schools as well as minimum standards for ethical practice.
Staff will research minimal requirements as defined by ethical guidelines of established boards and the gold standard being used in other states for school teams engaged in ASD assessments.
2. Design and coordinate training for educational assessment teams that would contribute to their status as a qualified school team in the assessment of students suspected to have an autism spectrum disorder.
a. CD and BHSSC staff will identify and coordinate important targets for instruction that may be presented during two in-person workshops. Each of two trainings will host a maximum of 30 participants and will be limited to those conducting the assessment.
b. Presenters will include a team of nationally and internationally recognized trainers on the evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorders, including Dr. Susan Risi and Dr. Stephen Kanne.
c. Topics to be covered will include:
Obtaining a developmental and clinical history specific to ASD;
Conducting and describing direct behavioral observations;
Utilizing the Autism Diagnostic Observation ScheduleSecond Edition (ADOS-2; Lord et al., 2012) while integrating assessments of cognitive, adaptive, communication, sensory/motor, academic, and emotional/behavioral functioning;
Reaching a consensus regarding the classification of autism using current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria;
Communicating the results of multi-disciplinary assessment to families; and
Writing comprehensive evaluation reports.
3. Develop a sustainability model and plan for continuation of ongoing school team development to include additional training and technical assistance.
4. CD Staff will develop and conduct an evaluation of outcomes and impact of the trainings provided.
Core Function(s):
Continuing Education/Community Training
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
