Project Description:
Project TAPP: Tackling Autism via Paraprofessional Preparation. Autism Grant Program: 2020-2021 Board Certified Behavior Analyst Training for Teachers/Paraprofessionals funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Funded $471,662 for 2 years (2020-2022).With a No Cost Extension through 5/31/2023
Investigators: Thompson, J. L. (PI), Whiteside, E. (Co-PI)
1. Project Description: In this project, we will support students with autism spectrum disorder through a tiered training and coaching model on the foundations and applications of behavior analysis for paraprofessionals who serve students with ASD. Further, we will incorporate, maintain, and update as needed the videos developed in our center's ongoing project: Preparing Researchers, Educators, and Parents (PREP): Tools for Autism and Behavior. We will refer to the project as Project TAPP. Our target population are paraprofessionals who serve students with ASD in public and charter schools. Our goal is to provide direct services to 850 students with ASD by training 170 paraprofessionals through ABA-based workshops, tiered model of training and support, and ongoing access to continuing education training videos. We will achieve this by engaging in high-impact recruitment strategies, developing thorough and updated workshops to support paraprofessionals in the acquisition of applied behavior analysis intervention skills, taking part in regular evaluation and continuous improvement, using behavior skills training and a tiered approach to continue to support and coach workshop participants once workshops have concluded, and ensuring up-to-date ongoing access to continuing education videos by maintaining and revising videos as-needed.
2. Funding Information: We received $471,662 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Autism Grant Program
3. Number of participants: We have trained 284 paraprofessionals across Texas who serve 1530 student with ASD.
4. Evaluation Data: Demographic data on para-professionals, Count of number of students served by each paraprofessional, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale, ALCOT (Autism and Low Incidence Classroom Observation Assessment)
5. Partners: Dr. Erinn Whiteside is co-PI, Education Service Centers Region 20 (San Antonio and surrounding region), Ms. Janet Enriquez, Autism Specialist for Region 20, approximately 4500 students with autism in 18 counties, 53 school districts, and 31 charter schools, Region 6 (Huntsville and surrounding region), Ms. Laura Brinkley, Autism Specialist for Region 6 serves 15 counties, 57 school districts, and 8 charter schools.
6. Products developed (flyers, website, newsletter, curriculum, poster or research papers, presentations, etc.)
a. https://blinc.tamu.edu/projects/tapp/
b. We have created six training modules for educators to access virtually at their own pace
c. we presented at TxABA conference (see reference below)
Whiteside, E. & Thompson, J. L. (2021, February). Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Workshops in ABA for Paraprofessionals. Texas Association for Behavior Analysts 36th Annual Conference on Behavior Analysis, Virtual Conference.
d. We presented at CEC's DADD conference (see reference below)
Whiteside, E., Thompson, J. L., Devlin, M., Loflin, L. J. (2022, January 28) Supporting ASD from every angle: Workshops in ABA for paraprofessionals. [Conference presentation]. CEC-DADD Division for Autism and Developmental Disabilities 2022 Conference, Clearwater, FL, United States
Workshop and training module topics covered:
i. Introduction to Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis
ii. Responding to Problem Behavior
iii. Teaching Independence
iv. Prompting
v. Communication
vi. Small Group Instruction
FY 2022 Trainings:
Trainings Provided:
12/2/2020 - Project TAPP Informational Session (1 Hour).
07/13/2021 through 07/15/2021 Barbers Hill ISD
07/27/2021 through 07/29/2021 Athens ISD
08/03/2021 through 08/05/2021 Magnolia ISD
08/10/2021 through 08/12/2021 Arlington ISD
08/13/2021 North East ISD-2 Hour Refresher
09/16/2021 Beaumont Area Districts Group 1 Day 1
09/23/2021 Beaumont Area Districts Group 1 Day 2
09/30/2021 Beaumont Area Districts Group 1 Day 3
10/07/2021 Beaumont Area Districts Group 2 Day 1
10/14/2021 Beaumont Area Districts Group 2 Day 2
10/21/2021 Beaumont Area Districts Group 2 Day 3
FY 2023 Trainings:
Workshops Provided:
August 23, 2022 - Project TAPP Informational Session (1 Hour).
September 29-30, 2022, ESC 1-Edinburg, TX
October 28, 2022, ESC 1-Edinburg, TX
November 2-3, 2022, Region 11
November 4, 2022, Katy ISD
November 17, 2022, Corpus Christi ISD
January 3, 2023, Katy ISD
January 4, 2023, Hurst Euless Bedford ISD
February 17, and March 20, 2023, Region 6
