ABA for Children with Autism
- A good overview of ABA –ABA Overview: “Applied” means practice, rather than research or philosophy. “Behavior analysis” may be read as “learning theory,” that is, understanding what leads to (or doesn’t lead to) new skills. (This is a simplification: ABA is just as much about maintaining and using skills as about learning.
- A very good and thorough site containing numerous links on ABA : I am the father of a school-age child who has autism. This is a collection of Internet and other resources which parents of children with PDD, PDD-NOS, autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, or hyperlexia may find useful.
- Books and materials on ABA – ABA Books : from the Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis- Click on Resources
- Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis : The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is a psychology journal that publishes research about applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance. Archive Only – no longer published.
- Introduction and Overview to The Applied Behavior Analysis Approach to Autism Treatment: In this Section, you will find scientifically validated information about the causes of autism, and the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach to treating it. The content of this Section is carefully refereed by an Advisory Board comprising the leaders in ABA and Autism.
- Applied Behavior Analysis-Teaching children with Autism: Behaviorism is the examination of human and animal behavior using the principles of science: observation, reproduction, testing, objectivity, etc. Applied behavior analysis, then, is the application of this science of behavior to meet a certain end: to increase or decrease a particular behavior, to improve the quality of a behavior, to stop an old behavior, or teach a new.
Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in Special Education
About Public Agencies
- State Specific Information– The offices listed on each state sheet are primarily state-level offices. Even if an office is not close to your home, they can usually put you in touch with resources in your community, as well as provide you with information and assistance about disability issues in your state.
- Americans with Disabilities Act–: ADA Network – Barriers to employment, transportation, public accommodations, public services, and telecommunications have imposed staggering economic and social costs on American society and have undermined efforts by people with disabilities to receive an education, become employed, and be contributing members of society. By breaking down these barriers, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) enables society to benefit from the skills, talents and purchasing power of individuals with disabilities and leads to fuller, more productive lives for all Americans.
Academic Goals and Objectives for IEPs
- IEP Goals and Objectives/Benchmarks : IEP meetings give you and the school a chance to work together to design an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child with learning disabilities who is eligible for special education. The goals and objectives or benchmarks are the core of the IEP. As a parent, you play an important role in deciding what will be written.
- NASET’s IEP Development Database: NASET provides the raw material to develop an entire Master Curriculum or an individual IEP [Individual Education Program] to all it’s members, free of charge. The development tool consists of the following components: 16 Subject Areas, 105 Goal Areas under the Subject Areas, 4,830 Objectives under the Goal Areas and 2,719 Suggested Activities for achieving the objectives.
- IEP4U.COM has over 4000 free Goals and Objectives (IEP-ITP) each with changeable benchmarks. : IEP4U.COM has over 4000 free Goals and Objectives (IEP-ITP) each with changeable benchmarks. The Idea Statements are spread out over seven subjects (Domains) and four functional levels. Teachers, parents and students can now access objectives directly from this Web Site.
- IEP goals: Questions and answers about goals and objectives
- Measurable IEP goals: explanation and samples included
- IEP Information:Info, elements of goals and objectives/benchmarks, methodology, suggestions, articles, links, etc.
- IEP App – IEP Goals and Objectives App for iPad and iPhone
Accessing Parent Groups
- Accessing parent group & community information: Families with a child who has a disability have special concerns and often need a great deal of information: information about the disability of their child, about school services, therapy, local policies, funding sources, transportation, medical facilities, and much more.
Accessing Programs for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers with Disabilities (ages 0-5)
- Special Education Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities:Services for preschool children (ages 3 through 5) are provided free of charge through the public school system.
Accommodations
- Accommodations manual.
This manual will guide you through selecting, administrating, and evaluating the use of accommodations for instruction and assessment of students with disabilities.
Adaptations & Accommodations (Classroom and Testing) for Students with Disabilities
- Assessment and Accommodations. Assessment and Accommodations examines what the research has to say about providing students with disabilities with accommodations that support learning as well as their ability to show what they know and can do. NICHCY has included multiple examples of accommodations, guidelines to help IEP teams decide what accommodations a student needs, connections to Federal guidance and requirements on this important topic, and links that will help you identify what accommodation policies your state has adopted to guide participation of children with disabilities in large-scale assessments.
- This site explains the legal issues for accommodations for high school students with disabilities, and gives examples of accommodations and assessments. : Fewer students with disabilities in middle schools and high schools use accommodations than students with disabilities in elementary schools.
- Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students: For many students with disabilities—and for many without—the key to success in the classroom lies in having appropriate adaptations, accommodations, and modifications made to the instruction and other classroom activities.
- Webpage presents homework strategies for teaching students with disabilities : Homework is one aspect of the general education curriculum that has been widely recognized as important to academic success. Teachers have long used homework to provide additional learning time, strengthen study and organizational skills, and in some respects, keep parents informed of their children’s progress.
- Some testing accommodations not valid for many students with LD: Under IDEA ’97, students with disabilities must be included in high-stakes assessments, but they are allowed certain accommodations to help them achieve valid scores on those tests. How does a teacher determine which accommodations are most beneficial?
- Site contains disability specific strategies for accommodating students in classrooms both physically and via curriculum.
- Accommodating students with psychiatric disabilities: Here are 13 very good pages for teachers.Where you will read the definition a mental illness, psychiatric disabilities, accommodations and further resources. Included are two guides for out-of-school-time program practitioners.
- This site provides educators with activity guides, national standards, definitions, assessment tools, adaptations, journal articles, research, newsletters, adapted texts, and IEP development.: The following information should be helpful to those who are responsible for educating students with various disabilities.
- What is adaptive physical education: Change the word “adapted” to “modified” and you have the idea of Adapted Physical Education. It is GOOD teaching which adapts (modifies) the curriculum, task, and/or environment so that ALL students can fully participate in physical education. Read more…
- Health and PE Unit Plans: This is an alphabetical list of lesson plans and activities for disabled students
For a more extensive and disability specific list of recommendations on this topic Click Here to go to Exceptional Students and Disability Information on this website.
Adaptive Physical Education
- Two new (as-always-terrific) resources from Wrightslaw on Physical Education and Adapted PE: If your child cannot be included in regular physical education, an effort must be made to involve him using supplementary aids and services or through adapted physical education. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/pe.index.htm
Adults with Disabilities
- Lists disabilities lawyers, glossary of terms, and links to disability laws.
- Association for children and adults with learning disabilities: This association provides information and their goals for helping children and adults with disabilities get the services they need and inform others of what should be done for this population.
Advocacy for Children with Disabilities
- Wrightslaw: On this site find articles, cases, newsletters, and resources about dozens of topics in the Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries. Wrightslaw is ranked #1 in education law, special education law and special education advocacy.
- A tremendous resource for disabled children and their parents, offering help with goods and services.
- Special education advocacy: This is a site full of articles, newsletters, and Q and A’s to help parents get acquainted with advocacy issues, tactics, and strategies concerning their special needs child.
- Advocacy for children with special needs: This is an informative site that touches upon many topics that are helpful for parents and children with disabilities, including their rights and advice on various approaches.
- Special education advocacy strategies: This is an educational site where parents, advocates, attorneys, and school personnel can come for accurate and up-to-date information and strategies to secure the rights of children with disabilities.
- Federation for children with special needs: This is a helpful site to make parents aware of their rights and the law surrounding special education.
After School Activities
Here’s a list of resources that will give you food for thought, concrete strategies, and a world of connections to make afterschool a welcoming, active, and fruitful way to spend out-of-school time.
- Afterschoolalliance.gov
- Afterschool programs can provide important benefits to all students, including those who have learning, developmental and physical disabilities. Students in afterschool programs have better grades and behavior, increased self-esteem and more positive attitudes about school.
- 2009 fact sheet on out-of-school time.http://www.niost.org/pdf/factsheet2009.pdf
- The National Center for Quality Afterschool. SEDL’s National Center helps state education agencies and local practitioners develop high-quality, balanced programs that provide a safe and fun environment for academic enrichment as well as youth development activities. While you’re there, sign up for the Center’s monthly newsletter, AfterWords. http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/resources/index.html
- Discovering Community: Activities for afterschool programs. The National Institute on Out of School Time, in association with the After-School Corporation, designed this curriculum to foster positive attitudes and stronger affiliations between students, teachers, and the surrounding school communities. http://www.niost.org/pdf/Discovering%20Community%20Activity%20Guide%20PDF.pdf
- Working together for children and families: A Community’s Guide to Making the MOST of Out-of-School Time. This substantial, informative guide describes the theoretical basis, experiences, and learnings of the first and second phases of the MOST Initiative. It also explains how to build an out-of-school time system using the MOST approach. http://www.niost.org/pdf/MOSTguide.pdf
- Focus on Families! How to build and support family-centered practices in after school. From the Harvard Research Project. www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/resources/families/
- Resource guide for planning and operating afterschool programs. Now in its third edition, this resource guide describes readily available and inexpensive resources that support afterschool programs. Topics include management, communication, programming, community building and collaboration, and developing connections between K-12 educational and afterschool programs. http://www.sedl.org/pubs/fam95/afterschool.pdf
- Try the AIM guidelines. The AIM Guidelines describe the need for and characteristics of successful afterschool inclusive math programs. http://www.edequity.org/files/eec-power-user/AIM%20Guidelines%20for%20Website.pdf
- After-School Math PLUS and After-School Science Plus. These two inquiry-based programs are designed for use in after-school centers serving students aged 6-14. They’ve have been field tested with students with disabilities and include modifications to ensure they are fully accessible to students with a broad range of physical, cognitive, and social/emotional disabilities. http://www.edequity.org/?q=programs/disability-awareness-and-inclusion
- Boosting inclusion with AT and supplemental services. From the National Center for Technology Innovation and Center for Implementing Technology in Education. http://www.ldonline.org/article/9924
- Find a tutor.tutorfind.com is a free online search service that can help you locate a tutor. You can also call 1-800-64-TUTOR to talk to an experienced education counselor. All TutorFind tutors are certified by The American Tutoring Association. http://www.tutorfind.com
- 80 ways to say “Very Good!” Not just for afterschool programs, either! This is useful everywhere. https://www.eslbuzz.com/80-ways-to-say-very-good-in-english/
American Sign Language (ASL)
- A basic dictionary of ALS terms:Scroll down to see the dictionary letters. Click on any letter and get the hand sign for the word.
- ASL University-Fingerspelling: practice quizzes, spelling quizes, animated spelling quizzes, practice sheets, fingerspelling alphabet and much more. A great site and a must see if you need assistance in this area.
- Gallaudet fingerspelling font page:The full alphabet and number keys contain graphic representations of the corresponding American Sign Language alphabet for the deaf. The font may be used for learning sign language, correspondence using sign language, or whatever purpose you dream up.
Annual Review Preparation- Click Here
Asperger’s Syndrome
- The plain diagnostic criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome: The following criterion are from the 2000 Revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition-Text (DSM IV-TR). See the DSM IV-TR manual for details and examples. Note: Asperger’s Disorder is one of five specific Pervasive Developmental Disorders listed in the DSM IV-TR under the general heading of Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
- Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support : As parents of children who are diagnosed with AS, we understand how essential is it that families of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS, professionals working with individuals diagnosed with AS, and individuals with AS who are seeking support, have access to information.
- All about autism, Asperger Syndrome, and related developmental disorders. : a wealth of information, links, organizations and resources on this topic.
- Asperger’s Syndrome publications including guidelines for diagnosis, assessment and treatment: from the Yale Child Study Center
- What are the warning signs for Asperger Syndrome? Visit First Signs. : dedicated to the detection of early warning signs of developmental disorders and delays.
- What the Autism Society of America has to say about Aspergers: Asperger’s Disorder is one of five Pervasive Development Disorders (PDDs), which also includes Autism, Rett’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). PDDs are a category of neurologically-based disorders that have a range of delays in different developmental stages.
Assessment Measures Used in Special Education (Informal)
- Consumer’s guide to reading comprehension assessments for adolescents.This guide from the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Council on Advancing Adolescent Literacy draws together evidence on nine of the most commonly used, commercially available reading comprehension assessments for use with adolescents, and provides a critical view into the strengths and weaknesses of each.
- Using student achievement data to support instructional decision making. This guide from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) provides a framework to help educators use student achievement data to guide classroom decisions such as adapting lessons, classroom goals, or instructional grouping in response to student needs as well as creating conditions to support effective use of assessment data.
- New IRIS Module: Functional behavior assessments. The newest training module from the IRIS Center explores the basic principles of behavior and the importance of discovering the reasons that students engage in problem behavior. The steps to conducting a functional behavioral assessment and developing a behavior plan are described. http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/fba/chalcycle.htm
Assessment Measures Used in Special Education (Standardized)
- Reading Tests
- Math Tests
- Spelling and Written Language Tests
- Comprehensive Achievement Tests
- Early Childhood Assessment Measures
- Perceptual Assessment Tests
- Psychological Assessment Tests
- Speech and Language Evaluation Tests
- Occupational and Physical Therapy Evaluation Measures
Assistive Technology
- Types of assistive technology: Assistive technology products are designed to provide additional accessibility to individuals who have physical or cognitive difficulties, impairments, and disabilities. When selecting assistive technology products, it is crucial to find products that are compatible with the computer operating system and programs on the particular computer being used.
- Assistive Technology Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities: provides an overview of current technologies to help parents decide on available tools for their child.
- Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities: This site provides a large list of other sites for this topic.
- Assistive Technology for Children with Autism: For years, different modes of technology have been used to improve the quality of life of people who have various developmental disabilities . However, the varied use of technology for children with autism continues to receive limited attention, despite the fact that technology tends to be a high interest area for many of these children.
- Simplified Technology for Children with Disabilities: This book is written for teachers, parents, therapists and others involved with children who have expressive language disabilities, including both expressive and receptive delays.
- DREAMMS for Kids, Inc. specializes in Assistive Technology (AT) related research, development, and information dissemination.: Assistive technology solutions.
- Connecting technology with the way young children learn: resources and information for educators and care providers
Assistive Technology Equipment
- Hundreds of assistive technology products: from Enable Mart, this site contains hundreds of different assistive technology devices and equipment for school, home and everyday use.
- The ABLEDATA database contains information on more than 30,000 assistive technology products: ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources. Although ABLEDATA does not sell any products, we can help you locate the companies that do.
- Assistive Technology, Inc. is a developer of hardware and software solutions for people with physical, cognitive, and speech disabilities.
- Leading-edge assistive technology: Assistive Technology, Inc. is a premier developer of hardware and software solutions for people with physical, cognitive, and speech disabilities. Explore our website to learn more about our augmentative communication devices, speech-generating devices, assessment software, and services.
- Products for persons with special needs (i.e. Special Education), including special software and hardware adaptations for persons with very special needs.
Assistive Technology Reports
- National Autism Center publishes National Standards Report.The National Autism Center has published the final report of its National Standards Project, a rigorous multi-year project to analyze treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and answer one of the most pressing public health questions of our time: How do we effectively treat individuals with ASD? The report is meant to serve as a single, authoritative source of guidance for parents, caregivers, educators, and service providers as they make informed treatment decisions. http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/national-standards-project/
Associations, Organizations and Clearinghouses in Special Education – Click Here
Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder – Click Here
Autism – Click Here for informational categories
Autism Spectrum Disorder – Click Here