School District Helps Autistic Students
By Mary Balcer
In 2012 the School District of Superior applied for the IDEA Autism Evidence Based Practice Grant through WI Department of Public Instruction. The purpose of the grant is to assist educators working in school-level teams to learn how to implement evidence-based practices to improve academic, social and emotional skills for students with autism spectrum disorders and assist in the development of internal school-wide structures to promote continued learning and fidelity of implementation of evidence based practices.
The teams consist of administrators, general education teachers, special education teachers, parents, speech language pathologists and other instructional and non-instructional support staff. The District was awarded the grant which is renewed yearly for a period of 3 years. Currently, and is working in the final year of that grant.
Autism Affects 1 in 68 Children, and 1 in 42 boys. Source
The grant required an Autism Evidence Based Practice Facilitator. Susan Stokes, M.A., CCC/SLP is our District’s facilitator. She is a nationally renowned autism consultant, national trainer and speaker, and is currently on the Autism Society of Wisconsin State Board of Directors.
Susan provided training to District teams in several evidence based practices which included video modeling, visual supports, functional communication, social skills groups, and peer mediated instruction and intervention. She also worked with Supereior School District psychologists and speech language pathologists on the autism evaluation process and procedures. She is viewed as an invaluable part of the District team.
Since 2012, the school district has offered training for teams K-12. All District teachers of autism have completed the trainings and worked with Susan. The District also has established an Autism Evidence Based Practice Intervention and Evaluation Coach, Mary Balcer, M.A., CCC/SLP. Mary and Susan continue to work together with teachers to build the internal systems needed, Pre-K through 12th Grade, for students with autism.
The ultimate goal, no matter where Superior students are on the autism spectrum, is that they will be as independent as possible in their self-management skills, social and emotional skills, academics and independent living skills. The use of Autism Evidence Based Practices with staff training and support provided by Mary is being carried out District wide.
In 2014 the District applied to be part of the Center on Secondary Education for Student with Autism (CSESA) research and development project funded by the Department of Education that focuses on developing, adapting, and studying a comprehensive school-and-community-based education program for high school students on the autism spectrum. The Superior School District was accepted into the project which contains 5 components that are implemented across two years.
District and School Personnel will work with CSESA project staff to implement the program components. The District’s coaching support comes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center. The coach connects with members of the team on a weekly basis and makes visits to Superior High School as they begin to implement the components working with 8 students with autism across the spectrum who will be enrolled in the project for at least two years. Mary Balcer is also part of this team, providing resources and support while working with the CSESA coach.
Parental Resources for Special Education in the Superior School District
