December Updates from the Montana Autism Education Project

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Montana Autism Education Project text with Montana OPI logo

Virtual: Stress Management and Classroom Climate for Educators

During this 90 minute course participants will learn:

  • The critical components of classroom climate that enhance student learning
  • How stress impacts our brains and bodies and the brains and bodies of our students
  • How self-care habits lay the foundation for our ability to create a learning-friendly classroom climate
  • How to skillfully manage stress, chaos, and challenging student behavior in the moment
  • How to proactively problem-solve recurrent classroom challenges and/or learn from difficult experiences

Jordan Fiorillo Scotti, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and school psychologist living in Whitefish, MT. She received her B.S. and B.A. at Tulane University in New Orleans and then earned her M.A. in School Psychology and Ph.D. in Psychology at The University of Montana. Dr. Scotti worked as a school psychologist in the Ronan, Pablo, St. Ignatius, and Whitefish school districts before moving into private practice as a licensed psychologist providing psychoeducational, diagnostic, and therapeutic assessments, and individual and family therapy. She is also a contributing author for Psychology Today.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training. 

January 13, 2025 11:30-1:00: Virtual

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.


Virtual: FBA to BIP

Are you looking to expand your FBA practices and create more efficient and practical behavior support plans? This training will focus on the most effective and best practices for determining functions of behaviors in the school setting. Participants will receive “start tomorrow” takeaway tools that are doable in the general education environment. Topics will include behaviors with multiple functions, function based interventions, advanced understanding of measurement, and reinforcement schedules.
Kelly Miller and Colleen Wattles are Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Autism Consultants. Their practical and hands-on experience spans two decades, including mental health and school settings. Kelly and Colleen work to expand teachers’ instructional repertoires to encompass not only academic, but social, emotional, and behavioral systems of support. With a focus of maximizing positive behavior momentum in the classroom, educators will reclaim valuable learning time. Kelly and Colleen coach and provide live modeling and support within the classroom. Workshops are rooted in inclusive practices, enabling teachers to develop their own “take away toolkit” full of evidence-based strategies that can be immediately applied in their classroom.
3 OPI Renewal Units are available for this training.
December 4, 2024 1:00-4:00
January 10, 2025 9:00-12:00

Register for this 3 hour virtual training here.


Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Clossen

Virtual: Behavior for ASD- Communication Barriers

This talk will look at how to specifically apply evidence-based intervention for level I, II, and III learners when they are using interfering behavior as a means of communication.  

Jennifer Schoffer Closson Ed D, CCC-SLP is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences Department at the University of Montana.  She developed the Mentoring, Organization, and Social Support for Autism Inclusion on Campus (MOSSAIC) program and co-developed the YETI (Youth Engagement Through Intervention) Social Skills program and intervention framework.  Dr. Schoffer Closson has presented locally and nationally about autism, clinical education, and secondary transition.  Having spent 15 years in public schools and private practice, Dr. Schoffer Closson is passionate about clinical education and producing high quality speech-language pathologists for Montana. She furthered her dedication to this state as the 2014 president of the Montana Speech-Language Hearing Association and the current chair of the Montana State Special Education Advisory Panel.
2 OPI Renewal Units are available for this training.
December 13, 2024 1:30-3:00
February 14, 2025 9:00-10:30

Register here for this virtual 90 minute training.


STAR  Autism Intervention      

This comprehensive two-day workshop provides participants with detailed examples and practice activities on how to implement the evidence-based practices identified in the National Standards Report (2009). The STAR Program, a research-based curriculum, is used to provide examples.  Detailed information will be shared on the evidence-based instructional methods of:
  • discrete trial training;
  • pivotal response training;
  • teaching through functional routines
Participants will learn how to implement these strategies through structured lesson plans and a curriculum scope and sequence.  The workshop will include extensive data collection systems and participants will learn to collect and use data for instructional decision making. Workshop topics will include the use of Power Point lecture, video examples, presenter demonstration, and participant "hands-on" practice.

December 9-10, 2024 8:30-4:00

14 OPI Renewal Units are available for this free training. 

 Register here for this virtual 2 day training.

 

 

Autism and Classroom Management: Live- Whitefish

Morning Session:

The morning session will offer an in-depth exploration of autism and the broader neurodiversity movement, focusing on the experiences, challenges, and strengths of individuals who are neurodivergent. Participants will gain an understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from both clinical and social perspectives, examining the latest research and best practice. Topics Include:

  • The history and evolution of autism diagnosis and the neurodiversity paradigm.
  • Core features of autism spectrum disorder, including social communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors.
  • Best practices in school settings with a focus on strengths-based approaches and inclusive environment
  • Trauma informed behavior practices
  • Strategies for PDA (Persistent Drive for Autonomy)

Afternoon Session:

The afternoon session is designed to equip educators and special service providers with the knowledge, expertise, and practical tools necessary to create and maintain a positive, productive, and supportive classroom environment. Through a combination of current best practices and hands-on strategies, participants will explore the principles of effective classroom management, including behavior management, fostering student engagement, setting clear expectations, and promoting respect and cooperation among students.  

This session will cover the whole class, targeted and individual practices that are easy and doable in the general education classroom as well as more intensive interventions to supports learners in special programs. Class is interactive and will model skills and activities for engaging learners within the training day. Come ready to be and active learner, workshop style!

Kelly Miller and Colleen Wattles are Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Autism Consultants. Their practical and hands-on experience spans two decades, including mental health and school settings. Kelly and Colleen work to expand teachers’ instructional repertoires to encompass not only academic, but social, emotional, and behavioral systems of support. With a focus of maximizing positive behavior momentum in the classroom, educators will reclaim valuable learning time. Kelly and Colleen coach and provide live modeling and support within the classroom. Workshops are rooted in inclusive practices, enabling teachers to develop their own “take away toolkit” full of evidence-based strategies that can be immediately applied in their classroom.

February 20, 2025, 8:00-4:00: The Firebrand Hotel, Whitefish. 

7 OPI renewal units are offered for this training 

This training will be limited to 30 people. 

Register for this live full day training here.


Classroom Strategies to Support Executive Function Barriers

Executive functioning encompasses a large number of cognitive processes including: Organization, Attention, Planning, Sequencing, Problem-solving, Working memory, Regulation, Initiation of action, Self-control, Emotional regulation, Monitoring internal and external stimuli, Moral reasoning, and Decision-making. All of these skills are paramount in accessing education. Come learn "use today" strategies for your classroom that will support learners with executive functioning barriers. 

March 7, 2025 9:00-12:00 

3 OPI Renewal Units are offered for this training. 

Register for this virtual training here.


For more information, contact: 

Katie Mattingley, Statewide Coordinator, OPI Montana Autism Education Project.

Direct replies to this email will not be forwarded or received by Katie.

If you know others who wish to subscribe to this newsletter, they can do so on the subscription page


The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.