January Updates from the Montana Autism Education Project

Montana Office of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 12/20/2024 08:55 AM MST

All trainings provided by the Montana Autism Education Project are free to Montana Public School Educators and Service Providers

EdCOR Colorado: Brief FBA to BIP/BSP: Virtual

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, and 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 “takeaway toolkit” full of evidence-based strategies that can be immediately applied in their classroom.

3 OPI renewal units are available for this training.

January 10, 2025 9:00-12:00

Register for this 3-hour virtual training here.

EdCOR Colorado: 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 support learners in special programs. The class is interactive and will model skills and activities for engaging learners within the training day. Come ready to be an active learner, workshop style!

February 20, 2025, 8:30-4:30: 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 1 day training here.

EdCOR Colorado: Advanced FBA-BSP: Live- Whitefish

Behavior support plans should be living and dynamic documents. Would you like to breathe new life into your plans? This course will start with understanding the foundational components of an FBA including how to collect and interpret data and how to understand what your data is suggesting that you include in a behavior plan.

Participants will learn the latest practices in building effective and efficient intervention plans that can be implemented in a school setting. Participants will learn techniques for choosing function-based intervention strategies, data collection, progress monitoring, and how to be more neuro-affirming and trauma-informed in the delivery of behavior support. We will offer takeaway tools and strategies to increase staff buy-in related to BSP implementation.

February 21, 2025, 8:30-4:30: 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 1 day training here.

Dr. Jordan Scotti, Stress Management and Classroom Climate for Educators: Virtual

During this 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

MonTECH, AT, and the IEP: Virtual

This is an introduction to assistive technology (AT) in the schools. We’ll connect you with valuable resources to support using AT at school. We’ll answer frequently asked questions like: Who pays for this? When do I check the box? How do I know what to try?

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to define AT and recognize when a device is being used as AT, answer frequently asked questions about AT use in school, and demonstrate knowledge of resources for obtaining and using AT.

Michelle Allen, ATP, is the Assistive Technology Professional for MonTECH. MonTECH is Montana's free assistive technology resource and training center. Michelle has extensive experience working with equipment from low-tech to high-tech and strongly believes students can achieve their full potential with the right tools. She has worked closely with students with a wide range of diagnoses, learning disabilities, and behavioral needs to identify tools and strategies that support success.

Liz Kuehn, PTA, is the Eastern Clinic Coordinator for MonTECH's satellite location in Billings. Before coming to MonTECH, she worked for seven years as a physical therapist assistant for Billings Public Schools, where she discovered a love for adaptive equipment and assistive technology. She has a bachelor’s degree in disability studies and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in assistive technology studies and human services.

Liz' experience is an excellent complement to Michelle's; together they offer a well-rounded perspective and extensive knowledge of tools and strategies to help you and your students.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 15, 2025 2:30-4:00

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Relationship Barriers for ASD

This talk will look at how to specifically apply evidence-based intervention for learners of differing abilities when they are not building relationships with educators and peers.

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 current chair of the Montana State Special Education Advisory Panel

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 17, 2025, 9:00-10:30

February 14, 2025, 1:30-3:00

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Refusal Barriers for ASD

This talk will look at how to specifically apply evidence-based intervention for ASD learners of varied abilities when they refuse or escape tasks.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 17, 2025, 1:30-3:00

February 3, 2025, 3:30-5:00

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Stop Behavior Before it Starts: Part 1

This presentation looks at what motivates behavior, how to identify those motivators, how to identify the reinforcing consequences, the crisis cycle, extinction bursts, and everything that just makes behavior confusing.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 24, 2025, 9:00-10:30

February 7, 2025, 9:00-10:30

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Breaking Down Executive Functioning Skills Part 1: Assessment

Learn how to assess Executive Functioning, identify needs, and teach in a way that supports your students. This training will review goal writing and how to work within the learner’s current demands.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 27, 2025, 9:00-10:30

February 10, 2025, 9:00-10:30

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Breaking Down Executive Functioning Skills Part 2: Intervention

Executive functioning challenges often come out as interfering behavior. Learn about what we can expect at each age, how we can treat executive functioning challenges, and what some IEP goals can look like.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 27, 2025, 3:30-5:00

February 10, 2025, 3:30-5:00

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Using Evidence-Based Practices to Teach Safety Skills

Safety is a priority. Learn how to use different EBPs to teach your students safety information and strategies.

1 OPI renewal unit is offered for this training.

January 31, 2025, 9:00-1:00

Register for this 60 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Brain Differences in ASD: What this Means for Behavior

People with ASD experience brain differences. Understanding these differences can help us understand the behavior and learning of people on the spectrum. Understanding the learners’ differences can enhance our ability to teach them.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

January 31, 2025, 1:30-3:00

February 24, 2025, 9:00-10:30

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Girls with ASD

Girls with autism present differently and experience unique challenges. Learn about girls with autism and what their supports can look like.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

February 3, 2025, 9:00-10:30

March 14, 2025, 9:00-10:30

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson, Stop Behavior Before it Starts: Part 2 Getting Ahead of the Behavior

After taking part 1, this presentation looks at how you can use evidence-based practices to get ahead of the behavior (antecedent intervention). This strategy can likely reduce the occurrence of interfering behavior.

2 OPI renewal units are offered for this training.

February 7, 2025, 1:30-3:00

March 10, 2025, 9:00-10:30

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.