March Updates from the Montana Autism Education Project

Montana Office of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 02/21/2025 09:46 AM MST

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

Find a complete list of trainings at Montana Autism Education Project

EdCOR Colorado: Classroom Strategies to Support Learners with 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.

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 teacher’s 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 offered for this training.

March 7, 2025, 9:00-12:00

Register for this 3 hour virtual training here.

Dr. Jennifer Shoffer Closson: Stop Behavior Before It Starts: Part 2 Getting Ahead of the Behavior

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.

March 10, 2025 9:00-10:30

MonTECH: Beyond Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmetic: Tools for Anxiety and Self-regulation

This session will focus on ideas for supporting students with different sensory needs through assistive technology (AT). We will also discuss environmental supports for behavior management, AT to support self-regulation, and how you can implement these tools in your own classroom.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to discuss two ways self-regulation tools can be part of universal design, identify three reasons a sensory space is beneficial, and compare the features of two different anxiety-reducing tools.

2 OPI Renewal Units are offered for this training.

March 13, 2025 2:30-4:00

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.

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

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

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

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

1 OPI renewal unit is offered for this training.

March 14, 2025, 2:00-3:00

Register for this 1 hour 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.

March 17, 2025 9:00-10:30

Register for this 90 minute virtual training here.

Scholarships are available for the spring 2025 MSHA conference.

April 10, 2025 8:30-4:00 in Missoula

Request a scholarship here.

Please complete the 25/26 School Year MAEP training needs survey

25/26 MAEP Training Needs Survey

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