JumpStart! Parent Education Series
This six-week course is designed to empower parents/guardians with relevant information to help them maximize the time spent playing and working with their child(ren). The series is ideal for families who are waiting to begin more intensive ABC of NC services and/or when a family is interested in a trial use of the educational theories and methods offered at ABC of NC. The six-week course is comprised of two training modalities: (1) parents will attend one two-hour class per week and (2) at least one parent will receive one-hour of hands-on training in the child’s home with the child present. Parent homework and data collection may be required. Each week, families will have the opportunity to review material learned from previous classes and/or hands-on trainings.
Pricing
Cost for the six-week program that includes a total of 18 contact hours is $1,000/family (maximum of two family members may attend each class and hands-on training session). No mileage charges will apply.
Class Syllabus (click here to view specific JumpStart! dates on the 2008/2009 weekly parent class schedule)
Week 1: Getting Started
Parents will learn:
•What to expect from the six-week class series
•About Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
•About informal and formal assessments
•Tools for writing individualized student goals/the importance of considering typical developmental milestones when determining goals
•About ABC of NC service continuum
Hands-on training will include:
•A parent-child demonstration of play/interaction
•Informal assessments (i.e. modifications of the following assessment tools), such as the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB- MAPP), Early Social Communication Scales (ESCS), and the Symbolic Play Assessment (Kasari)
Week 2: Reducing Challenging Behaviors
Parents will learn:
•Results from their child’s modified VB-MAPP barriers assessment
•About functional behavior assessment and analysis
•Important terminology for understanding behavior (e.g. reinforcement, consequences, etc.)
•The importance of consistency and follow-through
•How to increase appropriate behavior through selection of antecedent-based interventions
•How to decrease inappropriate behavior through selection of consequence-based interventions
•How to deal with self-stimulatory behaviors
•How to deal with sensory issues
Hands-on training will include:
•Demonstration by staff of pro-active targeting of potentially problematic behavior scenario(s)
•Demonstration by parent of pro-active targeting of potentially problematic behavior scenario(s)
Week 3: Playing with Children
Parents will learn:
•Results from the child’s play assessment
•The function of play and the relevance of social motivation
•How to identify your child’s current interests
•How to “meet the child where s/he is” in order to build a relationship and begin to expand play skills
•Methods for increasing toy play, social interactions/social routines, symbolic/imaginative play
•How to increase creativity within play
•Strategies for limiting access to electronic toys, movies, computers, etc.
•How to “compete with” self-stimulatory behaviors, limited interests, or routinized behaviors
Hands-on training will include:
•Staff demonstration of appropriate play levels with child
•Parent demonstration of appropriate play levels with child with on-going staff feedback
Week 4: Increasing Non-Vocal Communication
Parents will learn:
•Results from the child’s modified ESCS
•The importance of focusing on non-vocal communication
•Types of non-vocal communication (e.g. eye contact, pointing, etc.) and developmental milestones for each
•Specific strategies and activities for increasing non-vocal communication
Hands-on training will include:
•Staff demonstration of specific activities to increase non-vocal communication
•Parent demonstration of specific activities to increase non-vocal communication with on-going staff feedback
Week 5: Increasing Vocal/Expressive Communication
Parents will learn:
•Results from the child’s modified VB-MAPP
•Definitions of expressive communication (including vocal, sign, pictures, etc.)
•How to model language at developmentally appropriate levels
•Teaching techniques such as prompting, prompt fading, shaping, differential reinforcement
•How to target non-verbal imitation in order to increase vocal imitation abilities
Hands-on training will include:
•Staff demonstration of modeling vocal communication; targeting non-vocal imitation; prompting, shaping, and use of differential reinforcement
•Parent demonstration of modeling vocal communication; targeting non-vocal imitation; prompting, shaping, and use of differential reinforcement
Week 6: What Next?
Parents will learn:
•How to identify whether their child needs more intensive teaching, discrete trial therapy, discrimination training
•How to determine if their child needs an augmentative communication device or introduction to sign language
•What ABC of NC services are available that are appropriate for the child and family
•What other community-based programs are appropriate for the child and family
•About autism resources and treatment options
Hands-on training will include:
•Meeting with staff for individualized recommendations
•Individualized review of previous intervention strategies
Click here to view specific JumpStart! dates on the 2008/2009 weekly parent class schedule.
ABC of NC
3904 Old Vineyard Road
Winston Salem, NC 27104
336.251.1180 (o)
336.251.1181 (f)
www.abcofnc.org
