Are you interested in an in-person two-day PECS Level 1 or STAR training?

In the 2022-2023 school year, we offered in-person PECS Level 1 and STAR trainings. Both had very, very low attendance and because of that we have not scheduled PECS Level 1 or STAR trainings this year.*

However, we have created polls to determine if there is enough interest to conduct in-person regional PECS Level 1 or STAR trainings this year.  

If you are interested in attending an in-person two-day PECS Level 1 training, please go here. 

If you are interested in attending an in-person two-day STAR training, please go here. 

If there is enough interest and commitment to attendance in a particular geographical area, we will reach out to local poll respondents and special education directors to discuss scheduling an in-person training. 

Thank you. 

*  Evaluations from those who have taken a virtual training from either provider had  lower scores than in-person trainings and most people would have preferred to attend an in-person training. PECS virtual trainings cost more than twice as much per person as an in-person training. STAR charges the same per training whether 30 people attend or 3 people attend. 

A Guide for Transition to Adulthood

Updated in 2021, OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide for Transition to Adulthood (2nd ed.) provides an overview of the transition to adulthood process. Packed with evidence-based tips, resource recommendations, informational handouts, and activities, the guide includes information about how to:

Initiate the transition planning process and engage your child, their family and friends, the school’s professional staff, and representatives from adult service systems as members of your child’s transition team.

Prepare for the changes in available supports and legal protections that accompany the transition to adulthood.

Center the transition plan around the interests and strengths of your child.

Equip your child with the self-determination skills they need to advocate for themselves, problem-solve, set goals, and develop a plan for their own future.

Prepare your child to navigate higher education, employment, independent living, and other relevant aspects of adulthood.

A Guide for Transition to Adulthood is available as an interactive, fillable PDF download and as a physical guidebook with detachable activities. 

You can find more information and download or order (free) the guide here. 

NEW TRAININGS from Dr. Jennifer Schoffer Closson for 2023-24

Brain Differences for ASD:  What It Means for Behavior

October 20th    9:00 -10:30 a.m.

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.

Register here. 

Executive Functioning:  It Presents as Interfering Behavior

October 27th    9:00 -10:30 a.m.

Sometimes kids look like they just DON’T WANT TO….  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.

Register here.

Stop Behavior Before It Starts:  Part 1 - Understanding Behavior

November 3rd    9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

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.

Register here. 

Stop Behavior Before It Starts:  Part 2 - Getting Ahead of the Behavior

November 17th    9:00 -10:30 a.m.

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.

Register here. 

Behavior for ASD:  Refusal Barriers

December 8th    9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

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

 Register here. 

Behavior for ASD:  Sensory Barriers

December 15th    9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

This talk will look at how to specifically apply evidence-based intervention for learners of differing abilities when their sensory needs are creating barriers to learning.

Register here.  

 Two OPI renewal units will be available for each training. Each training will be presented three times this school year. 

Refresh Your PECS: Back To School Edition (virtual training)

Prerequisite: PECS Level 1 Training       

October 19th, 2023     8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This is a condensed Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS)® training refresher for participants who have previously attended a PECS Level 1 Training. 

Attendees will review The Pyramid Approach to Education®, a functional approach to applied behavior analysis. The PECS Protocol will also be reviewed in-depth, including implementation of the 2-Person Prompting Procedure and the 4-Step Error Correction Procedure. The workshop involves demonstrations, lecture, video examples, and practice opportunities for many of the phases of the PECS protocol. 

Learning Objectives:

Identify key components to a functional approach to Applied Behavior Analysis

Review how to implement all six phases of the PECS Protocol

Review error correction procedures within the PECS Protocol 

You can register here. 

OPI renewal units (7) and ASHA CEUs will be provided for attending this virtual training. 

PLEASE NOTE:

Because this is a limited attendance training, the following Cancellation and No Show policies are in effect:

Cancellations: You are welcome to cancel at any time.

No Shows: If you do not cancel and do not attend, 1. you will be unable to receive MAEP scholarships to the 2024 MCEC conference, the MonTECH August Institute and other conferences we may offer scholarships to or any training which requires us to pay a non-refundable fee per person; and 2. You will be automatically wait-listed for any 2023-2024 trainings that have a limited attendance.

Managing Challenging Behavior: October 20, 2023 (virtual training)

October 20th, 2023     8:00 a.m. to  4:00 p.m. 

CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS: HOW TO PREVENT, REDUCE, AND REPLACE

This highly interactive virtual training offers strategies for navigating behavior challenges with learners of all ages, in any environment. Using case studies and examples from your setting we begin the workshop highlighting the key concepts of applied behavior analysis, helping you to understand why challenging behaviors occur. We discuss the importance of designing supportive learning environments based upon the Pyramid Approach to Education® framework. The next step in the workshop is to define behaviors which require intervention and establish the function of these behaviors.  

The second half of the workshop addresses strategies which can be used proactively and reactively to decrease the challenging behaviors which you see in your setting. As we investigate each strategy to replace or reduce a behavior you will have the opportunity to assess if that strategy will be suitable for your learner and identify the next steps to take when you return to your setting. The workshop concludes by demonstrating how you and your team can evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of your behavior plans as you put your new strategies into practice.

You can register here. 

OPI renewal units (7) and ASHA CEUs will be provided for attending this virtual training. 

PLEASE NOTE:

Because this is a limited attendance training, the following Cancellation and No Show policies are in effect:

Cancellations: You are welcome to cancel at any time.

No Shows: If you do not cancel and do not attend, 1. you will be unable to receive MAEP scholarships to the 2024 MCEC conference, the MonTECH August Institute and other conferences we may offer scholarships to or any training which requires us to pay a non-refundable fee per person; and 2. You will be automatically wait-listed for any 2023-2024 trainings that have a limited attendance.

If you are interested in becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

The Montana Association for Behavior Analysis (MTABA) has received a grant from DDP-Montana to encourage and support individuals seeking out the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and looking to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who will assist in the provision of services for individuals across the state, especially in rural or underserved communities.  

You can find the grant application here. 

A Refresher of the OPI Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (virtual training)

This 90 minute virtual training will include a review of the OPI autism criteria and time for questions and answers.

Presented by Doug Doty, Statewide Coordinator for the OPI Montana Autism Education Project and Katie Mattingley, OPI Autism Specialist. 

October 4th   2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

November 7th   3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

You can register here. 

Two OPI renewal units will be available for attending this training. 

Creating and Implementing an Aversive Treatment Plan (virtual training)

Based on evaluations and comments from the 2022-23 trainings on the Rule on the Use of Aversive Treatment Procedures, we have revised this training in the following ways: 

This online training will walk through the process for developing and implementing an aversive treatment plan. Consideration of the requirements of the rule will still be included, but the training will focus on the process.

The training will provide more examples and will include sample forms for data collection, conducting the FBA and for documenting staff training in students behavior intervention and aversive treatment plans. 

The training has been lengthened to two hours. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a follow-up post-training discussion to help them write, implement and revise behavior intervention and aversive treatment plans.

This training will be repeated on the following dates: 

September 27th    2:30 - 4:30 p.m.  (registration closed)

October 25th         2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

November 29th     2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Two OPI renewal units will be available for this training. The training will not be recorded. 

You can register here. 

OCALICON - Virtual Conference - November 14-17, 2023

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer attendance scholarships ($250.) But with 264 sessions, many of them one hour, it may be worth spending the money to attend.

You can find the Session Sorter and link to register here.  

A couple of sessions that caught my interest: 

But They Hardly Use It! Effective Strategies for Increasing AAC Use in School and Beyond

Educators, SLPs, and other professionals often encounter people with complex communication needs whose use of AAC is limited. They may use their AAC device/app infrequently or only to ask for things they want/need. This presentation discusses beliefs, practices, and strategies that can be used to increase the amount, range, and complexity of communication through AAC. 

Double Empathy: How It Changes What We Think About Autism and Encourages Neurodiversity

The Double Empathy theory and its supporting research are transforming what we believe about autism and how autistics and non-autistics communicate. Communication breakdowns between autistics and non-autistics are not a result of communication deficits, but instead a mismatch in communication styles between the autistic and non-autistic.

Effective Sensory Regulation Programs for Academic Achievement: A Research-Based Approach

Self-regulation and executive functioning are essential life skills for all children in all environments. Learners have more access to technology-based opportunities than ever before. However, more technology is not necessarily the answer. Many struggling students are dysregulated and have difficulty coping with academic and social skills expectations. In this presentation we will provide practical and effective methods of combining a sensory regulation approach together with careful technology use as an important basis for effective learning. Progress monitoring ideas will be shared.

Hallmarks of Autism from the Perspective of Autistic Women

A panel of autistic women will discuss how their experience of autism differs from that of their male counterparts. The panel will cover topics including how they define autism and how their characteristics compare to the "official" diagnostic criteria historically based on the male presentation. They will discuss how well the current criteria apply to them and their observations on what may be missing.

Webinar - Research Updates: Nutrition and Autism 2023 (Autism Research Institute

 1 p.m. Eastern time (US), Wednesday October 18, 2023

You can find more information and register here.