Making Learning Awesome for All Students Including Those Who Are Learning Language Using Augmentative/ Alternative Communication

Billings

Thursday August 4, 2020

Overall Description: If a student is not successfully using verbal speech as her or his primary form of expression by the age of three, educators working with that student should be considering augmentative/alternative communication. But what are those considerations? What principles should everyone involved be using when making decisions about what technology to select for implementation? Considerations discussed during this session will include the Least Dangerous Assumption, vocabulary selection, vocabulary organization, aided language input, and designing engaging and empowering language opportunities.

Participants will examine a continuum of supports for how to provide inclusive instruction and accessible materials supported by technology. There are a number of strategies fostered by technologies that can be used by students who are learning language that can also be applied to students with other disabilities, including dyslexia, to enhance their own learning. Participants will learn about initiatives to help educators select materials which are born accessible, how to make inaccessible texts accessible, how to create accessible materials, and how to help students learn to make their own materials accessible in preparation for graduation and the world beyond.


Find more information here. 

The OPI has a limited number of scholarships available for attending this conference in-person or virtually. You can request a scholarship on this page. 

Hanen 4 "I"s to Socialize: Coaching Parents of Children with Autism and Social Communication Difficulties

Dates: May 6-7

Location: Early Childhood Intervention
              2016 Grand Avenue, Suite B
              Billings, MT

If your role includes supporting the communication development of young children with autism or social communication difficulties, you know that involving parents effectively is key to your success.

Hanen 4 “I”s to Socialize™ is an intensive 2-day workshop designed to facilitate and enhance your efforts to involve families and to achieve the best possible outcomes for young children with social communication challenges.

The workshop provides:

• A research-based protocol for evaluating children’s social communication and determining next steps – A comprehensive checklist helps you zero in on a child’s stage of social communication and identify what his or her next target may be.
• A set of responsive interaction strategies drawn from Hanen’s evidence-based More Than Words® program – You’ll share these strategies with parents so they can facilitate their child’s ability to engage in extended, enjoyable interactions within everyday activities and routines.
• A structured parent coaching framework that’s based on principles of adult learning – this consists of a clear, 4-step coaching model that considers the needs of adult learners and effectively supports parents’ application and generalization of strategies.

Find more information here. 

Register here. 

We are unable to offer scholarships to this training. 

The Birds and the Bees: Hygiene, Puberty, Sexuality, & Safety in Youth with ASD or Other Developmental Disabilities

Billings    July 28

With up to 80% of individuals with disabilities reportedly becoming the victims of sexual/physical abuse or crimes by the time they reach adulthood, the topics of hygiene, puberty, and sexuality are imperative to safety. Unfortunately, these topics are often overlooked. Strategies for teaching hygiene, puberty, and sexuality with an emphasis on safety will be discussed.

*Learners will be able to articulate the importance of hygiene related to socialization and strategies to help teach and maintain good hygiene and related behaviors in their students with disabilities.
*Learners will be able to articulate the challenges that their students with disabilities may face in puberty as compared to typically-developing students.
*Learners will be able to articulate the significance of sexual development in their students with disabilities as well as strategies for teaching sexual development to these students.
*Learners will be able to articulate the importance of teaching hygiene, puberty, and sexuality as it relates to personal safety. They will be able to implement strategies to maintain the personal safety of their students.
*Learners will be able to identify strategies for working with parents of their students with disabilities that promote the best interest of the student through open conversations and collaboration.

About the Presenter: Natalie T. Montfort, PhD - Natalie earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston and her Master of Arts Degree and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University. She has worked with children and young adults with ASD since 2002 and has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (with children, adolescents, and adults), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relationship Development Intervention, Social Thinking, behavior modification (including Applied Behavior Analysis), and educational assessment.

You can register here. Dr. Montfort has presented several times in Montana to rave reviews. 

Links Secondary Workshop: Linking Assessment and Instruction for Independence

Links Secondary Workshop: Linking Assessment and Instruction for Independence

Bozeman          March 9   Comfort Inn    1370 N 7th Ave #2512
 
Billings           March 10    Quality Inn   2036 Overland Ave
 
Missoula         March 30    WIngate Inn   5252 Airway Blvd

This one-day workshop provides participants with information on how to implement evidence-based practices for secondary students using the Links Curriculum. Participants will learn to use a process for assessing and teaching functional routines that has been documented in the research. Extensive information will be given on selecting and individualizing routines and teaching specific skills to support success during routines. 

The Links Curriculum includes extensive data collection systems and participants will learn to collect and use data for instructional decision making, tracking student progress and writing IEP Goals. Video examples and video practice activities will be incorporated into the workshop. An on-line computerized system will be demonstrated with hands-on practice by the participants.

Attendees of the Links workshop will also need to bring their laptops or tablets to the workshop. 

Attendance at the workshop will include access to the Links Curriculum until 6/30/2020. Attendance is limited to 30 people. 

Register here. 

STAR Autism Training 2019/2020

Missoula: October 7-8  FULL - no wait list
(Broadway Inn and Convention Center)

Billings: November 4-5 - FULL - no wait list
     (Billings Hotel and Convention Center)


Bozeman: November 6-7  FULL - no wait list
     (Comfort Inn)  

Great Falls: March 2-3

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 is used to provide examples. Appropriate content connected to the common core curriculum is presented and detailed information on the three evidenced-based instructional methods of discrete trial training, pivotal response training and teaching through functional routines are shared.

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.

The trainings will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Read more and register here.
  

2019 PECS Level I and Level II Trainings

August 19/20         Kalispell - Level 1         Hampton Inn
Sept. 30/Oct. 1       Billings – Level 1          Hampton Inn - 5110 Southgate Drive

October 2/3            Billings – Level 2*        Hampton Inn - 5110 Southgate Drive

October 7/8            Sidney – Level 1           Wingate Hotel

October 28/29       Great Falls – Level 1     Holiday Inn (5th ST.)

October 30/31       Missoula – Level 1         Doubletree Hotel

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is used to rapidly teach communication skills to those with limited functional speech.  Training in PECS begins by teaching a spontaneous request and goes on to teach additional communicative functions such as responding to questions and commenting.  Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, plus attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples and role-play opportunities. 

PECS Level 1 Training:

This intensive two-day training is designed to teach participants the theory behind the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and the protocols for how to appropriately implement the six phases of PECS.

PECS Level 2 Training: Prerequisite: PECS Level 1 Training

This two-day training focuses on creating lessons and activities to promote communication throughout the day. Beginning with a review of the Pyramid Approach to Education as it relates to PECS, we guide you in refining your PECS implementation and discuss current challenges you have experienced within the six phases.

Find more information and register here.

AAC & Proloquo2Go: How to Program for a Better Implementation and Outcome!

Glendive - August 19, 2019     Holiday Inn Express

Billings - August 20, 2019     Billings Hotel and Conv. Center

Bozeman - September 23, 2019  Comfort Inn

Havre - October 7, 2019   Best Western Plus

Great Falls -   October 8, 2019  Holiday Inn

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day

What is “best practice” for use of AAC with a student? Attendees will receive information to confidently help individuals who rely on AAC. This session will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn the “ins and outs” of the iOS app, “Proloquo2Go” from www.assistiveware.com. Participants will learn to navigate the app, discover new features and practice programming the app. The group will review case studies and talk about specific student’s needs. Julie will share teaching strategies so that interactions with AAC/Proloquo2Go are enjoyable for the student, the family,  instructor, and staff.

Attendees say: "This was the best information!  Loved it!" and "Julie is fantastic. Her excitement is contagious and her knowledge is amazing. I loved the real life examples."

Register here.
This training is FREE from the OPI Montana Autism Education Project. Six OPI renewal units will be available for this training. ASHA CEUs will not be available.

Julie A. Doerner, M.S. CCC-SLP has been a nationally certified and state licensed Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) for 16 years and she currently works for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation Tribal Health. Julie has worked as an SLP in public schools, private practice, rehab settings, and most recently at the University of Montana where she worked for the state assistive technology program, MonTECH, and the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. In that position her focus was on Augmentative Alternative Communication. Julie has been working with the Proloquo2Go app since 2012.

STAR Autism Training

STAR Autism Training

STAR Autism Trainings Kalispell: March 4-5 Missoula: March 6-7 - FULL / registration closed. Sidney is now  Billings: March 26-27      (Sidney had only 5 people register so this training was moved to Billings.) Billings: April 8-9 - FULL / registration closed. Great Falls: April 10-11 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 is used to provide examples.  Appropriate content connected to the common core curriculum is presented and detailed information on the three evidenced-based instructional methods of discrete trial training, pivotal response training and teaching through functional routines are shared.  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.  Fourteen OPI renewal units will be available for this training.  This training is FREE from the OPI Montana Autism Education Project. YOU MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS OF THE TRAINING. Each training is limited to 30 people.

Register here. 

(If you register for Billings on March 27/28 the post-registration screen and email will still show Sidney as the location. Ignore that and go to Billings.)

Oppositional, Defiant & Disruptive Children and Adolescents: Non-medication Approaches to the Most Challenging Behaviors

PLEASE NOTE: This is not an OPI-sponsored workshop and the registration fee is $200. The OPI will not be providing scholarships for this training.

Billings - May 13, 2019
Bozeman - May 14, 2019
Missoula - May 15, 2019

Course Description:
Children and adolescents with ODD, ADHD, Asperger’s, anxiety, mood and disruptive disorders provide constant clinical, school and parenting challenges. Attend this seminar and learn new, effective non-medication strategies for your client’s most challenging behaviors including:

• Tantrums
• Running out/away
• Noncompliance
• Nagging
• Refusing to work/help
• Yelling/screaming
• Bullying
• Panic/anxiety reactions
• Lack of follow through
• Not following directions

You will walk away with immediate strategies for out of control behaviors and techniques for emotional regulation along with long-term treatment strategies to help kids at home and school. Jennifer Wilke-Deaton is a clinical expert and has worked with the most challenging kids both in clinical and school settings. Through the use of case studies and action oriented handouts, you will leave this seminar with solutions to turn your most challenging kids around.

Find more information and register here.

LAMP Trainings - Billings (FULL), Bozeman, Missoula (FULL)

LAMP is an augmentative alternative communication (AAC) approach designed to give users a method of independently and spontaneously expressing themselves through a speech generating device. The LAMP training is focused on students who use a device for speech, and not only symbolic communication (e.g., PECS.) “LAMP focuses on giving the individual independent access to vocabulary on voice output AAC devices that use consistent motor plans for accessing vocabulary.”

This course will cover the components of LAMP: readiness to learn, engaging the learner through joint engagement, and learning language through a unique and consistent motor plan paired with an auditory signal and a natural consequence. 

Discussion will include how this approach addresses the core language deficits of autism, device features that are beneficial to teaching language, and how to use those features to implement LAMP components.

Billings     February 4, 2019  FULL - Registration closed.

Bozeman    February 5, 2019

Missoula    February 7, 2019  FULL - Registration closed.

You can find more information and register here. 

PECS Level I and II Registration Now Open

October 29/30           Great Falls - Level 2*

November 1/2            Billings - Level 1  FULL

December 3/4            Kalispell - Level 2*

December 5/6            Missoula - Level 2*

​​(Training locations to be determined. *You must have attended a PECS Level 1 training to attend a Level 2 training.)

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is used to rapidly teach communication skills to those with limited functional speech.  Training in PECS begins by teaching a spont​aneous request and goes on to teach additional communicative functions such as responding to questions and commenting.  Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, plus attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples and role-play opportunities.   

CEUs: 12 OPI renewal units. ASHA CEUs are not available.

PECS Level 1 Training: 

This intensive two-day training is designed to teach participants the theory behind the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and the protocols for how to appropriately implement the six phases of PECS.

PECS Level 2 Training: Prerequisite: PECS Level 1 Training

This two-day training focuses on creating lessons and activities to promote communication throughout the day. Beginning with a review of the Pyramid Approach to Education as it relates to PECS, we guide you in refining your PECS implementation and discuss current challenges you have experienced within the six phases.

NOTE:  EACH ATTENDEE MUST BRING THEIR OWN COPY of the Second Edition PECS Training Manual to the training. Manuals may not be shared among attendees.  You will NOT be admitted to the training if you do not bring an individual copy of that manual.

You can register here. 

Paraeducator Supervision Academy // Trainers of Paraeducators Academy

Billings

June 14, 2018: Paraeducator Supervision Academy (PSA) a one-day training that enables educators and other school professionals to develop a core of communication, collaboration, problem solving, and supervisory skills needed to work with paraeducators. PSA focuses on research-based strategies for establishing and working relationships and assessing personal supervisory skills. It also includes approaches to building work and instructional plans, identifying training for paraeducators through needs assessment, and using feedback to improve the job performance of paraeducators.

June 15, 2018: Individuals who attend the PSA training can become trainers for paraeducators by taking the Trainers of Paraeducators Academy (TOPA) training to qualify as a CO-TOP Trainer. This training will provide participants with skills to deliver CO-TOP curriculum, consisting of 22 courses, to paraeducators in their districts. TOPA focuses on knowledge of the characteristics of effective and ineffective training sessions and the characteristics of adult learners. It provides guidelines and resources for planning the content of presentations for para-educators and for developing effective presentation methods.
 

June 14: PSA
June 15: TOPA
9:00AM to 3:30PM both days
MSUB College of Education, Room 122
5 OPI Renewal Units each day
Cost is free

Information Flyer LINK
PSA Registration LINK
PSA & TOPA Registration Training LINK

Differentiation Made Easy for Middle School and High School Educators

August 7, 2018

In this session, we will define differentiation in today’s classroom through content, experiences, and reflection. From creating a classroom environment conducive to differentiation, to assessing the learning of the differentiated classroom. The ideas shared will be applicable to any content area. Whether a new teacher beginning a career or a veteran staff member refreshing their knowledge, this class will be fast-paced, engaging and practical. The teaching techniques shared will be high yield and low prep; a winning combination for students’ success. 

Participants will:
*Define and illustrate the basic tenants of differentiation
*Experience, through hands-on activities, differentiation techniques
*Connect assessment strategies with how to differentiate in the middle and high school classroom
*Reflect and plan on how the strategies shared can be applied in the unique setting of each participant or team of participants.

FInd more information and register here. 

Chuck E. Cheese is Sensory Friendly on Sundays

Including the Billings location. 

OPI Montana Autism Education Project Conference

Billings - Big Horn Resort*

April 9-10, 2018

This training is FREE!! from the OPI Montana Autism Education Project. OPI renewal units will be available.

Monday April 9th

(All sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

The Birds and the Bees: Puberty, Hygiene, Safety and Sexuality for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Youths with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are twice as likely as their typically developing peers to be victims of physical or sexual abuse. Information regarding puberty, hygiene, and sexuality relates to keeping children with ASD safe. Areas covered can easily become target behaviors, objectives for IEPs, or treatment goals for youth with ASD.

Topics include:  What to Expect (and what you might not expect.) // Hygiene // Clothing Matters // Personal Safety // Rethinking "The Talk" // Teaching Anatomy and more!

How To Build A Program For a Student With Autism  

What to look for in the diagnosis report.

Examine programs and assessments to gather meaningful data.

How to conduct an ER for a child with Autism.

Develop an IEP with meaningful goals based on data.

How to create a daily schedule and integrate IEP goals.

Examine 4 profiles for children with autism and how their programs differ.

Discuss/Create visual supports that may be helpful with your students

Strengthen Your Toolbox of Strategies and Activities for Students with Autism

Upon completion, attendees will be able to:

1)         Design 3 activities using best practice techniques to target specific skills

2)         List 5 strategies that can be used to help students with ASD
3)         Explain how the Social Thinking Model can be utilized across all levels of ASD

Tuesday April 10th

How to Implement a Program for a Student with Autism

(8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

How to take data on goals from the IEP every day

How to integrate IEP goals throughout the day

How to help the student generalize skills

How to conduct a reinforcer assessment

How to implement a token economy

How to use a visual schedule

How to create a task analysis

How to use visual supports throughout the day

How to Develop and Write Measurable IEP Goals

(8:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.)

Learn the CBCC method for writing goals and how to choose data recording methods that are realistic and measureable.

How To Prepare Students (and Yourself) for Post-school Transition

(8:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.)

Reinforcer Surveys and Reinforcer Schedules - How to Increase Student Success and Your Happiness

(1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Analysis of Automatically Reinforced Behavior: Sexualized Behavior, Sensory Regulation and Stimulation

(1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

See more information and register here. 

* There is a block of sleeping rooms available at state rate at the Big Horn Resort. OPI will not provide travel reimbursement.

Facing the Frontal Lobe: Strategies to Support Executive Function Skills in Students with Planning, Organization, Emotional Control, Working Memory and Attention Needs

Billings
June 12, 2018
Region III CSPD

Participants in the workshop will explore the impact of Executive Functioning on student learning and social interaction. The workshop is designed for all educators as attention is given to those skills needed by kindergarten through middle school students to be successful in a general and special education classroom. Participants will learn about the five domains of cognitive skills and will be given resource ideas and strategies that are designed to support strong cognitive skills in students. The strategies presented focus on skills that promote effective organization and time management, task completion, independent work, student goal setting and accountability. Additionally, the intervention ideas also provide a foundation to assist student self-monitoring, impulse control and emotional management. 

This workshop is full, the waiting list is full and registration has closed.

High-Functioning Autism: Proven & Practical Interventions for Challenging Behaviors in Children, Adolescents & Young Adults

April 16 - Billings
April 17 - Bozeman
April 19 - Missoula

$219.99   Single Registration                                    

$199.99   Single Registration: Advance Price (ends 3/27/2018)                                        

$199.99    2+ Group Rate: per person

Course Description:

This intensive, full-day seminar provides proven intervention strategies, essential treatment tools, and behavioral techniques to help you analyze behaviors and actions, identify consequences for behaviors, and teach new skills to children, adolescents and young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA). Walk away with practical intervention techniques for social success, behavior changes and overcoming challenging co-occurring behaviors that deliver success through adulthood. The challenging co-occurring issues to be addressed are:

• Social skills
• Sensory
• Depression
• ADHD
• Psychotropic medications
• Communication
• Anxiety/Rigidity
• Meltdowns
• OCD
• Non-compliance

Gain valuable insight into common psychotropic medications, including both the helpful effects and potentially problematic side effects, that these individuals are prescribed. We will explore HFA and the new DSM-5® diagnosis of Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder. You will receive the necessary tools to gain effective collaboration between clinicians, educators and parents. Through case studies, video clips and class participation you will leave this seminar with the confidence to identify actions that cause impediments in change, utilize more successful consequences for behaviors, and teach new skills to children, adolescents, and young adults with HFA. Don’t just manage these individuals; provide interventions that can lead to successful independence into their adult years!

Register here. 

Please note: This training is provided by PESI and we will not be offering attendance scholarships as we are unfamiliar with the presentation/presenter. 

Oppositional, Defiant & Disruptive Children and Adolescents: Non-medication Approaches to the Most Challenging Behaviors

March 19 - Billings
March 20 - Great Falls
March 21 - Missoula

$219.99

Single Registration

$199.99

Single Registration: Advance Price (ends 2/27/2018)

$199.99

2+ Group Rate: per person

Course Description:

Children and adolescents with ODD, ADHD, Asperger’s, anxiety, mood and disruptive disorders provide constant clinical and parenting challenges. Attend this seminar and learn new, effective non-medication strategies for your client’s most challenging behaviors including:

• Tantrums
• Running out/away
• Noncompliance
• Nagging
• Refusing to work/help
• Yelling/screaming
• Bullying
• Panic/anxiety reactions
• Lack of follow through
• Not following directions

You will walk away with immediate strategies for out of control behaviors and techniques for emotional regulation along with long-term treatment strategies to help kids at home and school. Amanda Crowder, LCSW, is a clinical expert and has worked with the most challenging kids both in clinical and school settings. Through the use of case studies and action oriented handouts, you will leave this seminar with solutions to turn your most challenging kids around.

Find more information here. 

Please note: This training is provided by PESI and we will not be offering attendance scholarships as we are unfamiliar with the presentation/presenter. 

Mental Health Issues in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Helping Children and Adolescents Succeed

February 21 - Missoula

February 22 - Bozeman

February 23 - Billings

$219.99

Single Registration

$199.99

2+ Group Rate: per person

$30.00

Cordinator

Join child/adolescent behavioral expert, Jay Berk, PhD, and learn how to best manage the students at your school diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), mood disorders, anxiety and depression. You will walk away with concrete, yet practical, strategies to successfully intervene with their serious behavioral issues, such as:

• Anger and outbursts
• Cutting and self-injury
• Defiance
• Impulsivity
• Sensory issues
• Meltdowns and tantrums
• Obsessive compulsive
• Truancy
• Rigidity
• Electronic addiction

Through case studies, video clips and dynamic class discussion you will learn:

• 30 second teacher strategies to manage challenging and disruptive behaviors
• New ways to reduce the costs of out-of-district placements
• How to engage students in class, increase productivity and reduce truancy
• Behavioral assessments and strategies for the IEP team
• Side-effects of common psychotropic medications
• How skill deficits from mental health conditions create behavioral difficulties
• Characteristics of at-risk students’ mental health problems
• Strategies to gain collaboration with clinicians

Leave the day with the “magic dust” you have been looking for to expedite rapid and effective changes in these children and adolescents!

Find more information here. 

Please note: This training is provided by PESI and we will not be offering attendance scholarships as we are unfamiliar with the presentation/presenter. 

"Check-In, Check Out" (CICO)

January 22, 2018
MSUB College of Education, Room 122 (9:00AM to 4:30PM)
OPI Renewal Units available
Cost is free

Check-In, Check-Out, (CICO), is a Tier II, group-oriented intervention, designed especially for students whose problem behaviors (a) are unresponsive to Tier I practice and systems, (b) do not require more immediate individualized interventions, and (c) are observed across multiple settings or contexts. Because CICO is a group-based, standardized intervention, it is efficient and cost-effective. For example, the program can accommodate a number of students (e.g., up to thirty), and students can enter the program within a few days following referral. CICO also provides a built-in system for (a) monitoring students’ progress in the program, (b) evaluating the fidelity of implementation, and (c) transitioning to a self-managed program.

Informational Flyer LINK

To register or for more information: contact Denise DesJarlais at ddesjarlais@mt.gov