Bozeman In-Person Trainings - February/March 2022

 Challenging Behaviors – How to Prevent, Reduce and Replace   

February 15, 2022     8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.     GranTree Hotel

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. These skills are put into practice using our own case studies and furthermore applying this to your own learners. 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. (full description)

Register here. 

Teaching Critical Communication Skills   

March 10, 2022     8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.     GranTree Hotel

You will learn how to teach critical communication skills that lead to greater independence in the home, work, school and community settings. We review nine specific skills: requesting reinforcers, requesting help, requesting a break, indicating yes and no, waiting, following directions, schedule-following and transitioning. Through lecture, demonstrations, video and participatory activities, you will acquire specific teaching strategies that are relevant for anyone who has limited communication skills, regardless of their communicative modality (e.g., Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS], signing, device use, speech).     (full description)

Register here. 

Please Note: The OPI cannot require the use of masks for an in-person training. We have provided some social distancing with seating of no more than two people per table.

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.
  

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.

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. 

New Bozeman Group

Please join us for our next
Autism Support Group and Family Training!
Pediatric Therapy Clinic would like to invite family members who have a child or loved one diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder to a new support group and parent/family training opportunity.

The 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6pm!
Upcoming meetings:
November 14th
December 12th
January 9th
February 13th

This group will provide an opportunity for families to meet and support each other as they face the challenges of raising a child with ASD.
In addition, general topics associated with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) will be addressed at each meeting by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Please email or call Rachel Bradford, BCBA at rachel@ptcbillings.com;(406) 624-6669, if you have any questions or are interested in being added to the autism support group email list.

LOCATION:Pediatric Therapy Clinic 270 West Kagy Blvd, Suite B Bozeman, MT 59715

Accepting the Challenge: Effective Strategies for Students with Anxiety-Related Behavior

Bozeman
October 29, 2018

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that one in four thirteen-eighteen year olds has had an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Without intervention, these children are at risk for poor performance, diminished learning, and social/behavior problems in school. Understanding the role anxiety plays in a student's behavior is crucial and using preventive strategies are key to successful intervention. Effective behavior plans for these students must avoid the reward and punishment-based consequences from traditional behavior plans and focus instead on the use of preventive strategies and on explicitly teaching coping skills and alternative responses.

This workshop will translate clinical information into doable and easy-to-implement strategies, tools and interventions, for reducing anxiety, increasing self-regulation, executive functioning, and self-monitoring.

Find more information and register here.

MSU offers new hope for students with disabilities

Now Montana State University is launching a program offering new opportunity and hope to students with disabilities — the chance to go to college and learn job skills.
 

Called LIFE Scholars, for Learning Is For Everyone, it was announced last week at MSU’s Diversity Symposium.

The goal is not to earn a bachelor’s degree, but to let students audit classes, participate in college clubs and activities, get experience in job internships and build a more independent life.

MSU plans to open LIFE Scholars to students age 18 or older who have intellectual disabilities, have completed high school and have a strong desire to attend college.
 

Students can pick a four-year, two-year or one-year program. The final year would be devoted to internships and jobs skills.

Students would likely sign up to audit one to three classes per semester at MSU and Gallatin College.

They would be eligible to wear a cap and gown at MSU’s graduation ceremonies, though they’d likely receive a certificate of completion, rather than a degree.

They would pay the same tuition and fees that typical students pay, plus a fee for the LIFE Scholars program. In a few years, students would have the chance to live in the dorms.

The LIFE Scholars program is estimated to cost $10,000 per student at the start, and tuition would likely cover about half of that, said Michael Becker, MSU spokesman. The EHHD College plans to cover the rest through grants, donations and university funds.

Read more here at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

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. 

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. 

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

Missoula - February 21, 2018
Bozeman - February 22, 2018
Billings - February 23, 2018

$200

Course Description:
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

Find more information here.

NOTE: This workshop costs $200 and is not provided by the OPI Montana Autism Education Project. We will not offer scholarships because of the cost and not knowing the speaker.

Transition Workshop: "Integrating Employability Skills: Improving Transition to Employment for Students with Disabilities"

(Dr. Tessie Rose Bailey, Presenter)

November 29 (9:00AM to 4:00PM)

Willson School
404 West Main, Bozeman

6 OPI Renewal Units
Cost is free
Stipend available

Students with disabilities require many skills for post-school success, including academic knowledge, technical expertise, and a set of general, cross-cutting abilities called employability skills. The U.S. Department of Education, through an initiative of the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult, developed the Employability Skills Framework in an effort to clearly identify the general skills necessary for success in the labor market at all employment levels and in all sectors. 

This interactive session will:

• Introduce participants to the Employability Skills Framework and explain why it is important for students with disabilities 
• Connect employability skill preparation to transition plans and lesson planning. 
• Provide tools and strategies to select appropriate assessments and prioritize employability skills at the employer, district, and individual teacher levels.  

The session is relevant for special and general educators, career and technical educators, and vocational rehabilitation staff.

Flyer LINK

Registration LINK (Course #9951)

Provided by Region IV CSPD

Transition Workshop: "Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies for Transition Training"

(Dr. Tessie Rose Bailey, Presenter)

November 28 8:30AM to 4:00PM)

Willson School
404 West Main, Bozeman

6 OPI Renewal Units
Cost is free
Stipend available

Looking for what works in transition planning? This interactive session will present validated approaches for transition assessment, instructional delivery, and data collection/analysis processes. In addition to modeling several evidence-based instructional strategies, this session will also demonstrate how educators can use existing resources to identify appropriate transition activities.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Use existing resources to identify evidence-based practices in transition services and planning
• Describe the components of three common evidence-based transition practices used in schools programs
• Design and implement a transition-based education for students with disabilities The session is relevant for educators responsible for supporting the development and implementation of transition programs. Although not required, participants are encouraged to bring samples of their own transition plans for activities.

Flyer LINK
Registration LINK (Course #9952)

PECS Level I Trainings

Great Falls - September 18th and 19th    (Hilton Garden Inn)

Bozeman - September 20th and 21st       (Homewood Suites)

Kalispell - October 2nd and 3rd                (Hampton Inn)

Missoula - October 4th and 5th                (Hilton Garden Inn)

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. 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.

NOTE:  PECS REQUIRES THAT EACH ATTENDEE MUST BRING THEIR OWN COPY of the Second Edition PECS Training Manual with Data Forms CD 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.

Register here.

TEACCH - Fundamentals in Autism 2017

Great Falls – October 23 and 24, 2017 Bozeman – October 25 and 26, 2017      The Fundamentals in Autism is a two-day workshop that will provide participants with an overview of the learning styles of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Structured TEACCHing strategies.   Structured TEACCHing is based on the understanding of the symptoms and learning styles of individuals with autism and the use of visual supports to provide meaning, promote independence and capitalize on the individual’s strengths. Participants will also learn behavior management strategies using Structured TEACCHing principles. The format of this workshop will include presentations, videos, interactive discussions, and small group activities. At the completion of the training, participants will be able to: Identify characteristics and learning styles of Autism Spectrum Disorder Develop individualized schedules and work/activity systems Develop meaningful visual structure that promotes independence with educational activities Problem solve behaviors using Structured TEACCHing principles  This course is designed for educators, paraeducators, psychologists, and speech language pathologists.  Go here to register. Attendance is limited to 50 people. Six OPI renewal units will be available for this training. This training is FREE from the OPI Montana Autism Education Project. NOTE: This is a different, shorter training than the TEACCH trainings we have previously provided.

Over 75 Quick "On-The-Spot" Techniques for Children and Adolescents with Emotional and Behavior Problems

Billings - October 11
Bozeman - October 12
Missoula - October 13

 Leaving nothing to the abstract, “75 Quick, ‘On-The-Spot’ Techniques for Children and Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Problems” will guide you through focused, clear and successful methods for treating children. Every professional who seeks to fill their toolbox with tested methods will leave this seminar with a wealth of fresh ideas and rejuvenated spirits.

If you do not have a lot of experience working with children and teens, you will leave with a defined strategy for success. If you are a seasoned professional, you will learn new tricks and techniques to re-energize and revitalize your practice!

With nearly 25 years of clinical experience and a background in improvisational comedy, Dr. Steve is a strong proponent of “Edutainment.” Namely, he uses charm, wit and humor to enhance your seminar experience, thus improving the retention and utilization of the specific skills covered. We change the world when we touch a child’s life!

Register here for $200.


Please note: This event is not sponsored by the OPI Montana Autism Education Project nor or we offering attendance scholarships.

Helping Children Become Active Learners Using the DIR/Floortime Model

Bozeman

June 26th, 2017

Children diagnosed with Autism and related disorders have challenges that impact self-regulation, communication, social-emotional development, learning and the development of functional skills.  This presentation will introduce key principles of the DIR/Floortime model that can help children become active learners though a better understanding of how biologically based individual differences in communication, motor planning, and sensory processing, impact the learning process. 

 

Floortime offers interactive techniques that can be used to help children learn to attend and self regulate, to become engaged and reciprocal in interactions with others, and to begin to understand social problem solving.  These early functional emotional developmental capacities are necessary to engage in active, adaptive learning. 

 

This workshop will demonstrate intervention principles and technique that can help teachers, para-professionals, therapists, and parents prepare the child for learning and address challenges such as avoidance, shut downs, and meltdowns. Participants will learn how to interpret the child’s behavioral cues and to use developmentally targeted interaction techniques to address the child’s functional challenges.

To register go to https://pd4montana.hrmplus.net/

Course #8789

6 OPI Renewal Units will be available

Positive Behavioral Strategies for Students with Autism - Bozeman

May 2nd, 2017

After attending this session, participants will:

1. Identify why difficult behaviors are occurring, and what to do to change the inappropriate behaviors.

2. Gain knowledge about autism and what positive behavioral interventions can be most effectively utilized with which types of disabilities.

3. Apply positive behavioral interventions to children and adolescents with ASD to make permanent behavior changes.

Shawna Heiser is a board certified behavioral analyst (BCBA) who has worked and developed her own practice Special Learning 1-on-1 LCC for 21 years. She has instructed juniors and seniors at Montana State University Bozeman as a Senior Lecturer of Psychology for 15 years.

Register here. (account creation required)

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

(Note. This workshop is not provided by the OPI Montana Autism Education Project and we will not be offering registration scholarships. We rarely do registration scholarships and then only for the CEC and a few other conferences.)

Billings:  February 21, 2017
Bozeman: February 22, 2017
Missoula: February 24, 2017

$219.99

Single Registration

$199.99

Single Registration: Advance Price (ends 2/1/2017)

$199.99

2+ Group Rate: per person

Objectives:

1. Explain how the DSM-5® updates impact service delivery.
2. Utilize several social skill interventions to improve long-term success for children/adolescents with HFA.
3. Employ specific coping and calming techniques for children/adolescents with HFA.
4. Identify medication side effects that can mimic behavioral issues and may even cause behavioral issues.
5. Design effective strategies for successful transitions for children/adolescents with HFA.
6. Select specific behavioral interventions that target the most difficult behaviors in children/adolescents with HFA.
7. Summarize the new DSM-5® diagnosis of Social-Pragmatic Communication Disorder and design treatment interventions.

Find more information here. 

FYI, this same workshop was in the same cities in February of 2016, but with a different speaker.