Online Training for OPI Renewal Units: OCALI Autism Introduction and Foundations of Evidence-Based Strategies

The following trainings are available: 

An Introduction to Autism Characteristics and Simple Strategies from OCALI.

This introductory module presents information about unique characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including social-communication, restricted interests and patterns of behavior, sensory, cognition and information processing, and emotional regulation. Five simple strategies are introduced that may be used anytime, anywhere with young children, students, and adults with ASD. (Note this course is a pre-requisite to take the longer courses.)

Learning Objectives:

• Provide an understanding of the spectrum of skills that characterize autism spectrum disorder, or ASD.
• Dispel common misconceptions about ASD.
• Provide simple strategies that may be helpful for individuals with ASD.

Estimated Time to Complete Module: 90 minutes

Foundations of Evidence-Based Strategies - Toddler and Preschool Age

Early childhood is an important time to help young children with ASD to develop critical language and learning skills. With video examples in homes and preschool classrooms, this course will introduce you to evidence-based strategies that can be used in natural environments during typical routines and activities of toddlers and preschoolers. This course takes approximately 10.5 hours to complete. Prerequisite: Many Faces of Autism  Find more information here. 

Foundations of Evidence-Based Strategies - School Age 

During the elementary and middle school years, school-aged individuals with ASD are developing skills in many areas that will impact their futures. This course presents evidence-based strategies in action in home, school and community environments. This course takes approximately 10.5 hours to complete. Prerequisite: Many Faces of Autism     Find more information here. 

Foundations of Evidence-Based Strategies - Transition Age 

Adolescents and young adults with ASD need many critical skills as they prepare for transitioning from high school into their own, unique adult lives. This course will show you how to use evidence-based strategies to support individuals who are transition-aged and young adults through video examples at home, school, work, and in the community. This course takes approximately 10.5 hours to complete. Prerequisite: Many Faces of Autism     Find more information here. 

You can find more information and register for the OCALI training here. 

If you wish to receive OPI renewal units for completing the above trainings, you must register here. We will then tell you what information from OCALI training needs to be provided when you have completed a course to receive your OPI renewal units. 

Making A.T. Solutions in Minutes to Achieve Educational Success – A Hands-on Virtual AT Maker Workshop

June 20, 2023   8:30 AM – 4:00 P.M.  Via Zoom

Seven OPI renewal units are available for this training. 

Description:  Become a rapid problem solver using everyday tools and materials for creating assistive technology solutions in minutes.

  

This virtual hands-on workshop embraces the “ABLE” principles for creating rapid A.T solutions in schools that are adjustable, portable, collapsible, repositionable, reusable, expandable, and multi-use.  Everyone can be a creative problem solver. 

Explore a variety of methods, materials, and resources for creating A.T. solutions in five minutes or less. Learn the 3Ms of Making, Mounting and Modifying.  Assistive technology has a very high failure rate, and therefore, creating rapid solutions or modifications to solutions are needed to achieve educational success for students with disabilities.  Learn about the 85% of assistive technology in schools that doesn’t involve a computer. 

 

Participants will receive a kit of materials in the mail, one week prior to the workshop that will be using during the training for hands-on making of 10 different multi use devices that can be used to accommodate for a variety of functional limitations and specific learning activities in the classroom.  In addition, each person will receive a copy of Dr. Willkomm’s Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes - Book III – “Make Stuff and Love People” that can be used for ongoing AT device making and modifications for students with disabilities. This is the most comprehensive assistive technology maker’s/solutions book available with over 1,500 images and QR codes to 500 how-to videos and resources for rapid solution creations. 

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is limited to only 25 people and requires the mailing of hands-on materials. Therefore, specific cancellation and No Show policies are in effect that could affect your participation in future trainings from the Autism Project. 

Cancellations: You are welcome to cancel at any time. If you cancel after June 2^nd that will mean that your training slot is unavailable to anyone else and you will be responsible for sending to the OPI the hands-on training materials that have been mailed to you. 

No Shows:  If you do not cancel and do not attend, 1. you will be unable to receive a MAEP scholarship to the 2024 MCEC conference, the MonTECH August Institute and other conferences/trainings 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. 

Register here. 

 

BIO Paragraph:  Dr. Therese Willkomm, PhD, is currently the Director of New Hampshire’s State Assistive Technology Program with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH)  Dr. Willkomm is also a clinical associate professor emeritus in the Department of Occupational Therapy.  She developed, coordinated and taught the assistive technology courses for the Graduate Certificate Program in Assistive Technology for 23 years. She is known nationally and internationally for her innovative strategies for creating solutions in minutes.  She has designed and fabricated over two thousand different solutions for individuals with disabilities. She has presented her work in 42 states, ten foreign countries and three U.S. Territories and has authored over 22 publications including her recent book Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes Book 3: - “Make Stuff and Love People”.

Executive Functioning: Skills That Make a Big Difference for Children (virtual training from Western Montana CSPD)

With Stephanie Lester

Jan. 23-24 &  February 6th, 2023 

virtual 4pm to 6:30 pm

Effectively guiding children is a BIG part of every educator’s day! The principles of guidance will be presented along with practical classroom management strategies that create and sustain a positive classroom environment. The functions of behavior, strategies, and action steps to addressing inappropriate behaviors will be shared. Real life scenarios will be discussed, and practical applications shared. (7.5 OPI Renewal Units)

Register here with Western Montana CSPD.

2021-2022 Training Summary, OPI Montana Autism Education Project

In the 2021-2022 school year, the OPI Montana Autism Education Project (MAEP) provided: 

42 different trainings and with repeated trainings, a total of 63 trainings. 

These trainings were attended by 1,350 Montana educators, parents and others who have an interest in autism and behavior management.  They completed 6,372 hours of training. 

The trainings were mostly virtual trainings, with four in-person trainings in March and June in Billings, Bozeman and Great Falls. We will continue to evaluate all trainings as to whether attendees think the training is/would be better in-person or virtually. 

Staff from 117 different school districts attended trainings offered by the MAEP. Additional attendees were from the Job Corps, private schools, Part C providers, the Department of Child and Family Services. Head Start, both Montana Bureau of Indian Education schools, parents, and students from the University of Montana School Psychology and Communication Sciences Disorders programs. 

Attendees by Position: 

30% - Special Education Teachers

29% - Speech-Language Providers

10% - School Psychologists

9% -  General Education Teachers

4% - Paraeducators

14% - Other    (Parents, University Students, Special Education Directors, School Administrators, School Counselors, OPI staff, Part C Providers, etc.)

Training Evaluation: 

We do post-training evaluations and obtained the following average scores: 

"Would you suggest this training to others?"  4.7 / 5  (range 4.4 - 4.9)

Also asked:

 

    (The initial gain of 1.2 is a one-decimal rounded average.)

Social Thinking Recorded Trainings available through September 30, 2022

The OPI Montana Autism Education Project has a limited number of scholarships for Montana public school educators to view on-demand trainings from Social Thinking. No OPI renewal units are available for watching these recorded trainings.

Building the Social Mind in Early Childhood  (description)

Finding One’s Motivation to Tackle Many Moving Parts of Any Assignment  (description)

Helping Students Gain Perspective on Their Emotions  (description)

How Do We Get Things Done?  (description)

Small Talk and Conversations  (description)

Teaching Thinking with Eyes, Body in the Group and Whole Body Listening (ages 4-7)  (description)

Teaching Thoughts, Feelings and The Group Plan (ages 4-7)  (description)

Only three trainings are available per person. 

This registration has closed. 

Strategies, Language & Tech Tools for Improving Executive Functions (virtual training)

 Friday, June 24^th   10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Executive functions are important for developing social and organizational competencies throughout our daily activities. While it may be obvious that social and organizational learning helps us to work in groups and acquire academic information, these same core competencies help us socially problem solve within and across our daily lives. In this course, you’ll learn how to use specific language, tech tools & strategies to foster development of situational awareness, mental time travel, self-awareness, and self-evaluation—all of which contribute to personal self-regulation.

This training will be recorded and access will be available until July 25^th. No OPI renewal units are available for this training.

             Registration has closed. 

Challenging Behaviors – How to Prevent, Reduce and Replace

In-person training – Great Falls  

June 16, 2022     8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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. (full description)      

Seven (7) OPI renewal units are available for this training. 

                Register here.

5 Critical Life Skills for Tweens, Teens and Young Adults That Often Remain Untaught (Virtual/Recorded Training*)

REGISTRATION FOR THIS TRAINING HAS CLOSED.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | 10:00 AM (replay access* available through September 30th)

Instructor: Michelle Garcia Winner 

90 minutes of instruction followed by Q&A

Tweens, teens, and young adults are expected to naturally develop social and organizational competencies needed in school and across their lives. However, students with social learning and organized thinking differences (e.g., autism spectrum levels 1 and 2, ADHD, twice exceptional, expressive receptive language, sensory processing, etc.) may not intuitively learn these concepts and skills. This course will explore 5 critical life skills related to social emotional learning and organized thinking that can and should be directly addressed and taught to students & clients ages 12-24 in our homes, schools, and clinics. We’ll also review a variety of explicit metacognitive frameworks and practical strategies for teaching and learning these critical social competencies.

You will learn:

5 critical life skills tied to social emotional learning and organized thinking;

Explicit metacognitive tools and practical strategies;

Tips on specific executive functions to foster development of social learners’ competencies toward achieving their personal and social goals;

Why learning to be comfortable with discomfort is an important anxiety management strategy.

*We cannot offer OPI renewal units for this recorded training. 

Brain Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder (virtual training)

In this 90 minute virtual training, learn about the brain structure, the difference in autism, and how this portrays itself.  Understanding brains with autism creates better interventions. 

This will be the same training repeated three times. Attendees will receive 2 OPI renewal units. 

Thursday May 26th 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday June 7 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday June 15th 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Register here. 

Jennifer Schoffer Closson CCC-SLP is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences Department at the University of Montana.  Jennifer has presented locally and nationally about autism, clinical SLP education, and secondary transition.  Having spent 15 years in public schools and private practice, she is passionate about education. 

Breaking Down Executive Functioning Skills (virtual training)

Learn how to assess EF, identify needs, and teach in a way that supports your students.  These trainings will cover goal writing and how to work within the learner’s current demands. 

This is the same training presented on three different days. Attendees will receive 4 OPI renewal units. 

Wednesday May 25th 1:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Monday June 6 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday June 15th 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Register here. 

Jennifer Schoffer Closson CCC-SLP is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences Department at the University of Montana.  Jennifer has presented locally and nationally about autism, clinical SLP education, and secondary transition.  Having spent 15 years in public schools and private practice, she is passionate about education. 

Stop Behavior Before It Starts! (virtual training)

Antecedent Intervention is one of the most effective ways to manage challenging behavior.  Learn how to identify the function of the behavior, make changes to avoid maladaptive behavior, and implement replacement behavior.

This is the same training, presented on three different dates. Attendees will receive 4 OPI renewal units. 

Tuesday May 24th  1:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Thursday June 2   9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Monday June 13th   1:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Jennifer Schoffer Closson CCC-SLP is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences Department at the University of Montana.  Jennifer has presented locally and nationally about autism, clinical SLP education, and secondary transition.  Having spent 15 years in public schools and private practice, she is passionate about education. 

Evidence-Based Practices for Autism Spectrum Disorder (virtual training)

This virtual training will cover some of the most common used Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) and how to implement them with students.

This is the same training, presented on three different dates. Attendees will receive 4 OPI renewal units. 

Monday May 23rd  – 1:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. 

Wednesday June 1 - 9:00 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. 

Monday June 13th - 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.  

Jennifer Schoffer Closson CCC-SLP is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences Department at the University of Montana.  Jennifer has presented locally and nationally about autism, clinical SLP education, and secondary transition.  Having spent 15 years in public schools and private practice, she is passionate about education. 

Assessment Strategies for Autism and Communication in Middle and High School Students (virtual training)

Registration for this training has closed.  

April 21   1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

May 4      1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

(same content each date)

This virtual training will address: 

            1. breaking down male and female presentation of autism in adolescents;

            2. understanding the impact of previous interventions on current presentation;

            3. assessment strategies that align with the OPI autism criteria;

            4. Does the student have autism, emotional disturbance or both? 

            5. What's next? --what types of interventions are available, why interventions are necessary (poor outlook for job acquisition/retention, post-secondary education and emotional health, etc.)

This training is free from the OPI and three OPI renewal units are available for attending the training.

LAMP Trainings (virtual)

The OPI Montana Autism Education Project is offering virtual LAMP trainings on January 17th and February 10th, 2022.   8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.     (same training, different days)

WHAT IS LAMP?

LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) is an augmentative alternative communication (AAC) approach designed to give a method of independently and spontaneously expressing themselves through a speech generating device. 

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. Videos will be used to illustrate the treatment components. (LAMP web page)

These trainings are available for free to Montana public school educators. Five OPI renewal units and .5 ASHA CEUs are available for this training. 

This training is full and registration has closed. 

(PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to complete a second registration with LAMP to receive a link to the training and your LAMP manual.) 

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.

ADOS-2 Toddler Module Training (virtual training)

February 17, 2022

9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The ADOS-2 toddler module may be used on children between the ages of 12 and 30 months of age. This workshop will use a lecture format and video demonstrations to introduce the basic principles of administering and scoring the ADOS-2 toddler module. This training is free for Montana public school educators. Six OPI renewal units are available for this training.  

Attendees must have previously completed training in the administration of the ADOS-2.

 

Register here.

Social-Emotional Development in Children with Language Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Virtual Training – March 3, 2022 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

                            November 5, 2021  9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Young children with language delays are at risk for persistent developmental and behavioral difficulties. This presentation will focus on the assessment of social-emotional development in children with language delays and autism spectrum disorder as well as the emerging evidence supporting effectiveness of interventions.

You can register for the training here. 

Social Thinking Recorded Trainings available through March 18, 2021

The OPI Montana Autism Education Project has a limited number of scholarships for Montana public school educators to view on-demand trainings from Social Thinking. These trainings will be available until March 18, 2022. 

No OPI renewal units are available for watching these recorded trainings. ASHA CEUs are available through Social Thinking. 

Only three trainings (total) are available per person. You can find training descriptions here. 

Please follow the links below to register for up to three trainings.

Social Topics: Social Thinking / Social Emotional Learning

Other Topics: Behavior / Teenagers / Executive Thinking

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED.

Training - OPI’s Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Virtual Training:

This training will include: 

1. Why and how the OPI created a new educational autism criteria in 2019;

2.  What is and who are/are not required to identify a student as having autism spectrum disorder in the education setting; 

3.  A review of the OPI autism criteria;

4.  Time for questions and answers.

1 in 44: A Review of the Most Recent CDC Data on Autism Prevalence

February 3   2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Have you ever wondered how the CDC develops their data on the rate of autism? Or how the rate of autism has changed over time? How did the inclusion (and then removal) of Asperger’s as a form of autism affect the rate of autism as measured by the CDC? This training will provide information on those questions. 

Cancelled due to a lack of interest.