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2. PLT Update
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State-wide Autism Conference – April 20, 2022.-Several of our staff are presenting. Emily Rubin is also presenting as the keynote speaker. Ashland will be having 5-7 buildings working with Emily this next year. Amy and Debra will speak about language to use in reports and language teacher may encounter in classrooms. Celine is speaking on anxiety. Sessions are going to be recorded.
PLT-TAP updates, talking in the future about new language about identity first in report writing. PLT had a speaker, Kate Gould from MAY institute spoke about the MAAPS program currently in research trials.
PLT clarified the medical diagnosis. Amy to put the link in the chat.
Debrief re: Columbia Regional Programs Webinar on Neurodiversity and Social Learning-Mask use with ADOS? How to use now?
Debra-it was about all kids with brain-based issues
Talked about self-advocacy about their goals, more empowerment of what is important to them and why. Also, to society, that these supports help everyone. Should the approach be applied universally? Parenting involvement. The training was recorded.
Controversy up North about language-we can look into making sure our documents have the correct language.
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https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/dsm-5-revision-tweaks-autism-entry-for-clarity/
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3. Focus Topics for Discussion
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Effect of the pandemic on ASD referrals and evaluations-Celine-referrals are off the charts. We missed a school year. Lots of behavior referrals are coming in that look like Autism. Not every referral coming in is Autism. Been helpful to have conversation with other evaluators (sounding board). Many levels of trauma and anxiety-be aware of all aspects. Use measures that show before pandemic/after pandemic. Many kids have missed a lot of school. Angie-Social communication is off. Shout out to Kyle Buck who has been extremely helpful for helping to sorting out referrals. Amy-our developmental history form is very helpful to see when behaviors may have started. Meryl-we are flooded with early childhood referrals, many without any indicators. No official guidance from the state about how to score students who have not had social interactions. Amy-This subject came up in the PLT. Angie -we have also seen more physical aggression. This makes teachers fearful and look for help (Autism). Agi- virtual Autism/SLP can help in the staff shortage? In September we will have training on this subject, (complex cases). Karma-would like clarification from ODE on DD and Autism dual diagnosis. Rowan-It is true to keep DD and Autism as 2 eligibilities because they may or may not be significantly delayed. Then as the child gets older there would be an opportunity to do ID testing. Many families are mobile now so it also gives staff who do not know the child would have more information. Amy should take this conversation back to the PLT. Agi is not aware of an OAR that you must do both.
Debra-our interventions are only as good as our assessments.
Debra- would having a help line where teachers can contact staff to ask about student behaviors? Staff could rotate. SOESD should look into in our post-pandemic times. It may help with the inflex of referrals. Staff are saying they are not getting this support from the behavior specialists. Meghann-gen ed teachers have been reaching out-when given the sp ed view the teachers get a bit defensive that they are already taxed so maybe the help line would help. Lauren has some ideas-breaking down social text into mini -lessons that would be teachable, helpful, and easy to use in a gen ed setting. Lauren puts the gen ed teacher on the resources email she sends out, so they have access to them.
The help line would need to have hours posted.
Lauren-in old district there was an emergency help line.
Regional services-claimed kids and not claimed kids—In the IEP/ISP there should be something on the page that says there is a regional service provided. Agi shared the cheat sheet from 2018 about Regional Service Supplementary Aids/Services. Coaching/Consultation/Training specific should be listed. The provider should be listed as Regional if these are listed. If they are not getting it then they are not Regional.
Suicide Risk Screening in students w ASD- Amy-Counselor completed the Columbia suicide screening. Question is are these questions appropriate for students with disabilities? The district will talk about having optional questions that may be more appropriate. Dr Koutnik has a list of resources that may be helpful (many of them are adult related). She can drop them into the shared drive. People need to be direct when using the suicide screening tools. The Columbia is aimed at adults. Everyone need to be comfortable and direct with students who you may believe are suicidal. Districts are mandated to have a suicide prevention plan in place and provide training to their staff.
Does anyone here ever get pulled into these conversations in your district? Angie was. It would have been helpful to be involved earlier in the screening part.
Amy was pulled into a situation (Threat Assessment).
There should be a person in every district to screen.
There is a hotline for teachers to use to get help with reporting suicide threats.
Angie-What about peer training. Students can recognize it with their friend but need to be trained. Need to get training to every kid.
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Agi will put in Linda Brown into the September training to answer these important subjects
Student Suicide Assessment Line (SSAL) In recognition of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our schools, Lines for Life has also launched the Student Suicide Assessment Line, which is a crisis support line available for school personnel. If a school does not have the resources to conduct safety assessments for a student, a staff member can call the SSAL and a master’s-level clinician trained in suicide intervention can assist. SSAL clinicians can provide consultation.
EASA Early Assessment Support Alliance- a resource for kids for psychosis -gives many supports
Here's the link to EASA https://www.easacommunity.org/
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4. Wrapping up ’21-’22…
Planning/Thoughts for ’22-’23…
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’21-‘22
Trainings attended/conducted
Achievements and Successes Green below 9:56 a.m.
Challenges/Lessons learned-Purple below 10:00 a.m.
We are looking into maybe hiring more classified staff to help support regionally.
’22-‘23
August Institute -Before Inservice week
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PECS
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Affirming Practices on Social Skills Training (Kari Dunn?)
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Kindergarten Readiness (for gen ed teachers)?
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SEE-KS roll-out in Ashland
September – OrPATS, ASD Eligibility Assessment training for evaluators
October – Executive Functions – Sara Ward
Spring ’23 –Jessica Minahan? Michelle Garcia-Winner?
Social Skills Carts/Materials – Library Building project?
A Virtual ADOS training coming Rachel Henley – she is certified by WPS.
What else would help in your area? Chat answers in blue
Gretchen loves the idea of supporting the Social Skill Carts in KF. All carts they have are being used.
Could use new staff training/Mentoring
ASD 101
Other:? ESSER funds and how to spend-we have a full page we submitted as to use as regional supports
Anna-Summer packets-Parks and Recs, schedules, how to connect with friends over the summer, on-line link support groups, parks and recs
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Everyone drop into the chat 1 or 2 things you achieved this year in your service area.
Now drop challenges/Lessons learned into the chat box
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5. Other:
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Proposed meeting dates for ’22-‘23:
#1 Sept. 14, 2022, 8:30-11:30
#2 Dec. 7, 2022, 8:30-11:30
#3 Feb. 1, 2023, 8:30-11:30
#4 April 12, 2022, 8:30-11:30
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Next meeting, September 14, 2022
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