**Strategies for Teaching based on Autism Research......STAR.... presented by Dr. Joel Arick and Sheila Magee. Feb 2/3, 2009 ,at Pulaski Technical College, North Little Rock. 8:30-3:45 each day. Dr. Arick, the lead author of STAR has 30 years of experience working in the field of autism. Ms. Magee is a special education administrator who trains teachers and support staff in the implementation of STAR. The STAR program has been shown to be effectively implemented by public school early childhood and elementary teachers, related service staff and instructional assistants. It provides intensive instruction in critical skills for children with autism. The program provides a structure that allows teachers to implement instruction throughout the day using typical school routines and provides techniques to teach the child in short 1 to 1 instructional sessions. $250 per person . Preregistration required. Use the ARLEARN registration form under "helpful links" on this page. For a map of Pulaski Tech, go to pulaskitech.edu...cllick on virtual tour at the bottom of the page or..from the Wyndham, go left on Maple to W. Broadway, turn right, go one block to Main, turn left, go to Pershing, turn left and go until on campus, Take the 2nd entrance (Cypress) to the Campus Center (watch for the clock tower.) The Center is on the right with parking in front. A block of rooms has been reserved at the NLR Wyndham until Jan. 11. Call the Wyndham at 501-371-9000 and ask for the AR LEARN rate. Email questions to Terrim@dawson.dsc.k12.ar.us.
** Vanderbilt - Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Disorders -TRIAD-lead consultant, Kim Franks, Vanderbilt, Feb. 17-18, 2009, at the Holiday Inn Airport in Little Rock. 8:30-3:45 each day with lunch provided. This is a new opportunity for training in the field of autism. It is a two-day training for administrators that is geared specifically toward principals and assistant principals for the purpose of providing information on best practices for students with autism so that administrators may evaluate programs and provide teacher support. Topics will include; characteristics of autism and how they impact learning, best practices and methodologies and how to evaluate teachers who use them, hot topics in the field of autism, IEP development and making program decisions, the use of behavior support plans, and using available resources. Professional goals will be developed by each administrator specific to their school. $299 per person before Jan.16,2009, $325 after Jan.16, 2009. Use the AR LEARN registration form under "helpful Resources" on this page. To reserve a room at the Holiday Inn Airport, call 501-490-1000 and ask for the AR LEARN rate. Email questions to Terrim@dawson.dsc.k12.ar.us
** Superflex, A Superhero Social Thinking Curriculum-- Core concepts for supporting students with autism. Stephanie Madrigal, MA, CCC from Teach SOCIAL Silicon Valley- Feb. 27, 2009 at Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center on UCA campus. 8:00-3:00. Stephanie Madrigal is a Master's level Speech -language Pathologist and the lead therapist and clinical manager at Michelle Garcia Winner's Teach SOCIAL Silicon Valley. The clinic offers a range of services including social thinking groups, assessments, consultations and trainings for clients ranging from 3 years through adulthood. The workshop will focus on the prerequisite knowledge that interventionists must understand to insure that the "social how-to instruction" will mean more than teaching isolated skills that require no thinking and fail to generalize to other environments. The Superflex curriculum will then be explored. This is a cognitive behavior strategy that uses cartoon characters and is appropriate for elementary school children and immature older students. $125 per person before Jan. 31, 2009 $140 per person after Jan. 31, 2009. Use the AR LEARN registration form under "helpful resources" on this page. To get to Brewer-Hageman Center take exit 129 off I-40. Go west on Hwy. 286 (David Ward Drive) for @ two miles. Turn right on Donaghey Ave. Proceed past the baseball and soccer fields, take a left onto Beatrice Powell Dr. , go @ one block. The building is on the south side of the street. Parking lots are on the north, west and south sides of the building. Email questions to Terrim@dawson.dsc.k12.ar.us