MN Statewide ASD Newsletter

This newsletter is designed to provide all MN educators the necessary resources to increase their skills in teaching students with ASD. Special education teachers, related service providers, administrators, and paraprofessionals alike are encouraged to subscribe to this monthly newsletter. The MN Low Incidence Project is here to support you!

If you did not see our first two newsletters, there are links at the bottom to view them!

We stayed strong in January with over 1,000 views for our second monthly newsletter!

I am excited to bring you this month's newsletter as it includes a great way to honor paraprofessionals who are essential to our work with students with ASD. You can print a certificate of commendation for your paraprofessional(s) to recognize them for MN Paraprofessional Week at the end of January! (see below)

Thinking of each and every one of you as you navigate this difficult time in special education and beyond! Please remember that you are valued and supported!

Tami Childs

Statewide ASD Specialist

Metro ECSU

P.S. Remember, you can subscribe yourself by clicking on "Follow Tami Childs" on the right side of your screen.

• Monthly Featured Highlight!
• MN ASD Upcoming Events and Opportunities
• MN ASD Updates
• ASD Teacher and Related Service Provider Resources
  
• New Teacher/Educator Support & Training (NEST)
  
• STAR/LINKS
• MDE News and Resources
• Assistive Technology Tip of the Month
• ASD RESOURCE REPOSITORY

Those of us who work in this field know how critical our paraprofessionals are to the success of our educational programs for students with ASD! We could not do it without them!

Governor Waltz has declared the last week of January "Paraprofessional Recognition Week" Click here to view the signed proclamation Paraprofessional Recognition Week 2022

Here at Metro ECSU, we think that your paraprofessionals deserve recognition and a certificate provided by their district, school, or teacher. Please share this with others so that we can let paraprofessionals in MN know they are highly valued!!

Print a Certificate of Commendation from the Governor for your paras here!

Join us VIRTUALLY on February 2, 2022 from 12:30 - 3:30 pm for the STAR/ LINKS Midyear Training! This training is FREE and open to all MN educators teaching students with ASD. You don't have to be implementing STAR/LINKS to benefit from this training! We will have breakout for all levels.

Sensory AND Behavior: A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing Challenging Behaviors Flyer

Course Description:

In this innovative course, Gwen guides you through the neurochemicals involved in sensory modulation; the correlation between related disorders such as Bipolar, anxiety, ADHD, and Autism; and introduces you to a whole-brain approach for addressing difficult behaviors (such as self-injurious behaviors, aggression, meltdowns, toilet training, picky eating, and masturbation) from a wholistic perspective. This seminar leaves you with handy forms, intervention tools, and the knowledge you need to differentiate behavioral issues from sensory ones. You learn to use a combination of best-practice, evidence-based approaches to meet the needs of your most difficult clients.

Flyer with more details: Winning Strategies Conference Flyer

Conference Goal: Due to the continued need for virtual opportunities, we will provide registrants a link to a web page filled with pre-recording presentations, replacing the in-person conference of the past. This link will include eight different one-hour professional development segments to provide practical strategies to develop potential, eliminate negativity, address challenges, and enhance school culture.

Four lucky registrants will win door prizes which will be mailed to your location of choice! Please share with colleagues, send to paraprofessionals, and post at your schools!

These FREE webinars are open to all MN educators who are using or planning to use the STAR curriculum. In these quarterly webinars, we will provide guidance on the steps of implementing STAR as well as share resources and answer individual questions.

Save the Date: Save the date! The 2022 Minnesota Autism Conference will be held April 27-29, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency in Bloomington, Minn. For more information: https://ausm.org/events/state-autism-conference/

The STAR Online Learning System (including the STAR Media Center) is FREE To anyone in MN for the 2021-2022 School year!

Click here for more information about these tools

The Statewide ASD Updates presentation is updated two times per year and available to all MN educators. This is the current state updates presentation from November 2021. Please feel free to share this presentation with your staff.

New statewide update and current ASD Child Count Numbers coming April 2021!

https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/documents/asd/Fall_2021_ASD_State_Updates.pdf

Supporting Paraprofessionals

Make sure and recognize your paraprofessionals during the week of January 24th! See above to print a certificate to present to them!

Paraprofessional PD

During current times, there may be virtual time that your paraprofessionals are not working with students. Consider having them complete virtual professional development that will build their skills in working with students with ASD. Here in MN we have 3 recorded trainings that were conducted at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. These excellent trainings have reached over 1,000 paraprofessionals in the state. For access to these trainings and more, go to https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/distanceLearning/asd/asdParaDevResources.html

New site to purchase UCC protocols

Many of us use the Underlying Characteristics Checklists (UCC)- an excellent tool for understanding the individual strengths and needs of an individual with autism. The authors of the UCC are now offering their protocols through their website. All 5 UCC checklists can now be purchased from their website. They have also created a UCC Variety Pack (2 copies of each version). Now shipping! https://texasautism.com/blog/store/

This repository will include all evidence based practice resources that have been shared in the newsletter. This is your go-to place to access the tools that ASD educators need! We will add to this as we continue to roll out excellent resources!

The NEST is designed specifically for all of you teachers out there who are new to working with students with ASD. Feeling overwhelmed? We get it and want to help!

Recorded ASD Trainings - at your own pace

If you are a teacher new to ASD, consider some of the on-your-own trainings designed for paraprofessionals that will help you gain skills in teaching students with ASD. You can even watch them with your paraprofessionals! Check out these resources https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/distanceLearning/asd/asdParaDevResources.html

Join us for the ASD Midyear Training

Don't forget to register for the Feb 2, 2022 Midyear Training (12:30-3:30pm virtually) and take advantage of "new-to-ASD" breakout sessions designed just for you! We will be featuring sessions at the beginner to intermediate level. Come learn strategies that you can take back to use in your classroom! See the registration information for this training in the MN ASD Upcoming Events & Opportunities section of this newsletter.

MN has a STAR/LINKS Resource webpage available to assist educators in implementing these programs. Check it out at https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/Projects/star/index.html

Additionally, there are opportunities for educators to receive training, coaching, and free resources for STAR/LINKS implementation. For more information, contact Tami Childs at tami.childs@metroecsu.org

Minnesota Access Center Open Office Hours coming up: February 1 and 15, 2022 and March 1, 2022

Purpose of MAC Open Office Hours:

The purpose of MAC Open Office Hours is to provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions, discuss issues, and connect with specialists, colleagues, and vendors.

Click here for more information for each date.

November 2021

December 2021

Tami Childs, MN ASD Statewide Specialist

Gail Jankowski, MN Low Incidence Project Support

Email: tami.childs@metroecsu.org
Website: https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/Projects/asd/index.html
Location: 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills, MN, USA
Phone: 612-638-1527
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/525786611465791

This repository will include all evidence based practice resources that are shared in the newsletter on a given month. This is your go-to place to access the tools that ASD educators need! We will add to this as we continue to roll out excellent resources!

The Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM) are free, self paced modules on evidence based practice strategies for individuals with ASD. These modules include step-by-step guidance on each of the EBPs from the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence & Practice (formerly NPDC-ASD). These modules include activities, case examples, and videos as well as resources such as an implementation checklist and data collection sheets.

Click here to view

The Autism Internet Modules (AIM) include 50 free, self paced modules on evidence based practice strategies for individuals with ASD. They include case studies, instructional videos, discussion questions, activities and more.

Check out the modules that are labeled “Autism in the Classroom”!

Click here to view

This 1.5 hour training video is an essential training for ALL educators working with students with ASD. Consider having your paraprofessionals or others who are new to working with students with ASD watch this video for professional development. This training includes insight and information directly from individuals with ASD.

Click here to view

These interventions support all learners, including those with ASD. Completed and blank templates are free and available to download. Each intervention has a how-to explanation so it can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual you support.

Click here to view