LINKSPeer-to-Peer Mentoring Program

links (lingks), v. to unite or connect

Key Questions• What is Autism or ASD?

• What does an education for students with Autism require?

• What is the LINKS curriculum?

What is autism?

Autism is…a Neurobiological disorder that impacts processing,

attention and shifting, basic social behaviors, interaction with the environment and learning in

three diagnostic areas:

Impairment in Socialization

Restricted & Repetitive Behavior

Impairment in Communication

What do we know?• Autism is part of a spectrum called ASD that also

includes Asperger’s Syndrome and PDD-NOS.• Characteristics are evident by the age of 3 (DSM-

IV criteria)• 70-95% with a documented developmental

concern before the age of 2 years• 13-30% of children had a reported developmental

regression by 2 years of age• Occurs 4 times more often in boys than girls

Autism Spectrum Disorders

PDD-NOSImpaired social

interactions

Or

Impaired communication

Or

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns or behaviors,

interests and activities

AutismImpaired social

interactions

And

Impaired communication

And

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns or behaviors,

interests and activities

Asperger's Disorder

Impaired social interactions

And

Normal communication/langua

ge development

Or

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped

patterns or behaviors, interests and activities

New ResearchOne in 88 children is

diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder by the age

of 8.

On average 1 in 54 boys was diagnosed, compared to only 1 in 252 girls.

-Center for Disease Control

Goals for Students with ASD

(Biggest needs of students with ASD)

Socialization

Independence

Organization

Participation in the General Education Curriculum

Undeniable TruthsAutism is not going away

and…the school system needs

a way to meet these needs that is cost

effective.

Education for students with ASD

Definitions

LINK – a pupil who is enrolled in a LINKS course/credit program and who becomes a peer support or “LINK” to a pupil with ASD

LINKS – a local education agency’s board approved peer-to-peer support course/credit program

-MDE Pupil Accounting Manual

Evidence-based practices for students

with ASDThere are 24 identified evidence-based practices:

Antecedent-Based InterventionsComputer-Aided Instruction

Differential Reinforcement

Discrete Trial Training

ExtinctionFunctional Behavior Assessment

Functional Communication Training

Naturalistic Intervention

Parent-Implemented Intervention

Social Narratives

Self-Management

Peer-Mediated Instruction and InterventionSocial Skills Groups

PromptingReinforcement

Response Interruption/Redirection

Pivotal Response Training

Speech Generating Devices

Structured Work Systems

Task Analysis Time Delay Video Modeling

Visual Supports

PECS

Peer Mediated Instruction and

InterventionPeer-to-Peer support or peer mediated learning is well documented as an evidence based practice for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

LINKS elective course/credit programs represent one model of 21st Century instructional design that incorporates applied learning in a non-traditional manner.

LINKS is based on long-standing national research and is an evidence-based model that is documented to have multiple learning outcomes for both students with ASD and students enrolled in the elective course/credit program.

-MDE Pupil Accounting Manual

Evidence Based Outcomes

For student with ASD For LINK

• LINK models typical academic and social behavior in educational environments

• Improvements in academic competence

• Experimental learning provides progressive knowledge regarding awareness and understanding of disabilities and experience in increasing skills in organization, responsibility, problem-solving, decision-making and accountability

• Improvements in academic competence

• Pupils at-risk for academic and behavioral issues who enroll in LINKS courses demonstrate increased grades and increased attendance

-MDE Pupil Accounting Manual

Educational Environment

The special education teacher teaches a general education course called “LINKS,” and serves as the teacher of record, provides training, facilitates case conferences, and gives the grade for the general education pupil in the elective course which is delivered in the special education class.

The special education teacher is teaching the special education program at the same time.

-MDE Pupil Accounting Manual

General Requirements for all LINKS courses

• Pupil must be enrolled in grades 6-12,• Curriculum is approved by the local board of education,• Instructional objectives are established by the approved

peer-to-peer support curricular content,• Pupil is provided a course syllabus,• The LINKS teacher must provide lesson plans and the

grading criteria for each LINKS course/credit,• Daily attendance for participating pupils is recorded by

the teacher,• Pupil assessment and grading is completed by the

teacher of record,• Pupil meets all other enrollment and pupil eligibility

requirements.

-MDE Pupil Accounting Manual

Curriculum

CurriculumThere is already an established curriculum for the LINKS class!

This curriculum is Flexible enough to meet a variety of needs

Accessible from any location with internet accessComprehensive in its content

Each online module includes a pre-test, content material for learning, and a post-test.

http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/index.php

Online ModulesModules are organized sequentially into four levels:Level 11. About Autism Spectrum Disorders2. Recognizing Autism-Assessment for Identification3. Peer Mediated instruction4. Prompting5. Reinforcement6. Restricted Patterns of Behavior, Interests, &

Activities7. Picture Exchange Communication System8. Language and Communication

Online ModulesLevel 21. Rules and Routines2. Transitioning between activities3. Antecedent-Based activities4. Functional Communication5. Supporting successful completion of homework6. Response Intervention/Redirection7. Visual support8. Naturalistic Intervention9. Extinction

Online ModulesLevel 31. Self-Management2. Overview of Social Skills3. Home Base4. Assessment for Identification5. Sensory Differences6. Social Narratives7. Time Delay8. Differential Reinforcement9. The Incredible 5-point Scale10.Strategies for teaching Functional Skills11.The Employee with Autism

Online ModulesLevel 41. Social Supports for Transition-aged individuals2. Structured work systems & activity organizations3. Task Analysis4. Structured Teaching5. Speech Generating Devices6. Preparing Individuals for Employment7. Customized Employment8. Parent-Implemented Intervention9. Computer-Aided Instruction10.Discrete Trail Training

JournalLINK students are required to record a daily journal

entry on a password protected blog.

This encourages the LINK student to think and reflect on what is happening in their experience with the student with ASD

Informs the LINK teacher as to what is happening in class

Informs other LINKs that are working with the same student about what is happening and share ideas

Journal Questions• Socialization: Describe how your student

socializes with you and your classmates.• Independence: Does your student show

independence or need help being more independent? Give examples.

• Academics: How do you think your student is doing with homework, lectures, note taking, and assignments?

• Other: Tell us anything else that happened during your Peer Connections hour.

LINKedUPWebsite for LINK students and teacher

to communicate, post additional articles for reading, post assignments, and record daily journal on password

protected blog.

http://linkedeup.edublogs.org/

Case ConferencesThis is a meeting of all the LINK students that are working with the same student with ASD. This meeting could be held every 3-4 weeks. Case conferences help support the LINKs.

Case Conferences come up with new ideas for the student with ASD.

The meeting should ask three basic questions:1. What is going right with our student?2. What are some of the challenges our student is

facing?3. Brainstorm solutions

Who? What? When? Where? Why?

Who is involved? General education students will sign up for

LINKS class and receive an elective credit

The LINK will be matched with a student with Autism based on common interests, experience and age

Special Education teacher will serve as teacher of record and teach both classes

What is the teacher’s role?

Training LINKSOrganizing

Informing the rest of the staffDefining the role of the LINKs

Motivating the LINKsCreating a positive atmosphere for my students

with ASDModeling behaviors for LINKs

When do LINKs receive training?

LINKS work with the student with ASD four days a week during their assigned

hour and meet with the teacher for training day one day a week.

Case Conferences are usually held during lunch time once every 3-4

weeks.

Where do students meet?

LINK students will work with the students with ASD in natural settings such as the

special education room, hallways, cafeteria, and gym.

LINKS class has a classroom, just like any other class at the High School. This room also serves as the “safe haven” for ASD

students.

Why do we need LINKS?

LINKs are peers and they canSay things I cannotDo things I cannot

Influence like I never will

The person who really wants to do something finds a

way; the other person finds an excuse.