LINKS Program

links (lingks), v. to unite or connect

A Peer to Peer ApproachTurner Howson Elementary School

Parent’s NightMay 9, 2012

Jessica ClarkRudyard Center

Teacher

Rachel BymaSpecial Education

Supervisor

Carrie CarrASD Specialist

Angela CravenSocial Worker

T h e T u r n e r H o w s o n

L I N K S T e a m

Mrs. Otten2nd Grade

Mrs. McDonoff4th Grade

Mrs. Hagen4th Grade

Mrs. Paquin5th Grade

Mrs. Treml5th Grade

LINKS – A Peer to Peer Approach

Recipient of the

Michigan Administrators of Special Education2012 PRESIDENT’S AWARD!!!!

Janis Weckstein Anthony ThaxtonPresident – MAASE Director - MAASE

1. Autism is a disorder of the eyes and ears.

2. There are 9 students with ASD in Rudyard Schools and the Rudyard Center.

3. Only certain students interact with students who have ASD.

4. LINKS take the place of an adult professional.

5. LINKS is a program that benefits all of the kids involved.

1. FALSE: Autism is a neurological disorder.

2. FALSE: There are 15 students with ASD being educated in the Rudyard Area Schools and the Rudyard Center.

3. FALSE: All of the students at Turner Howson interact with students who have ASD.

4. FALSE: LINKS are peer friends who help (like any other friend) in addition to the adult professionals a student with ASD needs.

5. TRUE: LINKS is a program that benefits all of the kids involved.

Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District

A look at the data trends in the incident of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Prepared by Carrie Carr ~ ASD Specialist EUPISD

YearNumber of students

found eligible as AI

Total # of Students

Eligible for Special Ed.

Programs and Services

Number of School Aged

Students

Percentage of students

identified as ASD eligible

within Sp. Ed. Population

Incidence Rate of

students with ASD per

10,000 school aged children

2011 92 1,147 7,468 8% 123

2010 89 1,236 7,539 7.2% 118

2009 82 1,269 7,663 6.5% 107

2008 73 1,248 7,745 5.9% 94

2007 72 1,182 7,983 6.1% 90

2006 69 1,208 8,283 5.7% 83

2005 48 1,299 8,163 3.7% 59

2004 37 1,215 8,392 3.1% 44

2003 30 1,203 8,579 2.5% 35

2002 27 1,174 8,683 2.3% 31

2001 21 1,096 8,835 1.9% 24

What is autism?A brain disorder characterized by impaired social interactions and

communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior

Social Interactions

Communication Behaviors

Continuum of Skills for Individuals with Autism

Severe CI Gifted Aloof Passive Active/Odd Non-verbal Verbal Awkward Agile Hyposensitive Hypersensitive

Adapted from The Advocate (2003)

Cognitive Ability

Social Interaction

Communication

Motor Skills Fine & Gross

Sensory

A WALK IN THEIR SHOES…

Spelling Test

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS WITH ASD 24 identified evidence-based practices:

Antecedent-Based Interventions

Computer-Aided Instruction

Differential Reinforcement

Discrete Trial TrainingExtinction

Functional Behavior Assessment

Functional Communication Training

Naturalistic Intervention

Parent-Implemented Intervention

Social Narratives

Self-Management

Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention

Social Skills Groups

Prompting Reinforcement

Response Interruption/Redirection

Pivotal Response Training

Speech Generating Devices

Structured Work Systems

Task Analysis

Time DelayVideo Modeling

Visual Supports

PECS

LINK mentors help the students with ASD just like they would help any peer. The difference is they understand the unique needs of the student with ASD so they know

why the student may react different in different situations. The LINKS program lets the adults talk with the peers so

we can take away the fear of not understanding.

So...

Why is a Peer to Peer Model Beneficial?

• Who can best model age appropriate social and communication skills?

• It’s not that kids with ASD don’t want to be social…just sometimes lagging the skills on how to be.

• Kids with ASD have qualities that make for excellent friends!

• Adults just aren’t cool!

• LINK Benefits, too!

Components of LINK Programs

*PE * Music

* Library * Lunch

* Recess * Assemblies

* General Education Classes

* Special Education Classes * Computer Lab