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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
COVID-19 and Special Education
View information for educators and parents to support students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Definition: A child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a child with a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal social communication and social interaction, generally evidenced by the age of three. Other characteristics often associated with ASD are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental changes or changes in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.
ASD & COVID Resources
Our team has collected resources and tools specific to ASD that may be useful during this time as you plan for students.
View the Autism & COVID
Resources
Support - Autism Education Network
The Autism Education Network is designed to provide school teams support, training, and resources to guide services for students with autism. Below are potential offerings autism network team members may provide based on the request. The level of support provided will be based on AU/school team needs as well as autism team availability.
Training (Virtual or In-Person):
The CDE autism team can create targeted, individualized trainings for an AU/school team based on current needs. These trainings can be done virtually or in-person (pending COVID guidelines), and can cover an array of topics related to autism. Trainings can be anywhere from two hours to one full day. The team does not offer individualized versions of currently offered CDE trainings (see professional development page).
Field Support:
Field support is intended to offer consultation/coaching services and allows the CDE autism consultants to partner with AU/school teams to address systemic or long-standing concerns. This service supports implementation of evidence-based practices within the school setting. The consultant will work with the team to understand current needs, and then establish goals and a subsequent action plan. This plan may include up to six virtual or in-person visits (depending on need and COVID guidelines).
TeleSchool:
The CDE autism team partners with Children’s Hospital Colorado to offer support in completing functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and developing behavior intervention plans (BIPs) via virtual coaching sessions. This service is designed for teams looking to expand their skills in addressing challenging behavior (e.g., aggression, self-harm, property destruction) and can commit to recurring weekly or biweekly sessions for approximately one to two months. These sessions involve discussions, coaching, and practice implementing various forms of FBA/BIP and analyzing data. This service is recommended for teams addressing unique and intensive behaviors (e.g., considering alternative placement, behaviors that are not responding to intervention over time, behaviors that have injured staff or other students).
Resource Recommendation:
For teams looking to expand knowledge and in need of quick, potentially asynchronous learning opportunities, the CDE autism team can offer recommendations of existing resources to review. Consultants can provide individualized suggestions of webinars, modules, currently offered CDE trainings, and other related resources. To review options, please visit the webinar page to see all archived webinars, or the professional development page to see currently offered CDE autism team trainings.
Training
CDE provides face-to-face and online Education and Training in the area of autism. You can participate in webinars presented by the Tri-State Autism Collaborative or you can access them on demand. Face to face trainings, projects, and coaching are provided in the areas of literacy and numeracy.
- Virtual Events
- Tri-State Upcoming Webinars
- Archived Tri-State Webinars (On-Demand)
- Other Training Opportunities
- Face to Face
Resources
What's New
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Course & Frequently Asked Questions
The CDE offered RBT course application for the May session will open at 9 am on April 19, 2020! Please take this course if you intend to pursue the RBT credential. Please follow the link below to apply for the course. You will NOT receive a confirmation email after you’ve submitted your application. You will be contacted once you are admitted to the course.
RBT Application*
*opens at 9am on April 19th
Interested in taking the RBT Course but have a few questions before you commit? Autism Specialist Kelsey Young put together some of the frequently asked questions she receives.
View the FAQ
Early Identification of Autism in Girls
On March 17, Susan Hepburn presented a webinar where she presented a summary of the current research concerning early emerging markers of autism in girls. She discusses the possible implications of this research for improving early childhood autism assessments in girls.
An Evening with Temple - Recording Available
On February, 11th, 2021, Temple will shared a video of a recent presentation discussing her book, “Calling All Minds” among other thoughts on working with individuals with ASD. Following the video, we recorded a Q & A session with Temple.
Join the Conversation & Contact Us
ASD Office Hours
Brooke Carson will be offering ASD office hours on following Fridays from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM:
- December 4th, 11th &18th
- January 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th
- February 5th, 19th & 26th
- March 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th
- April 2th, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th
- May 7th, 14th & 21st
Join the ASD
Zoom Meetings
Meeting ID: 932 1846 7451
Please note, during the office hours we will not be able to give legal advice OR be able to discuss student-specific issues (e.g. IEP minutes, service delivery).
BCBA Conversations 2020-2021
If you are a BCBA working in a public or facility school across the state of Colorado, you are invited to a monthly gathering of other BCBAs to collaborate, problem solve and share resources. We will be picking up where we left off last year discussing delivering services in the time of COVID 19, so please come with questions, ideas and anecdotes about what has been helpful for you and your teams.
Hope to see you there!
Times/Dates:
- Sep 3, 2020 04:00 PM
- Oct 7, 2020 04:00 PM
- Nov 4, 2020 04:00 PM
- Dec 2, 2020 04:00 PM
- Jan 6, 2021 04:00 PM
- Feb 3, 2021 04:00 PM
- Mar 3, 2021 04:00 PM
- Apr 7, 2021 04:00 PM
- May 5, 2021 04:00 PM
- Jun 2, 2021 04:00 PM
Join the Colorado Autism Spectrum Disorder Listserv
To join the Autism Spectrum Disorder listserv please contact Brooke Carson or Janet Zimmermann.
Contact an ASD Specialist
Brooke Carson, Ph.D.
Phone: 303-866-6691
Email Brooke Carson
Rhonda Danner, M.A.Ed - Email Rhonda Danner
Kelsey Young, Ph.D. - Email Kelsey Young
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If you have problems with broken links or accessing the content on this page, please contact our web content coordinator Amanda Timmerman at Timmerman_A@cde.state.co.us. Please copy the URL link for this page into the email when referencing the problem you are experiencing.
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