By Lisa Hollady and Abigail Moehringer, Autism Academy 360
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The podcast currently has 36 episodes available.
In this episode, we’re breaking down preference assessments—those handy tools that help figure out what really motivates students, especially those with special needs. We chat about different ways to discover what kids love, from simple interviews to observing their choices in real-time. By collecting this info, teachers can create a preference hierarchy, which is just a fancy way of ranking what kids enjoy most so they can use those favorites to encourage positive behavior.
We also share some practical tips for getting the most accurate results, like keeping things consistent and offering a variety of choices. Plus, we tackle common hiccups, like when kids aren’t interested in what’s offered or get overwhelmed by too many options, and how to work around those challenges. This episode is all about making behavior management smoother and more effective by truly understanding what makes each student tick.
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa Hollady discusses the powerful role visuals play in both our everyday lives and the classroom. From driving directions to restaurant menus, visuals help guide us through various tasks without overwhelming us. Lisa emphasizes how visuals can support students with Autism and benefit all learners by creating independence and reducing frustration from verbal overload.
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In this episode, we chat about Behavior Skills Training (BST) and its critical role in equipping educational teams to effectively support students with autism. BST is broken down into four key components: Instruction, Modeling, Rehearsal, and Feedback. We start by explaining the significance of BST in developing and maintaining effective teaching strategies. The Instruction phase is highlighted for its importance in providing clear and concise directions, using visuals, and demonstrating materials. The Modeling phase emphasizes showing specific behaviors or techniques with either students or adults.
Next, the Rehearsal phase is defined as the opportunity for team members to practice new skills, with suggestions for creating these practice opportunities. The Feedback phase is discussed for its crucial role in offering constructive and supportive feedback to improve performance. We also address common challenges teams might face, such as time constraints and comfort levels, and provide solutions to these issues. The episode concludes with a summary of the key points, reiterating the importance of each BST phase in fostering a well-trained, cohesive educational team.
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Episode summary: In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa Hollady delves into the importance and implementation of visual supports in special education classrooms. Visual supports play a crucial role in enhancing communication, easing transitions, and creating a smoother daily routine for students. Lisa outlines the benefits of visual supports, particularly for students with Autism, and offers practical tips for effectively using visuals in the classroom. From setting up daily schedules to using choice boards, this episode provides actionable strategies for educators to increase student independence and reduce classroom challenges.
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In this episode, we share five essential behavior tips to help teachers support students with autism at the start of the school year. The first tip is to pair yourself with positive reinforcement, a strategy discussed in depth in episode 9. Getting to know the child is the second tip, emphasizing the importance of conducting preference assessments, spending time with the student, and communicating with their parents. The third tip advises against overwhelming students with too many directions and activities at once, recommending a simple and gradual approach with regular breaks.
The fourth tip stresses the importance of using visual aids from day one. Teachers are encouraged to have visual schedules ready and to model their use, rather than waiting to see what the students might need. The final tip is to reinforce good behavior immediately, whether through a token economy, verbal praise, or allowing students to earn rewards. This positive reinforcement should be tailored to each student and evolve throughout the year, but it must begin on the first day.
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Hollady explores the importance of establishing effective classroom routines to support students with autism in the general education setting. Lisa discusses how routines can enhance independence, and time management skills, and provide a sense of structure. She offers practical tips for creating and maintaining successful routines, emphasizes the need for visual supports, and provides examples of routines that can be implemented throughout the school day to minimize disruptions and enhance learning.
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In this episode, we speak with Jenna, a mother whose son Connor has autism. Jenna shares her family's journey, the challenges they faced after Connor's diagnosis, and their experiences with the education system. Jenna discusses Connor's diagnosis, the initial challenges, and how they found support. She shares her interactions with the education system, highlighting effective strategies and approaches that have helped Connor. Jenna offers practical advice for teachers working with children with autism for the first time, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between school and home to create a consistent environment.
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Holladay delves into the importance and implementation of independent work systems (IWS) in special education classrooms. These structured systems, such as the three-drawer bin system and task boxes, are designed to help students with special needs become more self-reliant by providing visual cues and prompts.
Lisa shares practical steps for selecting appropriate tasks, utilizing visual supports, and collecting data to monitor progress. She emphasizes the transformative impact of these systems on classroom dynamics and offers free resources to help educators get started, including a one-hour training and a starter kit. Whether you are a brand new teacher or a seasoned veteran, IWS can be a huge game-changer in your classroom!
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Abby takes on the topic of token boards, an effective tool for motivating and managing behavior in autistic students but also a controversial one.
First, we define token boards and explain their basic concept. This is where confusion comes in, so we are going to talk about what they actually are.
Then we address common concerns and provide counterarguments. We first will cover the very valid concern that is the over-reliance on extrinsic rewards. Another common argument is the complexity and time-consuming setup and implementation. Lastly, the concern of inequity and fairness is addressed and talked about how to make them fair in your classroom.
Finally, Abby will discuss how to implement token boards effectively. The implementation sometimes causes these systems to completely break down which is why she is here to help prevent that.
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In this episode of the Autism Academy 360 Podcast, host Lisa Hollady delves into strategies for landing a job in special education, particularly in autism settings. The episode covers essential tips for acing interviews, such as preparing answers to common questions, highlighting your experience, and effectively communicating with families.
Lisa emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive learning environments and being prepared for panel interviews. The episode also offers practical advice on behavior management, conflict resolution, and collaborating with support teams to ensure holistic support for students with autism. You won't want to miss this episode if you are a new educator, or you're a seasoned educator who needs some tips on landing a new job!
The podcast currently has 36 episodes available.
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