The TAG ProgramAfter-School ABA Services

A School-based Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Ellie Becker, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Plainview Old-Bethpage School District

Frank Carbone, Behavioral Consultant, Plainview Old-Bethpage School District Jeannine Gulli, TAG Supervisor, Plainview-Old Bethpage School District Kristen Raszka, TAG Supervisor, Plainview-Old Bethpage School District

The Origin of TAGThe After-School Group Students with home hours

Same level of services each year Growth of program Not seeing desired results

Families with parent training hours Requests for individualized sessions Parents not always involved in the service

Staff turn-over (compensatory hours) Implementation of goals that cannot be met during the

school day Social ADL

Why It Makes Sense For Students with Special Needs A basement is not real life IEP goals support school functioning Access to peers Generalization of skills

Hallway walking Classroom behavior Special area (practice routines) Lunchroom/recreation Bathroom skills

Why It Makes Sense For Students with Special Needs

Builds connections with potential classmates

Less restrictive Having a life (basements are

boring) Belonging to a group

Why It Makes Sense For Administrators Doing what’s best for students Doing what’s best for students=happy

staff, happy parents, and happy children Happy children, staff, and

families=happy administrators Better control Better oversight

Access to observations Access to information

Ability to provide on going supervision to providers

Why It Makes Sense For Administrators

Confidence in money well spent

Ratio fading as students progress

Service fading as students progress

Leads to more naturalistic after-school activities

Why It Makes Sense For Staff Collaboration Access to supervision On the spot problem solving Variety Avoiding the “stuck in the middle

syndrome” Very rewarding (teach it, see it) Happy staff members = productive staff

members

District AssessmentDo You Need TAG?Here are some things to think about.

Do you have students with autism who receive home services?

Do you have families requesting “individualized” parent training and/or behavior intervention services?

Do you have more than one agency providing home hours?

Is time a factor in adequately overseeing home programs?

Do you have a vision to provide services following the least restrictive model?

Do You Need TAG?More things to think about.

Do you know what your students are working on in their homes?

Do you have confidence that the hours you are funding are producing better students, better lives?

Do your students with home hours eventually participate in existing school based programs

(i.e. after-school clubs/teams, extra help, after-care)?

If you answered yes to the first five questions and no to the next three questions then you need an after school program for students with autism.

The Model- Elementary

Up to 4 days per week CSE recommendation depends on student’s

current levels, needs, and goals

Currently 14 students enrolled in Elementary TAG Students grouped by levels, needs, and age Staffing

4 teachers* 12 teacher aides*

*not in attendance each day 15-20 peers

Model behavior, leisure and social skills

The Model- Elementary

Expectations for all students Increased speech Increased social skills Acquisition of age-appropriate social skills Improved daily living skills Improved motor skills Increase in typical behaviors Friendship with peers

Parent participation Passive Active

The Model- Middle School Up to 3 days per week

CSE recommendation depends on student’s current levels, needs, and goals

Currently 9 students enrolled in Middle School TAG

Students grouped by levels, needs and age

Staffing 2 teachers* 6 aides* *Not all in attendance each day

About 40 peers per day (about 120 peers total)

Each day is broken into two periods Large group- gymnasium Small groups- classrooms

The Model- Middle School Students have opportunities to join

clubs and sports Chorus Basketball Baseball Lego Club Art Club Grandpals Kids in the Kitchen Club Drama Club

Parental Participation Passive Active

The Model- High School

2 days per week Currently 6 students enrolled Staffing

1 teacher 6 aide

15 peers Parent participation

Passive Active

The Model- High School Students have an opportunity to join

clubs and sports depending on their interests and needs

Track Bowling Basketball Baseball Weight Training Anime Club Culture Club

Challenges Buy in from club advisors and coaches Access to peers For older students sports are

competitive Appropriate criteria

Parental desire to have their children attend

Procuring peers Use of facilities

Suggestions For Getting Started

Work needs to be done before annual review season

Build a solid foundation…do the groundwork

Develop a proposal Board proposal Family acceptance Staff recruitment Peer recruitment Training

More Suggestions For Getting Started Peer Training

Training sessions (after-school) Practice session (after-school) On site training

Staff Training Autism training Problem behavior training Discrete trial teaching training Teaching social skills training Facilitating peer modeling intervention Continual on site training

More Getting Started Family Training

About the program Social Skills development Social Skills teaching Supporting the program

Ordering Materials Curriculum Toys/Games Training Videos Furniture Storage

Creating Protocols Arrival Dismissal Absences Emergency Contact Communication

Program Calendar

More Getting Started

Skill Assessments Developing individual curricula

based on student’s needs and IEP goals

Setting up Two hour schedule Grouping students/staff/peers

Learn From us! Start slow Be prepared

Have everything set up prior to the first day of the program

Set enrollment criteria Who gets to come?

Invest in training Quality of staff is directly correlated

with quality of your program Substitute coverage

You Are Not Alone Communicate with school districts that have programs

up and running Use curriculum, materials, and resources that have

already been created Observe effective and established programs

Administrators/Board Members Staff Families

Connect new families with happy families in your district Positive Parent Energies

Parental Foundations

Feel Free to Contact Us

ebecker@pobschools.org fcarbone@pobschools.org Jgulli@pobschools.org kraszka@pobschools.org