Holmes County Training Center to begin severe autism class
A class focused on primary school students with severe autism will be launched at the Holmes County Training Center for the 2011-2012 school year.
Superintendent Scott Brace said Monday, May 23, that two students diagnosed with severe autism who are struggling in their current school environment and two students at the training center will be moved into the new class this fall.
“As awareness and incident of autism is growing, we are seeing children in the upper grades showing signs of autism,” Brace said. “It may be one or two per year per class that we are seeing with severe autism.”
Brace said the idea for a specific class came about through two students in a development disabilities class at Walnut Creek Elementary who were having difficulty. Cindy McCauley, training center principal, said the difficulty appears to stem from the two student’s level of autism, which affected their ability to function in the changing nature of the classroom.
“In our classrooms for kids with multiple disabilities, there are bits and pieces that are helpful for autism,” McCauley said. “(However), children with autism need to rely on a very structured schedule. They respond better to pictures instead of verbalization.”
The class is being designed with input and training from the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) and outside consultants. A teacher and two staff will attend a weeklong training in Columbus with OCALI this summer, Brace said. Through a contract with OCALI, specialists in Columbus can offer advice and assistance via live feed video monitoring in the classroom that is accessible by the teacher.
McCauley said the class will use picture “stories” to help guide the child through their day. Children with severe autism need to know what to expect ahead of time to lessen the risk of being overstimulated, and picture story boards literally illustrate to the child what to expect.
“Too much distraction, noise and transition are the recipe for a meltdown,” McCauley said. “These kids respond to a structured day, moving to transitions in increments.”
According to McCauley, a typical picture story might flow like this: ‘Johnny is going to have lunch at 11 o’clock. Johnny is going to the cafeteria, Johnny is going to get his tray, Johnny is going to sit at the table.’ The story progresses using pictures of places and people as well as physical objects.
The goal of the class will be helping the children learn skills to allow their eventual return to their local public school environment, McCauley said.
“We truly want to help the kids learn the skills that teach them how to regulate themselves,” McCauley said. “Reentering the public schools is at the top of the list.”
The class will begin with the four students and hopefully grow to meet the county’s needs, Brace said. The class will serve students with severe autism from both the East Holmes and West Holmes school districts.
“As we get more successful, we will add more students,” Brace said. “This (class) didn’t happen until we sat down with the kids and their parents, and they were very supportive.”
Superintendent Scott Brace said Monday, May 23, that two students diagnosed with severe autism who are struggling in their current school environment and two students at the training center will be moved into the new class this fall.
“As awareness and incident of autism is growing, we are seeing children in the upper grades showing signs of autism,” Brace said. “It may be one or two per year per class that we are seeing with severe autism.”
Brace said the idea for a specific class came about through two students in a development disabilities class at Walnut Creek Elementary who were having difficulty. Cindy McCauley, training center principal, said the difficulty appears to stem from the two student’s level of autism, which affected their ability to function in the changing nature of the classroom.
“In our classrooms for kids with multiple disabilities, there are bits and pieces that are helpful for autism,” McCauley said. “(However), children with autism need to rely on a very structured schedule. They respond better to pictures instead of verbalization.”
The class is being designed with input and training from the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) and outside consultants. A teacher and two staff will attend a weeklong training in Columbus with OCALI this summer, Brace said. Through a contract with OCALI, specialists in Columbus can offer advice and assistance via live feed video monitoring in the classroom that is accessible by the teacher.
McCauley said the class will use picture “stories” to help guide the child through their day. Children with severe autism need to know what to expect ahead of time to lessen the risk of being overstimulated, and picture story boards literally illustrate to the child what to expect.
“Too much distraction, noise and transition are the recipe for a meltdown,” McCauley said. “These kids respond to a structured day, moving to transitions in increments.”
According to McCauley, a typical picture story might flow like this: ‘Johnny is going to have lunch at 11 o’clock. Johnny is going to the cafeteria, Johnny is going to get his tray, Johnny is going to sit at the table.’ The story progresses using pictures of places and people as well as physical objects.
The goal of the class will be helping the children learn skills to allow their eventual return to their local public school environment, McCauley said.
“We truly want to help the kids learn the skills that teach them how to regulate themselves,” McCauley said. “Reentering the public schools is at the top of the list.”
The class will begin with the four students and hopefully grow to meet the county’s needs, Brace said. The class will serve students with severe autism from both the East Holmes and West Holmes school districts.
“As we get more successful, we will add more students,” Brace said. “This (class) didn’t happen until we sat down with the kids and their parents, and they were very supportive.”
Published: May 23, 2011
