Autism Coaching/Training Project: UNC & CSU Partner with VBN Training for Teacher Training in Colorado
ACT Project
Autism Coaching/Training Project
Abstract
The Act Project is a collaborative venture between 3 school districts (Poudre, Thompson and
Adams 50), 2 Institutions of Higher Education (University of Northern Colorado and Colorado
State University), the Aspen Center, and the Autism Society of Larimer County. The project
is designed to provide training for teachers, related service providers and family members
in strategies for teaching students within the disability category of Autism and in depth
training and coaching for implementation in Verbal Behavior techniques (Sundberg &
Partington,1998). In addition the strategies are applicable for students with developmental
disabilities of a communicative, social or behavioral nature. The project is designed in
accordance with National Staff Development Councils standards that support the growth
of professional learning communities and pairs training with coaching and reflective practice,
data collection and data-driven decision making.
The model developed for this initiative engages participants in training provided through
CDEs Autism Team. This assures that all learners have a common grounding and
understanding of varied strategies for teaching students with Autism and other
developmental disabilities. The model builds on the CDE Autism initiative and is supported
by a Leadership team comprised of district personnel, teaming with professionals from
UNC and CSU.
The strategic involvement of families is layered in all components of the project. First
selected parent leaders from the Autism Society of La. Co. participate in all training
opportunities and periodically post summary information for all families to view on their
website. Secondly, after each level of Verbal Behavior training and coaching, each district
will convene a meeting of the families who have children in the classrooms where the
strategies are implemented. The purpose of these meetings is to inform parents of the
use of Verbal Behavior strategies and provide them with ideas for using and supporting
the strategies in the home.
As the school year progresses the Verbal Behavior training and coaching occurs in
incremental steps and convenes participants periodically to reflect on their practices,
address data collection and data-driven decision making while developing competence in
intervention delivery.
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