Aspect Educational Outreach aims to improve the outcomes of school aged students with autism by increasing their engagement and participation in school and the wider community. Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is the country s leading autism-specific service provider. Aspect builds capacity and confidence with people who are on the autism spectrum, their families and communities by providing information, education and other services. One of the ways Aspect achieves this is by employing highly skilled professionals with expertise in the field of autism education to deliver Aspect Educational Outreach services and supports. Aspect Educational Outreach supports the ongoing successful inclusion of children and young people in mainstream schools, support units, special schools and the wider community, in collaborative partnership with their parents, schools and other professionals. Based on the Aspect Comprehensive Approach for Education, Aspect Educational Outreach uses a practical approach built on research and emphasises the importance of positive behaviour support and the development of the students learning, communication, social, and independent living skills. The Aspect Comprehensive Approach for Education includes a specialised curriculum and a focus on skills training informed by individual assessment and planning. It recognises the importance of positive behaviour support through environmental accommodations, structured learning and transition planning, multidisciplinary expertise, family involvement and professional learning for staff. Programs and supports include: School-based support - whole school approach and individual student focused, peer education and group programs; Community based social supports - local social clubs and integration in community based activities; Individual supports - coordination of supports, diagnosis disclosure, home education support; Professional learning - customised workshops based on school/organisation identified learning needs, evidence informed content and practical application for the whole school and classroom environments. Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is registered to deliver supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and through the Australian Governments Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) initiative. For enquiries and to obtain an application form, contact Educational Outreach on 1300 335 015 or email customerservice@autismspectrum.org.au and type Educational Outreach on the subject line.
Services & Supports School-based support Whole school approach - consultancy focused on school, class and individual supports to improve the engagement, participation and outcomes of students with autism in school environments, Individual student consultation - Informal functional assessment based on observation and/or interaction with the student and communications with school staff and parents/carers. This involves a collaborative review meeting with key stakeholders to identify and prioritise areas for development. School-based consultancy is customised to suit the needs of the school/students and may include a focus on: o individual planning (IEPs, IPs) with an emphasis on autism-specific areas of learning (social communication, behavior, sensory) and the development of a student profile. Planning is guided by positive behavior support (PBS) principles and includes emotional regulation strategies, o accommodations and adjustments to curriculum, o supporting transition and inclusion, o environmental review, o social supports (individual social supports, playground review and recommendations). Peer education Carol Gray s The Sixth Sense introduces mainstream peers to social differences and challenges for students with high functioning autism in a one hour interactive workshop. Let s Learn More About Autism provides a more general one-hour interactive overview of autism for mainstream students. Both programs are suitable for students in Years 5 to 12. A customised program can be provided for students in Kinder to Year 4. Social skills program Social skills programs address a wide range of developmentally appropriate social topics, such as Conversation Skills, Playground Skills, Sharing and Turn Taking, Asking for Help, Managing Feelings, Dealing with Teasing and Bullying Learning More About Me (Diagnosis Disclosure) and Relaxation Techniques. Groups are carefully organised and matched for age and ability and usually comprise between 6 and 12 participants. A program generally runs for 6 to 8 weeks. Children with a diagnosis of high functioning autism would benefit from these programs. An Educational Outreach consultant facilitates these programs and resources are provided. Movie Club The Movie Club is a group social skills program for mainstream high school students with autism. The program package includes an EO consultant as facilitator and a copy of the facilitator s guide and student booklet. Workshops for students Half-day workshop focused on specific social skills topics. Workshops are tailored to the age of the students. Participants are provided with an information sheet which can contribute to their individualised plan (IEP/ILP). Professional learning Educational Outreach consultants work with schools and other services/organisations to identify specific learning needs and focus areas for school/service professional learning. Standard and customized workshops can be delivered to small and large groups. In addition, coaching/mentoring programs can be developed to support the implementation of participants new learning. The services listed above are also available to Out of School Hours Care and other organisations providing education and support for school aged children and young people with autism.
Services & Supports Additional individual supports* Diagnosis disclosure - Learning More About Me provides children and young people with autism with supportive information about their diagnosis in an interactive family workshop. Suitable for students in Year 5 to Year 12 Home education support - support provided to families and school aged children and young people who are being educated at home. Includes a focus on: o individual programming o curriculum support o environmental reviews o positive behavior support o teaching strategies o entry/re-entry to school o transition to post school options Coordination of supports - families can access assistance to coordinate their child/young person s supports. A meeting is held with key stakeholders to review goals and areas for development and set short and long term priorities. Inclusion in community based activities - short term support can be provided to promote successful inclusion in community based activities e.g. local sport groups, dance groups, karate, etc. Developing individual strengths and interest - support can be provided to develop the specific strengths and interest area/s of a student with autism. Support may include identifying mentors and opportunities for the student to engage in activities. Transition support development of a transition plan and individual supports to promote a successful transition for key transition stages (entry to school, high school and post school options). Social Clubs social clubs provide an opportunity for children and young people with autism to come together, on a weekly or fortnightly basis, with their peers in a safe and supportive setting. The aim of the social club is to support individuals to develop skills to enable greater participation in the wider community through building capacity and confidence. *Additional individual supports can be delivered at school, another venue or in the home environment. Professional learning All Aspect Educational Outreach professional learning workshops deliver evidence informed information with a focus on the practical application for schools and classrooms. Participants will leave workshops with practical strategies and supports that can inform their practice. All professional learning opportunities draw on adult learning principles to actively engage the audience in learning. Customised workshops Schools and other services supporting school aged students with autism can access customised professional learning based on identified learning needs and areas for development. The Educational Outreach consultant will work collaboratively with schools/services to determine the best option for professional learning. Standard workshops What is the autism spectrum? A one hour presentation to teachers and other professionals working with school aged children with autism. The participants will learn about the characteristics of autism and the implications for teaching and learning. This presentation can be adapted to incorporate a focus on individual students within that environment and key accommodations and adjustments.
Services & Supports The following are BOSTES Quality Teaching Council registered Professional Development. Supporting students with autism in mainstream school settings (K-6 and 7-12) A comprehensive overview of autism, features and the impact on students' learning, social communication and behaviour in mainstream school settings. Specific learning theories (Theory of Mind, Executive Function, and Central Coherence) are addressed in relation to the learning styles of students with autism. Practical visual support strategies are explained within a Positive Behaviour Support framework. The final workshop session allows participants to identify and develop practical strategies to address the needs of identified students in their schools. Opportunities for discussion and problem solving supported by extensive resources make this an engaging and interactive workshop. Topics include: overview of autism and diagnosis criteria; specific challenges faced by students with autism in mainstream school settings; learning theories (Theory of Mind, Executive Function and Central Coherence) A whole school inclusive approach: a Positive Behaviour Support framework Factors that predispose students with autism to behavioural differences and challenges Practical visual supports to aid teaching and learning in mainstream school settings The autism spectrum and practical social support strategies An overview of autism with a particular focus on social impairments and implications for social inclusion. Interventions are explained within a Positive Behaviour Support framework and include: practical proactive social support strategies for the classroom; social stories, social scripts and comic strip conversation; playground/break-time programming; diagnosis disclosure; peer education; implementing group social skills programs; recreational social clubs options. Creating structured learning opportunities (based on the methods of the TEACCH program) A two-day hands-on, practical course promoting the use of Structured Teaching, individualised planning, positive behaviour support and environmental supports based on the methods of the TEACCH Autism Program. Participants will work collaboratively to identify the thinking and learning styles of the students they are teaching. Using evidence-informed practice, participants will be asked to align knowledge of their students with the elements of individual planning, structured teaching, positive behaviour support and environmental supports. On Day Two, participants will work collaboratively to practically apply their knowledge and skills as part of the workshop, in a classroom for students with autism before transferring into their own daily practice. This component of the workshop includes assessment, planning and evaluation through the restructuring of programs focussing on students ability, strengths and interests. Topics include: an overview of the TEACCH Autism program, how it relates to a comprehensive educational approach and the culture of autism; the elements of Structured Teaching and reasons for using these; observation and implementation of informal assessment in a classroom for students with autism; implementation of the elements of Structured Teaching within a classroom for students with autism. Completing Supporting Students with Autism in Mainstream School Settings workshop will contribute 6 hours of QTC registered PD addressing 1.1.2, 1.2.2, 1.5..2, 1.6.2, 3.2.2, 3.3.2, 3.4.2, 3.5.2, 4.1.2, 4.3.2, 4.4.2, and 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Completing the Autism Spectrum and Practical Social Support Strategies workshop will contribute 6 hours of QTC registered PD addressing 1.1.2, 1.2.2, 1.4.2, 4.1.2 and 4.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Completing Creating Structured Learning Opportunities workshop will contribute 12 hours of QTC registered PD addressing 1.2.2, 1.3.2, 1.4.2, 1.6.2, 2.6.2, 3.1.2, 3.2.2, 3.3.2, 3.5.2, 4.1.2, 4.2.2, 4.3.2, 4.4.2, 5.1.2, 5.2.2, and 5.4.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
2015 Summary of Services & Support Service Whole School Approach Description Consultancy and support focused on whole school, class and individual supports to improve the engagement, participation and outcomes of students with autism in school environments and other services. Note: Also available to other services supporting school aged students with autism e.g. OOSHC services, sporting clubs etc. Individual Student Focused Support Initial Consult: informal functional assessment, 1 hour case conference and provision of autismspecific educational strategies report, materials pack, individual autism strategies for the student (sensory, social, communication, academic, behavioural). Review Consult: a follow-up visit based on the initial consult to review strategies and monitor student s progress. This includes a brief observation, case conference and written report. Note: the following reports must be provided to Aspect Educational Outreach Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnostic report, IQ assessment, specialist reports, school reports Peer Education Workshop Diagnosis Disclosure 1 hour interactive workshop for school aged peers about autism. Includes training materials (Carol Gray's 6th Sense, Let s Learn More About Autism ). Collaborative individual session with your child, family, school and carers with a focus on introducing your child to their diagnosis and creating self-awareness. Group Social Skills Social skills workshop for children with autism, held over 7 weeks, minimum of 6 participants. Movie Club Group social skills program for mainstream high school students with autism, held over 7 weeks, minimum of 6 participants. The Movie Club Facilitator s Guide and Student Booklet can be purchased at $48 per copy. Student Workshop Half-day workshops focused on specific social skills topics. Minimum of 6 students per workshop. Social Club Additional Individual Supports Professional Learning Standard Workshops Professional Learning Customised A regular social opportunity for school aged students with autism (not available in all locations). Home Education Support, Transition Support, Coordination of Supports, Developing Individual Strengths & Interest and Community-based Support. Professional learning for teachers, teacher s aides, other school personnel and professionals supporting school aged students with autism. Customised professional learning to meet specific learning needs of schools, parent/carer groups or other services. Due to the individual needs of students on the autism spectrum, schools and wider educational communities the structure of services and supports and funding options/fees payable will be determined on an individual basis through discussions with your local Educational Outreach Consultant. Aspect gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Intervention Support Program (ISP) by the NSW Government and administered by the NSW Department of Education and Communities (DEC). Students who have been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and who are enrolled in NSW DEC and NSW Catholic Schools are eligible for subsidised fees. Aspect is registered to deliver supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and through the Australian Governments Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) initiative. Services may not be available in all areas. Please contact Educational Outreach on 1300 335 015 to determine what is available in your area. Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) requires accounts be settled upon delivery of service. Payment can be made by cheque, credit card or money order. Cash payments cannot be accepted. A receipt will be issued at time of payment.
Helping Children with Autism ( HCWA ) Educational Outreach package for students with funding from FAHCSIA Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) Educational Outreach provides a service to children with funding through the HCWA initiative. The child must be enrolled in a primary school for Educational Outreach to provide this service. Educational Outreach will engage in direct student observation and interaction to support the development and implementation of autism-specific strategies and supports for the school and home environments. This will be followed by a case conference with parents and school staff. A report on autism-specific strategies and supports will be provided to the parents and school. The strategies focus on support the individual needs of the student including social, communication, learning, behaviour and sensory with the aim of increasing engagement, participation and learning. The cost of the service package is $1500 for two half day visits, case conference and report. Visit 1 Direct student observation and interaction to inform the development and implementation of autismspecific strategies and supports. 1 hour Case Conference with parents and teachers. Provision of a report detailing autism-specific educational strategies to support the student. Visit 2 Direct student observation, interaction and modelling of supports (autism-specific strategies and supports). Overview of report to support the individual education plan for the student. For enquiries about this or any other services and workshops described, please contact Educational Outreach on 1300 335 015 or email customerservice@autismspectrum.org.au with Educational Outreach in the subject field.