Schools teach children and young people far more than arithmetic and spelling. It is where they learn how to interact with their peers, organize and plan, and advocate for themselves, amongst many other things. For children with autism or other challenges, mastering all of these skills can be very difficult.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in speech or nonverbal communication, so children with ASD may not understand how to decipher social cues and how to behave in different social situations, such as in the classroom vs. at recess. In addition, many struggle with executive functioning skills and have difficulty planning and remembering instructions, which are necessary to succeed in a school setting. Lastly, many children with autism struggle with change, so it can be tough for them to transition from one school activity to another.
For all of these reasons, children with autism may need extra school support. At GBC Autism Services, we use evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis in our holistic approach to supporting children with autism and their families, focusing on the specific areas that most need improvement. We also work with other K-12 students who are identified as at-risk, those with emotional disturbances, and students with hearing, vision, or other health impairments.
Our school consultation teams include Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), registered behavior technicians and behavior technicians. Together with school representatives, this team develops a customized plan for each child. We then work with the school district, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and interdisciplinary teams to implement effective systems and interventions to promote student independence, positive behaviors, and greater opportunities for inclusion.
Here are some of the services GBC Autism Services provides:
Assessments
- A BCBA on our school consultation team will conduct an Individualized Educational Evaluation (IEE), designed to identify a child’s academic strengths and deficits, as well as, social and behavioral challenges.
- A BCBA will also conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), which examines target behaviors, environmental factors, and the consequences.
Behavior Plans
- Our team works with schools to use the data gathered during the FBA to create a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). The BIP identifies concrete actions and techniques that teachers and other support staff can use to help a child develop desirable behaviors. For example, for a student who repeatedly interrupts his teacher, the BIP would direct the teacher to ignore the problem behavior and gently remind the student that they must raise their hand to be acknowledged.
- We collaborate with schools to create Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) to align with a school’s culture and expectations and the concrete behaviors that the staff expects of the student. PBIS also offers additional interventions for students who require them, such as reviewing the rule they are breaking or extra training to strengthen the required skills.
Staff Training
- Our school consultant team trains educational staff in techniques for children who need extra support. These include teaching strategies, such as how to use ABA in the classroom and why it’s beneficial and approaches to reduce target behaviors and encourage positive behaviors.
- We also educate teachers about how to collect data and why it’s necessary to support children in the classroom.
GBC Autism Services: Individualized, ABA-based School Support
If your child needs more support at school, we can help. Reach out to your child’s school administrative staff and make them aware of the support available. Our approach promotes students’ independence and positive behaviors and provides greater opportunities for inclusion. We provide services for children and their families in the Chicagoland, Peoria, Normal, Rockford, Springfield, and Dekalb areas. Want to know more? Visit our School Consultation Services section on our website.
