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ASD and the Local School District: How Parents Can Best Advocate for an Appropriate School Setting
Parents who have children with ASD can find themselves in a difficult situation when it comes to determining the right school setting for their child. As a special education attorney representing families in New York City, I have found that determining an appropriate school program and placement...
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The ASD Nest Middle/High School Model for Inclusive Education
This fall in New York City, over 1,000 students with ASD will be educated in fully inclusive classrooms in public schools all across the city. They will be learning and brainstorming and problem-solving alongside more than 3,500 of their general education peers. Of these thousand students, 300 are...
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Tips on Advocating for Your Child’s Education
Your child has just received an ASD diagnosis. Now what? In addition to all your other roles, you are now your child’s Education Advocate. Because of the wide spectrum of what autism can look like, a diagnosis doesn’t always happen during the early years. You could get there early when your...
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Using Evidence-Based Practices to Help Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Improve Their Writing Skills
The use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has become an important topic. The field of ASD is rapidly growing and changing, and an increased number of people diagnosed with ASD has led to the demand to find effective interventions and treatments...
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Accommodating Executive Function Deficits is Important for School Success
Individuals on the spectrum often need special modifications at school. Because everyone is unique, all teachers should have a written document explaining a little about how the student learns best and outlining agreed upon adaptations. There are many lists of possible accommodations for students...
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Accommodations After High School: What Now?
Just getting into college, let alone succeeding there, is stressful for many students and their families. When a student is on the autism spectrum the whole process can seem unmanageable. What do you do when you have what it takes to succeed in higher education, but you struggle with things like...
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Bridging the Gap Between Evidence-Based Practice in ASDs and the Classroom
As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) increases, more and more children and young adults are receiving services in public school settings. This has intensified the demand for effective educational and therapeutic services, and science is now providing evidence about which practices...
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Challenging Behavior at School: Using an FBA and BIP
When addressing behavior problems, a careful assessment provides the foundation for effective and efficient intervention. Consider the following scenario: After struggling with headaches for nearly a week, you visit a doctor. Following a brief discussion, the doctor suggests brain surgery. While...
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Addressing Skill Deficits in Students with High Functioning Autism as a Proactive Approach to Prevent Behavioral Challenges
Students with high functioning autism (HFA) typically display cognitive abilities in the average to above average range, and some superior range; therefore often participate in general education classes. While these students have many strengths, specific educational approaches are often needed to...
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Opinion Piece: Standardized Testing in Schools Inadequately Accommodates Special Education
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) covers many federal education programs. The act, in 2001, was put forth to strengthen America’s educational system by requiring States to implement accountability systems covering all schools and all students. Although NCLB covers various education programs, the...
