Autism Support Specialist
What supports do they offer?
The Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education recognizes that students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) require special programs, interventions and services. It is the role of the Autism Support Specialist to provide support and services to students diagnosed with ASD as well as to teachers, school administrators, Student Services staff and parents / guardians in the areas of assessment, intervention and program planning. Referrals are made to schools’ Teaching Support Teams through TIENET and follow the Program Planning Process.
Participating in Teaching Support Teams when needed to provide support for universal support of topics that may included by not limited to:
Peer engagement, communication, social communication, visual schedules, reward systems, use of sensory tools
• Identify, model and coach teachers with strategies that will benefit routine, classroom set up and communication for the whole class
• Whole class teaching of evidence-based programming that support Tier 1 practice
Working with Teaching Support Team to identify students who may need a more focused support on concepts of: social communication, self-monitoring, relaxation, self-regulation
Recommendation of focused supports based on classroom observations
Model focused interventions with staff that may include: Classroom Teacher, Learning Support Teacher, Educational Assistant
Peer coaching and mentoring to support inclusive classroom communities
As identified by the Teaching Support Team or Student Planning team work with students needing a more intensive (often one-on-one) approach to topics that may include:
o Communication- (PECS, AAC, Communication Boards)
o Reward Systems/ Positive Reinforcement
o Behavior Modification/ Planning
o Support of implementation based on FBAs
o STARR Programming
o Assessments
o Individualized Program Planning
o Collaboration and Consultation with Parents and outside Agencies (EIBI, IWK, MHA)
o Transition planning for individualized Students