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Dr. Leanna Hodges is an Assistant Professor at Texas Woman’s University. As a mother of a child with autism and a passionate advocate for the deaf community, she brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her work. Her research focuses on the intersection of deafness and disability—particularly autism—as well as language and literacy development among deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. Dr. Hodges has presented her work at numerous national and state conferences and is actively developing publications aligned with her research interests. She is committed to advancing knowledge, promoting inclusive practices in deaf education, and amplifying the voices of underserved and often-overlooked learners within the field.
Fun Fact: She loves to read fantasy books!
Presentation
Strategies for Deaf Students with Autism in Residential and After-School Settings
This presentation explores effective strategies for supporting Deaf students with autism in residential and after-school settings. Led by Dr. Leanna Hodges—an experienced Deaf educator and parent of a child with autism—the session provides a foundational understanding of behavior, highlighting observable and measurable actions in context. Participants examine four common behavioral challenges: aggression, noncompliance, elopement, and self-harm, using real-life scenarios to analyze and categorize responses.
A central focus is placed on understanding the function of behavior using the ABC framework: Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence. Attendees are introduced to tools like the QABF (Questions About Behavior Function) to help identify behavioral patterns and triggers. Emphasis is given to sensory regulation, with strategies tailored to meet students’ sensory needs—essential for learning, calmness, and engagement.
Practical applications include the development of sensory diets, use of functional communication training, environmental adjustments, and behavior replacement techniques. Each strategy is designed to address the root cause of behavior rather than suppress it. The session equips educators and staff with tools to approach behavior with empathy, curiosity, structure, and effectiveness.
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