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The ASD Nest Program: A model for Inclusive Public Education for students with autism spectrum disorders.

by: Allie DeLeon

Individualized Behavior Supports

what do you think?

  • Priming
  • Individual Schedules
  • Environmental Modifications
  • Movement Activities
  • Adaptive Materials & Equipment
  • Relaxation training

Organization of the Classroom Environment

  • If you had a child with ASD in your classroom who had aggressive behavior issues, what types of interventions/strategies would you use to assist them in calming down?

  • Would you consider teaching in an ASD Nest classroom after learning about the characteristics of the program? Why or why not?

Helping ASD Students with Organization:

  • Many children with ASD have difficulty with sensory processing and are highly susceptible to sensory overload. For this reason, early in the school year ensure that the classroom is not overwhelming.
  • Here are some ways teachers can assist a student in the ASD Nest Program to succeed:

Initial Outcomes

  • Display only materials that are being used in a lesson or that are needed as an ongoing reference during the lesson; when no longer using, put them out of sight so a blank surface is visible.
  • Use drop cloths to cover shelves holding play items that may be a distraction.
  • Reserve a bulletin board in the classroom for displaying children's work and that are related to the curriculum goals & objectives.
  • Be mindful of the child's visual point of view; consider height, size, and distance of displays in the classroom.
  • Clearly mark spaces for independent and group work, include learning centers.
  • Create a quiet area with a beanbag chair and tools for self-calming.
  • Avoid clutter that may be created by other objects in the classroom that could be poorly organized.
  • Program evaluation of the ASD Nest Program is ongoing.
  • There are successful academic, social, and behavioral outcomes.
  • 27 parents responded with satisfaction with the program, specifically in the areas of addressing problem behaviors, improving social behaviors, and successful intervention for sensory sensitivities.
  • Decreased aggression, increased social interaction & relationships with peers.
  • ALL students in this cohort demonstrated mastery of academic goals and advanced to the next grade level of the Nest classroom.

REFERENCE

Koenig, Kristie ; Bleiweiss, Jamie ; Brennan Susan ; Cohen, Shirley ; and Siegel, Dorothy . "The ASD Program: A Model for Inclusive Public Education for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder." Teaching exceptional children 42.1 (2009): 6-13. Print.

Basic Instructional Supports

The ASD Nest Curriculum

Key Elements of the

ASD Nest Program

Key Elements Continued...

  • Daily class schedule.

  • Visual aids.

  • Choice-making opportunities.

  • Role playing.

  • Peer supports.

  • Classroom environmental modifications.

  • "Catch them being good."
  • Class size

- 12 students in each kindergarten class; 16 students in Grades 1-5.

  • Co-teaching model

- 2 classroom teachers, 1 certified in

special education, & a special ed. teacher to support children during special subjects.

  • Targeted goal areas

- Language and communication, social skills, peer relationships, self-regulation, and adaptive behavior.

  • Social development curriculum

- Social Development Intervention (SDI) is provided 3-5 times per week.

  • These classrooms provide the same grade level academic curriculum as other classrooms in their schools.

  • They utilize selected instructional strategies and behavioral supports designed especially for children with ASD and other exceptional conditions.
  • Home-school connection

-Two-way communication notebook.

  • Specialized pre-service training

- Behavior theory and applications & the ASD and SDI curricula provided for teachers and therapists prior to entry into the Nest program.

  • Teaming

-Includes all Nest teachers, a speech/language therapist, OT, and social worker.

  • Ongoing site support

- A central support team of educators and specialists meet during the first 2 years of the program and then continuing them as needed.

  • Additional learning opportunities

- Professional workshops with experts.

Goals of the Program...

How Did It All Begin?

  • The goal of the ASD Nest Program is to help higher functioning children with ASD learn how to function well-academically, behaviorally, and socially- in school and in their community.

  • The idea of "nest" is a nurturing home that provides structure, support, and services in order to succeed in inclusive settings.

  • Currently, there are 59 inclusive ASD Nest classrooms from kindergarten to eighth grade serving 235 children with ASD in 15 neighborhood schools

-14 elementary schools and 1 middle school.

  • These programs typically begin with two kindergarten classes and as the students progress through each grade, schools open more Nest classrooms to accommodate them.

  • Eventually, the elementary schools will have one or two Nest classrooms in every grade from kindergarten through grade 5.
  • The New York City Department of Education developed the program to facilitate successful learning in an inclusive classroom.

  • The success of the program was solely based upon classroom modifications and a variety of strategies designed to meet the specific academic, behavioral, sensory, and social needs of students on the spectrum.

  • It was stated that the classroom has the potential to be a major vehicle for change for children with ASD.

  • The group in New York's recommendations formed the foundation of the ASD Nest Program model of inclusive education.
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