Austin ISD Special Education
Parent Communication Newsletter Issue #2 April 13, 2020
A Message from the Executive Director
Dear Austin ISD Families,
I hope this communication finds you and your family well.
We have had quite a week! We have expanded our parent communication from the Smore last week to a Special Education Facebook Page, Instagram, and Twitter. We are committed to providing more communication from the district level. We encourage you to maintain ongoing communication with your student’s teachers, Special Education Service Providers, and principals. The district-level Special Education contact information is included again in this week's Newsletter Edition for your easy access.
In preparation for Continuous Learning, you should have received a Notice Regarding Participation in Virtual Small Group Lesson/Teleservices/Telephonic Instruction. Please return this notice for lessons to begin.
Teachers are in the process of completing and sending out Individualized Continuity Plans. These plans explain how your student's instruction will be delivered and what to expect. If you have questions or are not in agreement with the proposed Continuity Plan, please do not hesitate to contact your student’s Case Manager to discuss your concerns or to request an ARD meeting.
We are on this journey together.
Stay healthy and safe.
Dr. Akweta Hickman
Executive Director of Special Education
Austin Independent School District
Important Notice To Parents
Training and meetings have been held to update principals, special education teachers and providers ( e.g. Speech Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Mental Health Specialists, Licensed Specialist In School Psychologists) regarding expectations for continuous learning in our remote environment. District level special education staff (e.g. Administrative Supervisors, Coordinators, Specialists) are available to provide ongoing support to assist campus staff and families. Staff have access to multiple trainings through BLEND and receive continuous updates through an internal staff dashboard, newsletters, and emails.
Professional Learning Network (PLN) Contact Information
Reminder:
Parent FAQ
VCU Autism Center for Excellence Webinar: Smartphones and Tablet as Cognitive-Behavioral Aids in Autism
Click to view the webcast by Virginia Commonwealth University's Autism Center for Excellence titled PDAs, Smartphones and Tablet PCs as Cognitive-Behavioral Aids in Autism presented by Tony Gentry.
Description:
Smartphones, PDAs and tablet computers can be powerful tools for managing cognitive-behavioral challenges experienced by people with autism. They can be easily customized to support just-in-time activity cueing, task-sequencing, wayfinding, communication assistance and behavioral coaching, among other uses. This presentation examines consumer platforms, applications and strategies for implementing individualized cognitive-behavioral suites, providing real life case studies, practical examples and outcome measures to assure success.
Attendees will be able to:
a. discuss the pros and cons of various handheld platforms as cognitive-behavioral assistive technology
b. select from a variety of handheld applications and adaptations that have proven useful as cognitive behavioral
c. consider strategies for developing individualized suites of adaptive tools and assuring their use by consumers with autism.
Introduction to Behavioral Health Treatments For Families
Many children with autism have challenges managing certain behaviors.
This tool kit provides parents with an overview of strategies you can use at home to limit challenging behaviors. It will also help you teach your child positive behaviors.
It includes an overview of behavioral treatments that you can seek out from qualified professionals.
Sections include:
- Tips for Increasing Appropriate Behavior at Home
- Focusing on Problem Behaviors
- How Professionals Treat Behavioral Challenges
- Tips to Improve Effectiveness of Behavioral Health Treatments
- Frequently Asked Questions about Behaviors
"These materials are the product of on-going activities of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, a funded program of Autism Speaks. It is supported by cooperative agreement UA3 MC 11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the MCHB, HRSA, HHS, or Autism Speaks."
Instructional Resources
Austin ISD Mobile WiFi
To further bridge the technology gap, Austin ISD is retrofitting its buses with WiFi capabilities up to a distance of 200 feet. AISD will strategically position these buses at apartments and neighborhoods identified as having the highest needs.
Austin ISD students who live at the locations below can access free WiFi on their school computers (not on personal devices), weekdays starting April 8, 8am-2pm. See the flyer for more info.
#AISDAtHome #AISDProud #AISDGameChangers #SomosAISD#AllAreWelcome
Family Resources
Central Health-funded CommUnityCare Creates COVID-19 Hotline for Uninsured Travis County Residents
The hotline is available 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Austin Independent School District
Email: speddept@austinisd.org
Website: https://www.austinisd.org
Location: 4000 South Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-1700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Austin-ISD-Special-Education-103767481298190/