Newbury visits Little Star – Lafayette for Parent Morning Meet-Up

Michele Trivedi, Little Star Center (LSC) parent and board member, brought her Canine Companion for Independence (CCI), Newbury, to LSC-Lafayette on May 31 for the monthly Parent Morning Meet-Up.  This informal monthly gathering for parents of LSC learners features different topics and provides parents an opportunity to meet and share experiences

Newbury was specifically trained for three years before being placed with Michele and her family to assist with daughter, Ellie.  Newbury helps Ellie with situations that cause heightened anxiety such as air travel or when she experiences stomach distress.

Michele serves on the Health Benefits Mandate Task Force for Indiana (appointed by Governor Daniels) and was appointed in 2002 by the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance to represent the autism community on health insurance issues for the development of Bulletin 136, which mandates insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders.  She earned a Masters Degree of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Xavier University.  Michele is an active member of the autism community and donates her time to assist fellow Hoosiers with insurance-related issues.

Duke Realty Annual Ice Cream Social Delights Little Star Learners

Two Little Star learners were among the many attendees during the popular Duke Realty annual Ice Cream Social at Hamilton Crossing Boulevard.  Staff and learners alike enjoyed the selection of ice cream, fruit bars and lemon shake-ups and a trip to the playground.

Autism Speaks Hails Landmark Federal Decision Calling Key Autism Therapy a ‘Medical’ Service Eligible for Insurance

Michele Trivedi, Little Star Board member and volunteer health insurance advocate, is an active member of the autism community, volunteers with the Autism Society of Indiana (ASI), the Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA,) and Autism Speaks to promote health insurance coverage for autism across the country. Michele shares her thoughts about the recent landmark federal decision on autism therapy insurance coverage:

“We are very fortunate in Indiana, that through the advocacy of parents, IRCA, ASI and the Autism Research Centre (ARC), our state legislature recognized more than a decade ago that autism is a treatable neurological condition.  It also acknowledged that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a medical treatment for autism, when our Indiana Health Insurance Mandate was passed in 2000.

The recent decision by the federal government, noted in the Autism Speaks article, though not binding, will help all people with autism who do not currently have the benefit of health insurance coverage for autism by making it much more difficult for health insurance companies to claim that ABA is an “educational” program and not a medical treatment.  This will help families in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) health plans (federally regulated health plans) to advocate for autism coverage.

Little Star Center has always been at the forefront in the efforts to advocate for insurance coverage for ABA therapy and will continue to assist in efforts to ensure that all children have access to quality ABA services and quality ABA health insurance coverage. We look forward to continuing to work with organizations like ASI, IRCA, the ARC and Autism Speaks.”

Michele serves on the Health Benefits Mandate Task Force for Indiana (appointed by Governor Daniels) and was appointed in 2002 by the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Insurance to represent the autism community on health insurance issues for the development of Bulletin 136, which mandates insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders.  She earned a Masters of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Xavier University.

She donates her time to assist fellow Hoosiers with insurance-related issues. Her daughter, Ellie, was the “test case” for the enforcement of the Indiana Autism Mandate.

 

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park Visit

23 Little Star learners visited Conner Prairie Interactive History Park this week.  The learners toured Prairie Town, stopping at the general store and woodworking shop.  In the Indian Village, the learners found the carved wooden canoes of particular interest.  But, hands down, the favorite part of the outing was the animal barn where they had the opportunity to pet goats, sheep, and watch the chickens.

Little Star recognized During ABAI Conference Presentation “Addressing Problem Behavior”

Little Star Center (LSC) participated in the 38th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) in Seattle, Washington from May 25-29.

ABAI is the primary membership organization for those interested in the philosophy, science, application, and teaching of behavior analysis.  Its events, research, education, journals, and resources help develop, enhance, and support the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis and contribute to success in the field.  “This is the largest conference  in the U.S. for those interested in behavior analysis,” said Tim Courtney, MS, BCBA, Research & Training Director for Little Star.  “Thousands of people take part.  Every year, we are exposed to innovative intervention methods, a number of which we bring back and implement at Little Star.  It is a terrific learning opportunity.”

The 12 Little Star attendees enjoyed a variety of symposia, workshops, and clinical research poster sessions.  Little Star was also recognized for its help in providing data and feedback on assessment techniques for a presentation by Dr. Thomas Zane, BCBA-D, which focused on addressing problem behavior.  Dr. Zane is a professor of education and director of the Applied Behavior Analysis Online Program at the Institute for Behavioral Studies, Endicott College in Beverly, MA. Tim said, “Dr. Zane visited Little Star as part of a free community training on fad treatments in autism that Little Star hosted.  It was a very good experience for all of us. We were honored to assist Dr. Zane and his important research evaluating assessment techniques to decrease problem behavior.”

Little Star Center also submitted six research posters. The poster sessions provided the opportunity for one-to-one discussions with other conference participants who have experienced similar situations on how they may use our successful procedures for their own implementation. Posters topics comprised:

  • Comparing verbal behavior programming via sign language to an iDevice (iPad and iPod) shown in Figure 1;
  • Evaluating an intervention to help individuals with autism who experience heightened anxiety when encountering essential procedures such as medical, dental, or even haircuts;
  • Determining the feasibility of direct care therapists implementing two different commonly used assessment procedures to address problem behavior; trial-based functional analysis and traditional analogue functional analysis with limited training;
  • Evaluating a procedure to reduce a child with autism’s phobic avoidance of hair and hand dryers;
  • Assessing perseverative speech in a teenager with autism (repeatedly making the same request) using two types of contingent attention;
  • Teaching a learner with autism to respond to group-based instructions.

“The posters are scientific in nature and summarize the process and results,” said Tim. “One of the posters is shown above. Anybody interested in learning more about these posters may contact me at the center, 317.249.2242.”

Conference clinical workshops were intensive, day-long trainings on specific topics. Some personnel toured Morningside Academy, a nonprofit school for elementary and middle school students that integrates several behavior analysis activities and methods including research-based instructional technologies, direct instruction, precision teaching, and talk-aloud problem solving. “I am very impressed with what they are doing with precision teaching,” said Tim.

Other workshops attended by Little Star staff covered subject matter including:

  • Teaching Social Skills That Change Lives: Developing Meaningful Relationships for People Diagnosed with Autism;
  • Competency-Based Staff Training Within an Applied Verbal Behavior Program;
  • Applied Behavior Analysis and Speech Language Pathology: An Integrated Approach to Promoting Language in Learners With Autism;
  • Beyond Successive Approximations: Useful Shaping Strategies and Tactics to Improve Your Teaching;
  • Addressing Problem and Replacement Behaviors in Home and School Settings;
  • Advanced Verbal Behavior Programming for Intermediate Learners;
  • Teaching Advanced Language and Verbal Behavior Skills to Students With Autism: Inference Training, Reading Comprehension, and Communication Skills;
  • Evidence-Based Practices in Error Correction;
  • Intensive Early Intervention: Staff Training and Management Through a Dynamic Programming System;
  • Use of Web, Apple, and Android Applications to Increase Information Management and Skill Acquisition in Intensive Community-Based Instruction for Individuals With Autism and Other Disabilities;
  • Teaching Executive Functioning Skills to Adolescents With Challenging Behavior; Identifying Priorities for Teaching Children With Autism: Where Do We Begin?;
  • Assessing and Teaching Functional Skills to Children With Autism in Home, School, and Community Settings;
  • Technology and Learning: Developing Innovative Teaching Methods for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders;
  • Fitness and Autism: Evidence-Based Practices to Promote Healthy Lifestyles and Inclusion Opportunities for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders;
  • Teaching “Learning to Learn” Skills to Children Diagnosed With an Autism Spectrum Disorder;
  • Using the iPad to Aid Students with Autism to Communicate and Be Included in General Education Settings and the Community.

“The conference was exceptional this year,” said Tim. “We are very excited about the possibilities for our learners moving forward. Technology is providing lots of opportunities for assisting individuals with autism in the areas of communication, social skills, leisure and academics. I received a wonderful resource at one of the workshops that lists several iPod, iPad, and iPhone applications. (Click the links below for your area of interest.) Attending the conference is a great way to stay ahead of the rapidly advancing field of behavior analysis.”

Applications by area of interest:

“Gold Standard” Assessment

Several Little Star Center (LSC) clinical team members participated in a two-day Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) workshop in mid-May.  This diagnostic tool is considered “the gold standard” for observational assessment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  The workshop was hosted by Purdue University.

“Several LSC learners helped during the workshop as their presence was essential,” said Tim. “It was a great way to learn about the assessment and how children are affected by autism,” said Tim Courtney, MS, BCBA, LSC Research & Training Director.

“The participants – from as far away as Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky — had the opportunity to practice scoring while observing the instructor administer the ADOS-2 to a child with ASD. Results of the assessment were later shared with workshop attendees.”

Immortal Ink Makes Its Mark For Autism

Immortal Ink, a tattoo and body piercing shop in Lafayette, Indiana, conducted a fundraiser for Little Star Center – Lafayette during Autism Awareness Month.  Over a two-day period, April 27-28, owner Highlander Orndorff and other artists served a larger than normal clientele to help increase awareness of the medical condition.

“My wife and I discussed doing this a year ago, but thought we’d get more attention if we held it during Autism Awareness Month, which is in April,” said Orndorff. “She has a grandchild who was diagnosed with mild autism.  A lot of people don’t know much about it and we wanted to help bring some attention to it.”

Highlander said the event raised $1,100 for Little Star and he plans to conduct the fundraiser again next year.

Shelly Will, Little Star-Lafayette Center Manager, said “It was very thoughtful of them to think of us and I was very touched with their interest in increasing awareness, particularly as they have experienced it personally.” Funds will go toward the building of a playground at the Lafayette center.

WLFI-TV 18 reporter David DeLong was on the scene to see how Robyn Eads, Little Star Center-Carmel therapist, supported the cause. ”It really hurt; bu,t I like the autism symbol of puzzle pieces that was tattooed on my ankle.  It was worth it.”  Click here to see TV footage.

 

 

Senator Head Visits Little Star Center

Indiana State Senator Randall Head, District 18, recently visited Little Star Center with Dana Renay, Executive Director of Autism Society of Indiana. As part of an informal regional site visit and overview of options available to Hoosier children and families living with autism, the senator visited Little Star Center, a local school, and the Indiana Developmental Training Center.

Senator Head serves on the Indiana Autism Commission (as does Little Star Center Executive Director Mary Rosswurm), which is directed by the Indiana General Assembly to study the service delivery system for individuals and families living with autism.  It also studies the need for and effectiveness of available programs and oversees and updates the development of a comprehensive plan for services for individuals of all ages with autism.

Little Star Center was acknowledged during the tour as an exceptional provider for people needing therapeutic intervention services. “I have always been impressed by the dedication and patience of teachers,” said Senator Head, “and today was no exception. Seeing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy first-hand was truly a great experience. Little Star has a lot going for it…(and offers) fine program(ming) for kids on the spectrum.”

Understanding Autism

Little Star Center is featured on the cover of the May 8, 2012 issue of the Current in Carmel newspaper!  The cover story, “Understanding Autism,” shares some things ”those in the know want the rest of us to know about the disorder.”  The article highlights experiences by a parent of a child with the disorder and a school teacher, noting that people who don’t understand autistic behavior think the parent allows “bad behavior” in the child.

The parent said people need to understand that the child doesn’t “get” the world and requires certain guidance in how to deal with situations and learn how to gain control over his/her response to frustration.  The teacher, Jane Webb, indicated that there are not a lot of books designed to help create an understanding of autism so she wrote, “My Brother is Artistic,” which is illustrated by a young man with autism, Griffin Nickels.

Little Star is identified as a resource for parents. Executive Director Mary Rosswurm said, ”A lot of people talk about people with autism as patients.  I don’t think our kids are sick. There’s nothing about them that’s not whole.”  She encouraged parents not to wait if they think something is not right as early diagnosis and intervention is critical.   Mary observed that finding the right place for children is one of the most important decisions parents make and can go a long way toward lightening their load.  “My goal at the end of the day is to be the soft place for parents to fall,” Rosswurm said.  “They have so many battles…I want this to be the easy part of their day.”

 

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Conference

Little Star Center staff will participate in the 38th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) in Seattle, Washington, May 25-29.  The conference features panels and symposia, papers, invited addresses and tutorials, workshops, clinical research poster sessions, business meetings, and reunions. The 12 Little Star attendees will learn and share innovative methods, tools, services, support products and emerging trends, as well as enjoy the opportunity to develop and strengthen relationships with others in the field.  In addition, six posters have been accepted for presentation.

The staff will also tour Morningside Academy, a nonprofit school for elementary and middle school students that integrates several behavior analysis activities and methods including research-based instructional technologies, direct instruction, precision teaching, and talk-aloud problem solving.

The ABAI is the primary membership organization for those interested in the philosophy, science, application, and teaching of behavior analysis.  Its events, research, education, journals, and resources help develop, enhance, and support the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis and contribute to success in the field.