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Functional behavior assessment and behavior support plans for work-based learning

This article examined the use of functional behavioral assessments and behavior support plans for students in a work place setting. It explains how a “functional behavior assessment, along with ecological assessments, can be used to develop behavior support plans for students engaging in problem behaviors in employment settings” (Kittelman, Wagner & Mazzotti, 2016). In 2014 congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. WIOA is intended to “emphasize competitive integrated employment as the desired employment outcome for individuals with disabilities” (Kittelman, Wagner & Mazzotti, 2016). This act ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to competitive employment. Students with disabilities have an opportunity to complete work-based learning experiences (WBLE). These experiences help students learn “skills they need to use academic knowledge and skills effectively in the workplace and include both non-academic skills and social behavior ski...
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Transition Plan

Developing an effective transition plan for high school students with autism spectrum disorder can be a difficult task. This article examined five steps to take in order to make the process easier. “During the high school years, young people work to develop new identities and make decisions about the future, including where they will live, what they will do, and who will be their friends” (Szidon, Ruppar & Smith, 2015). As our reading stated, the child is going through a vertical transition. A vertical transition is defined as any transition that occurs in the lives of most individuals. These transitions are age or developmentally based. Creating a transition plan for a child with ASD is more difficult because these students have their own unique challenges. “Students with ASD experience greater social communication difficulties than what would be expected of   other students their age” (Szidon, Ruppar & Smith, 2015). These students also have “higher levels of repetitive...
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Intellectual Disability

            I am sure we all know someone that still uses the term mental retardation, when describing someone with a disability. When I hear someone use this term, I find myself wondering if that individual is un-education or simply stuck in his or her own ways. I’m sure if you are unfamiliar with an individual’s educational background, you may   think they are being rude and disrespectful. I recently heard a former educator, who has her masters in Special Education, use the term mental retardation. This bothered me and I was not sure what to do. Should I correct her and let her know that the term is no longer used? Should I let it go and not embarrass her and just assume that was the terminology used when she was in school? I did just that, I let it go and carried on with the conversation. This article goes on to discuss the transition from the term mental retardation to intellectual disability.     ...
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OHI- Epilepsy

This article studies school nurses and the measures one school district took to better ensure the safety of their students with epilepsy. “ Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures” (James McLeskey, 2013) . There are two different types of seizures a grand mal seizures and a petit mal seizure. “A seizure happens when a brief strong surge of abnormal and disorganized electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. Two or more unprovoked seizures is the diagnostic criterion for epilepsy” (Brook, Hiltz, Kopplin & Lindeke, 2015).   The CDC estimates that “about 467,711 children (0-17 years of age) in the United States suffer from epilepsy” (Brook, Hiltz, Kopplin & Lindeke, 2015).               School nurses are a key component in the safety and the support of students with epilepsy. It is important that school nurses are confident in their ability to provide care for these students . “In a nat...
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A movement-based social skills program

            This article discusses children with ASD and their lack of effective social skills, communication skills, and how physical activity can help with these issues. “The Autism and Developmental Disabilities estimated the prevalence of ASD to be approximately 1 in 68 children” (Lee & Vargo, 2017). The rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder is on the rise. It has been essential to develop and implement ideal interventions. “Several interventions have been developed to target the social-communicative behaviors of individuals with ASD, and many have shown desirable outcomes” (Lee & Vargo, 2017). “Those interventions utilized social stories, behavioral skill training, peer-mediated strategies, video modeling, and pivotal response training” (Lee & Vargo, 2017). In addition, physical activity has been shown to improve social-communicative behaviors.             If ...
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