Communities of Practice in Autism
Mission
The Communities of Practice in Autism (CoPAs) will share knowledge and information about evidence-based strategies in natural environments, focusing on infants, toddlers, and young children diagnosed or suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families, to enhance supports and services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
CoPA News
- Register for CoPA at the Beach - a presentation prior to the 7th Annual Shining Stars Conference (July 14-16)
- 2008 Conference Presentations
- CoPA Leaders
- General Resources and Handouts
- Virginia Communities of Practice in Autism Evaluation Report
- Virginia Early Intervention Autism Initiative
Outcomes, Challenges, Goals
Key Outcomes
- Improve knowledge of providers and others related to evidence-based intervention for young children with Autism
- Identify and disseminate strategies that can be used in natural settings, such as the home, and embedded into the daily routine of the family
- Foster communication and collaboration among providers, with families, and other community members to improve implementation of the IFSP/FSP
- Improve supports and services for all children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families
Challenges and Barriers
- Lack of knowledge about what is evidence-based for infants, toddlers and young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Lack of knowledge about natural, embedded strategies
- Providers do not always know how to explain the rationale for specific interventions, supports, and/or services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to families or others in the community
- Providers do not always know how to teach family members or solve problems with families for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Back to the Basics of Autism Supports and Services: Sensory, Social and Speech, Dr. Carol Schall
- Cultivating Communities of Practice in Autism, Belinda Hooper
- Distinctions between Communities of Practice and Other Structures, E. Wenger, R. McDermott & W.M. Snyder
- Positive Behavior Support for Infants and Toddlers, Dr. Carol Schall
- Strategies for Increasing Communication in Natural Environments, Sue Palko
- Teaching Early Social-Communication Skills to Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dr. Maureen Conroy and Abigail Vo
- Understanding Understanding Sensory Processing: Looking at Children’s Behavior Through the Lens of Sensory Processing, Dr. Dianne Koontz Lowman
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