This page includes details of my experience working with individuals with autism, including internship & field experiences, volunteer work, and work samples.
AS Internship ExperienceDuring my PDS internship, I spent time in a K-2 verbal behavior autism support room and occasionally assisted in a 3-5 verbal behavior autism support room. Over the course of five months, I went from observing teaching sessions to taking over the teacher's schedule. Here are the highlights:
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Work with Students
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Behind the Scenes
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Relevant Course Work
During my undergraduate program at WCU, I completed the autism minor. Below are links to samples of my work from those classes with a brief explanation of each.
- Intervention Analysis - The purpose of this paper was to analyze and compare two interventions for students with ASD. I chose to research naturalistic teaching and verbal behavior. This paper was written for the final course in the autism minor.
- Generalization Plan - The purpose of this assignment was to create an instructional plan for one skill with an emphasis on methods of generalization. I wrote this plan based on a student from my internship in a VB classroom in West Chester Area School District.
- Progress Monitoring - The purpose of this assignment was to create an instructional plan for one skill and practice adjusting the plan based on progress monitoring data. The plan and data are based on a case study provided by the professor. The plan includes responses to the student reaching mastery, plateauing, and regressing.
- Intro to ASD Research Paper - The purpose of this paper was to research the etiology and history of ASD, interventions, and cultural attitudes toward ASD. This was written for an assignment in my Introduction to Autism course.
Other Relevant Field Experiences
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Volunteer & Professional Experience
Throughout middle and high school, I volunteered in special education, particularly with students with autism. Most of my work was through Donovan's Door, an organization that worked to make Los Altos United Methodist Church more inclusive of individuals with disabilities and their families. I helped organize and volunteered at quarterly respite nights for families of children with special needs, and I was an aide to a child with autism every Sunday morning while his family attended church. I also worked to make the church's summer day programs more accessible and helped expand Donovan's Door by training new volunteers.
I have also worked professionally with students on the autism spectrum in multiple capacities. As a preschool teacher, I had several students with ASD in my classroom. I worked to help educate colleagues on effective strategies for inclusion, adapted our activities, implemented antecedent prevention strategies, and worked closely with their behavior consultants and paraprofessionals to create a sensory-friendly and inclusive classroom environment. As a tutor, I worked with multiple high school students with ASD. I used my knowledge of autism to adapt my instruction to effectively prepare them for the SAT, coach them in executive functioning and self-regulation skills, and make abstract math concepts more concrete.
I have also worked professionally with students on the autism spectrum in multiple capacities. As a preschool teacher, I had several students with ASD in my classroom. I worked to help educate colleagues on effective strategies for inclusion, adapted our activities, implemented antecedent prevention strategies, and worked closely with their behavior consultants and paraprofessionals to create a sensory-friendly and inclusive classroom environment. As a tutor, I worked with multiple high school students with ASD. I used my knowledge of autism to adapt my instruction to effectively prepare them for the SAT, coach them in executive functioning and self-regulation skills, and make abstract math concepts more concrete.
Professional Development GoalsI have several professional goals related to autism:
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