Autism Interventions: Which are Effective?

An informative report from the disability scoop indicates "A new federally-funded review of thousands of studies finds that there are more than two dozen autism interventions worthy of being called “evidence-based.”'


"Ultimately the review, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Education, identified 27 interventions with substantial research backing ranging from cognitive behavioral intervention to exercise, modeling, scripting and use of a picture exchange communication system."

Link to Article



High-Functioning Autism/Asperger Syndrome in Schools: Assessment and Intervention (Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools)

Common Core Standards: Say What?

Feeling overwhelmed and /or demoralized by the National Common Core Standards?  You are not alone.

According to an insightful article written by Mike Schmoker from Education Week, complexity kills.  Elements of School improvement efforts are clarity, priority and focus.  Many of the standards’ language are mystifying and  “After state standards documents were launched and hardened into law, it was discovered that it would take about 20 years to teach all the skills and topics contained in them. But their worst feature was their abstract, imprecise language, which made it hard to convert them into clear, coherent curriculum and lessons.” 

These obstacles can seriously hamper improvement efforts.

Also in the article, Schmoker outlines best lessons:

1.    Are low tech; described on half a page

2.    Has a clear objective

3.    Has an assessment aligned with that objective

4.    Has an ongoing cycle of assessments of learning at each step – ex. Teacher circulates to observe student work

5.    Has reteaching when necessary

6.    Ensures student success

A helpful resource to simplify the standards is the “Three Shifts” document on the achieve the core website.  Three Shifts link 

Link to article

Assistive Technology Guide

Teenage Mental Health and Suicide

Documentary that looks at adolescent mental health problems and approaches used to help students in need.  Link to video.

Behind the acts of violence and rage of both the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings is a larger issue of mental illness in teens that is rarely addressed. For instance:

• The rate of teenage suicide has tripled over the last 60 years –28 teenagers a week now die by suicide.¹
• Depression and anxiety in adolescents often go unrecognized or untreated for years, and the results can be fatal – over 90 percent of adolescents who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental illness at the time of their death. 

Leave comments about what you have seen work and efforts made to keep people connected with one another and their immediate social situations.