February 2019

Countdown to Smooth Transitions

Transitions can be difficult for all students, particularly those with ASD and related disabilities.  It is especially tricky if we are asking them to transition from a preferred activity to one that is less preferred. In this webinar we will talk about why the skills necessary for smooth transitions are so hard for our students/children, what we can do to teach or support these skills and tools that can help us to smooth out the rough spots during transitions.

Medicaid Forums Open

Hello friends,

I want to alert you to public forums Medicaid is hosting beginning this week!  Medicaid is seeking public input around updating the Medicaid MCO quality measures.  Developmental screening is one of the proposed quality measures! This is so important because without robust developmental screening programs, children at risk for delay miss the opportunity for timely referral to early intervention therapies.

The Child Core Developmental Screening Measure, Percentage of Medicaid and/or CHIP Enrollees Screened for Risk of Developmental, Behavioral, and Social Delays Using a Standardized Screening Tool in the First 3 Years of Life, reported in 2016 estimated that less than 15% of Louisiana’s children insured by Medicaid received such screenings.  Quality work around developmental screening is a win-win for Louisiana’s children!  Please consider attending these public forums and advocating for the developmental screening measure.

For NOLA partners, the New Orleans Medicaid Quality Forum at Children’s Hospital State Street Conference Center is Wednesday February 20th from 6 – 8 pm.

Please make every effort to attend one of these events and advocate for the developmental screening quality measure.  Share this alert with all partners, everyone’s opinion counts!

Kindest regards.  Patti Barovechio

Quality Public Forums (PDF)

Chairman Scott, Senator Casey, and Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Workers with Disabilities Transition to Competitive, Integrated Employment

Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor; Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA); and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) have introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow a series of competitive grants that would ease the transition as Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which allows subminimum wage, is phased out. Read the full press release on the Transition to Competitive Employment Act here.

Taming the Data Monster

I know teachers get tired of hearing about data, but showing progress of students with ASD is important for everyone who works with them.  In this webinar, we will share many different practical data collections strategies and tips for keeping the data monster tame and organized!

The Matrix and Beyond: Embedding Individualized Instruction

What do you know about embedded instruction?   It’s a way to teach individualized skills during routines and activities across school settings, including the general education classroom.  Sounds complicated, but it’s not!  We’ll break down the steps to planning and implementing embedded instruction to support learning and generalization of skills.  Join us on this journey!