The Comprehensive Autism Planning System (CAPS) for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Disabilities Integrating Evidence-Based Practices Throughout the Student's Day - Tapa blanda

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Shawn A. Henry is executive director at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), where he concentrates on developing statewide change efforts in promoting advances in the training of professionals serving students with autism and providing supports for families. He was previously the program director of training and evaluation at the Kentucky Autism Training Center, University of Louisville (KATC), where he coordinated targeted professional development throughout the state. These experiences, as well as serving as an elementary special education teacher, primarily teaching students with autism, led Shawn to develop the Comprehensive Autism Planning System (CAPS).

Brenda Smith Myles, PhD is a consultant with the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), the Ziggurat Group, and the Education and Treatment Services Project for Military Dependent Children with Autism. She is the recipient of the Autism Society of America's Outstanding Professional Award, the Princeton Fellowship Award, and the Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Developmental Disabilities Burton Blatt Humanitarian Award. Dr. Myles has made over 500 presentations all over the world and written more than 150 articles and books on ASD. In addition, she served as the co-chair of the National ASD Teacher Standards Committee; was on the National Institute of Mental Health's Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee's Strategic Planning Consortium; collaborated with the National Professional Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, National Autism Center, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to identify evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Further, in the latest survey conducted by the University of Texas, she was acknowledged as the second most productive applied researcher in ASD in the world.

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Ginny’s CAPS

The following brief case study shows how CAPS was implemented for an 8-year-old student with ASD, Ginny. Ginny is in the second grade and tested in the “below-average” range on a test of cognitive ability. Ginny uses PECS (Frost & Bondy, 2002) to communicate, but shows limited generalization to school staff and none among peers. She receives her education in a kindergarten/first-grade resource room and is included during “specials” and early-morning calendar group. Ginny has been demonstrating some behavioral issues related to transitions, attention to task, and interacting appropriately with peers. Observations in Ginny’s classrooms confirmed behavioral issues identified as problematic and revealed an inconsistent use of supports. Ginny’s team met to create a CAPS to match Ginny’s daily schedule. Similar to most students, Ginny’s day begins before her first academic class. She starts with breakfast at school. As shown on the CAPS, Ginny will be learning three skills during this time: (a) making choices, (b) using a language board, and (c) following a schedule. Use of choice and language boards and the reinforcement is natural – eating the food she chooses from the breakfast menu. While Ginny does not need sensory supports for this activity, she does require communication and social interventions. She has social questions on her language board and a visual support that illustrate stable manners. Data collected include (a) frequency of making choices and (b) the number of times she used her language board.