A professional development and training tool for autism evidence-based practices: a project based website

The Center of Disease Control report on autism rates, generated by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (2014) reports that 1 out of 68 children, aged 8 are identified with autism spectrum disorder. The National Professional Development Council on Autism (2014) found 27 evidence-based practices educators should use for students on the autism spectrum. The focus of this research was to identify professional development models and strategies that have proven to be effective in training educators and paraprofessionals in evidence-based practices for student with autism spectrum disorder. Effective professional development training packages were identified as: professional development combined with coaching, performance-based feedback and technology. These findings were used to develop a training and resource website for the researcher’s district of employ, Twin Rivers Unified School District. As Twin Rivers Unified School District shifts its professional development model to a training package of: professional development, coaching, and performance-based feedback in a naturalistic setting, the researcher found something missing, resources. Technology lends itself to flexible ways of communicating information, sharing of ideas and information, and providing resources. The researchers website does all of these things for both the coach and the coachee (teacher, paraprofessional, etc.) The website provides supporting professional development activities that are based on autism spectrum disorder evidence-based practices, real-life practical classroom and community application. It addresses the training needs of instructional staff including teachers and paraeducators. The information and resources on the website support building capacity for districtwide implementation and sustainability of evidence-based practices.