A priority of the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities is to promote access to and participation in inclusive education for students with developmental disabilities. A major focus of our effort is dedicated to supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Scientists do not know yet exactly what causes ASD, however, individuals may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most. Therefore, FCIC works to ensure that individuals with ASD, their families, and providers receive direct support related to education, as well as ensuring education personnel have access to research, training, and technical assistance to enhance the educational program for students with ASD. In addition, professionals have access to information and resources to promote inclusion and innovative research based practices. In this section, we invite you to explore the ASD programs and resources through which we deliver our technical assistance, training, research, and information dissemination efforts.
CDC Releases New Data on the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2012)The University of South Florida's Autism Services Network is comprised of faculty researchers and clinicians who are involved in services, training, support, and research related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This Multidisciplinary, faculty collaborative works together to ensure that individuals with ASD have access to evidence-based interventions, services, and supports. The Network offers families and professionals with information on the array of options available at USF for services, education, and research and creates a faculty collaborative for pursuing new opportunities in research, education, and service delivery.
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities provides support and assistance with the goal of optimizing the potential of people with autism and related disabilities. Our CARD consultants work with schools to provide specific strategies and resources to meet an individual's needs. Technical Assistance is a service, provided by CARD, to schools supporting students on the autism spectrum. The focus of technical assistance is on building capacity with a teacher and/or team around an entire classroom issue or concern. Technical Assistance does not focus on an individual student. Training is provided by CARD to schools on topics of importance to those involved with individuals with autism and other related disabilities. The focus of training is on awareness, skill development and enhancement, systems change, and capacity building. For more information contact Mary-Kay Bunton-Pierce.
Interdisciplinary Center for Evaluation and Intervention (ICEI)
ICEI is a Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources (FDLRS) specialized clinic in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS), Department of Child and Family Studies, Division of Applied Research and Educational Support. The Center, funded by the Florida Department of Education, is a specialized diagnostic and training center that serves preschool and school-aged students (ages 3-22) having autism spectrum disorders, serious behavioral/social/emotional challenges, and other complex conditions. This specialized clinic collaborates with schools, community agencies, and families to implement evidence-based interventions with fidelity. The ICEI team includes professionals from the discipline areas of applied behavior analysis, psychology, communication disorders, family science, pediatrics, psychiatry, social work, special education. For more information contact Rose Iovannone.
Partnership for Effective Programs for Students with Autism (PEPSA)
Offering professional development opportunities and building capacity among educators working with students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across the state is essential to the PEPSA mission. The Partnership Program is funded by the Florida Department of Education, K-12 Public Schools, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, and is designed to provide training and technical assistance to teachers or a school program that wishes to enhance their educational program for students with ASD. Each teacher or school will be matched to a Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) professional who will mentor the teacher or school staff in developing a plan for implementing innovative and effective practices within educational programs for students with autism. The project also provides opportunities for educators to receive professional development on the very specialized subject area of educational programs for students with ASD and to provide an in-service training mechanism that would ensure that research based practices are implemented and evaluated within classrooms. For more information, please contact Donna Casella.
The Learning Academy at the University of South Florida is a 30 week program designed to provide a structured employment-focused curriculum for individuals diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, between the ages of 18-25 after they have graduated from high school. Participants engage in multiple career assessment activities to identify their strengths, skills, talents, interest and learn how they translate to work. Real life experiences and expectations through internships and peer mentoring complement the class work to provide generalization of skills and support personalized goals. For more information, please contact Susan Richmond.
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Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview This down-loadable, free multimedia presentation defines and provides basic information about autism spectrum disorders. |
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Believe in One, Believe in All This down-loadable, free multimedia presentation illustrates the experiences of a student with autism included in a third grade classroom, along with the reactions, feelings, and beliefs of his support team members and peers. |
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The CARD Learning Curve is an online resource that provides interesting and interactive stories, ideas, resources and materials for teachers of students with autism or a related disability. |
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This free, downloadable brochure provides children with information on autism emphasizing that children with autism are more alike, than different from their peers. |
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This is a wonderful video by Amanda, a young woman with autism who is considered “low-functioning.” She wrote, produced, and posted her own video called “In My Language” on You-Tube. The first half of the video is in “her language,” and the second half is translated by the laptop she uses to communicate in “our language.” This video is beautiful and profound in any language. |
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Milestone Moments, by Project Conectar Milestone Moments is an adaptation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Learn the Signs, Act Early” campaign booklet that includes a comprehensive list of milestones and tips for parents of children ages 2 months to 5 years. This booklet can be used to determine gaps in development, help doctors understand delayed or missing development, help families understand what is typical development, and to help educators know what the child needs to strengthen. Milestone Moments is available in both English and Spanish and can be printed directly off our website on 8.5” x 11” paper or can be ordered to be printed in a spiral bound, tabbed booklet that is 5.5” x 8.5”. To obtain ordering information please contact: Myrna Veguilla, 813-974-7008. |
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This is a simple planning portfolio that guides family members to reflect and share what they know of their child as a learner and a family member. With the information gathered in the Positive Educational Planning portfolio, members of a child’s educational team can envision a rich future and develop an educational plan to serve as the road that will lead to it. |
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Understanding Early Signs of Autism This down-loadable, free multimedia presentation reviews the milestones of early development and the differences in children with autism spectrum disorders. It also identifies potential differences that serve as “red flags” for evaluation, and provides a brief summary of early childhood screening tools. |
This page includes links to both internal (FCIC) and external (non-FCIC) websites. External links are selected and reviewed when the page is published. However, the FCIC is not responsible for the content of external websites. The FCIC website does not accept submissions or requests.
AUCD's Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
The purpose of the Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center (ITAC) on Autism and Developmental Disabilities at AUCD is to improve the health of infants, children, and adolescents who have, or are at risk for developing, ASDs and other developmental disabilities. The Center accomplishes this by providing technical assistance to interdisciplinary training programs (i.e., the LENDs and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) programs) to better train professionals to utilize valid and reliable screening tools to diagnose or rule out and provide evidence-based interventions for children with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
Autism Society of America (ASA)
ASA exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. They do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
CDC is committed to continuing to provide essential data on ASDs, search for risk factors and causes, and develop resources that help identify children with ASDs as early as possible
CDC's "Learn the Signs Act Early" Autism Campaign
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), in collaboration with a number of national partners, launched a public awareness campaign called "Learn the Signs. Act Early." The campaign aims to educate parents about childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, and encourages developmental screening and intervention.
Educational Resources for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Resources compiled from original publication materials by UM-NSU CARD staff.
A Guide to the Individualized Education Program
The purpose of this guidance is to assist educators, parents, and state and local educational agencies in implementing the requirements of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for children with disabilities, including preschool-aged children. Prepared by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services U.S. Department of Education (OSEP).
Knowledge Path: Autism Spectrum Disorders
This knowledge path about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been compiled by the Material and Health Child Library at Georgetown University. It offers a selection of current, high-quality resources about ASD identification and intervention, and it includes resources about biomedical research into the causes of ASD; resources that address the communication, education, and vocational challenges of autism; and resources about autism's impact on family life. Separate sections identify resources about autism and environmental health research as well as those that address concerns about vaccines. This knowledge path for health professionals, educators, researchers, policymakers, and families will be updated periodically.
Training
AUCD offers a number of resources, trainings and webinars relating to autism. Upcoming events can be viewed here but all webinars are recorded and stored on their webinar library.
CARD Workshops/ Trainings and Special Events
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF uses this schedule-page to announce special events, workshops or trainings being offered by CARD and other agencies. You do not need to register with CARD for trainings that are offered by other agencies, but you may need to register with them directly. Contact information is provided within the individual announcements. To learn more, visit, CARD-USF’s Events Page.
PEPSA Professional Development Opportunities
The Partnership for Effective Programs for Students offers regional trainings throughout the state of Florida to ensure access and professional development on diverse topics. All trainings are FREE but pre-registration is required. To learn more, visit PEPSA’s Training Calendar.
Webinars
AUCD's Webinar Library puts all AUCD-hosted webinars at your fingertips – when you want them. In this library you'll find only webinars which have been hosted by AUCD, and a convenient search function makes it easy to find the specific webinar(s) of interest. If you have questions, comments or problems with any of the webinars in the webinar library please contact aucdinfo@aucd.org.
Autism and Employment Webinar Series
This five part webinar series, sponsored by the Florida Center for Inclusive Communities and Southeast Technical Assistance and Continuing Education (TACE) Center, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University provides information, tools, and tips to communicate, interact, and support individuals with autism to reach integrated, competitive employment goals. Presenters: Nila Benito and Brenda Clark
Department of Child & Family Studies • College of Behavioral & Community Sciences • University of South Florida
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