• About START
  • Primary Components
  • AEC Staff
• Intensive Training
  • K-12 IT
    • Forms / Resources for K-12 IT
    • K-12 IT Modules
  • Early Childhood IT
• Trainers and Coaches
  • Trainer/Coaches
  • Coaches
    • Coaching Steps and Checklist
  • 2011-12 EPLI Training Schedule
  • Blackboard
• Regional Collaborative Networks - RCN
  • What are Regional Collaborative Networks?
  • Updates & Information
  • RCN Report Forms
  • '12-13 RCN application
• Evidence Based Practices (EBP)
  • EBP Project
  • EBP Resources
  • EBP Presentations
  • EBP Summer Institute
• USAPT
  • USAPT Online
• Peer to Peer Supports
  • Elementary Manual
  • Secondary Level LINK Program - Comprehensive Curriculum
  • Pupil Accounting Rules
  • Peer to Peer Videos
• Transition
  • BYF IT project
  • Discovery / Customized Employment Resources
  • RCN BYF project
• Resources
  • iLearning: iPods and More
  • Looking at ASD Differently
  • Summer Camps
  • Audio & Video
  • Websites
• 2012-13 Applications
• 2012 START Conference
  • 2012 Conference Agenda
• START Events
• Contact Us
• MI ASD State Plan

Statewide Autism Resources and Training Project

• Print
• Site Index
• Contact Us

   START K-12 Intensive Training 

What is K-12 IT? 

'12-13 IT Application

What is K-12 Intensive Training?

The START Intensive Training involves a year-long training of multidisciplinary school-based teams using a comprehensive curriculum that addresses the key issues related to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  Presenters in various content areas related to ASD bring the training to school sites and work collaboratively with local team leaders to create a training process that will successfully support their students and school system. 

The START Intensive Training and support program for school-based teams incorporates didactic teaching, goal setting, team training, problem solving, case analysis, and program evaluation.  The ultimate goal is to increase local capacity through an increase in knowledge, skills for supporting students with ASD, and teaming and collaboration.

The general content of the START Intensive Training Program includes modules on understanding autism, behavior supports, educational supports, and more. While, these topics may be similar to other trainings, the model and details of the training are unique for several reasons. The intensive trainings offered by START are provided to school district and Intermediate School District (ISD) team of 80-90 educators. Each team is divided into multidisciplinary sub teams of approximately six individuals that work with an identified target student diagnosed with ASD.  Most teams include not only educators, but also parents.

To date, the Intensive Trainings have covered over 25 counties and over 1,600 educators and support staff. 

Return to top

Training Curriculum

The Intensive Training offered to schools is based on “effective practices.”  We believe that effective practices are proven practices chosen for students based on sound professional judgement and regualar data analysis and review.  We are not endorsing a particular program; rather, we review the research literature to identify the best practice strategies.  Although we may specify strategies, we are not endorsing a single approach, and presentations reflect an emphasis on the use of evidence based strategies. We also emphasize teaming and collaborating and partnerships in the form of parent-school and community-school partnerships as a means to better serve children with ASD.

Intensive training sites will have access to a START Autism Education Specialist who will be assigned to their site for technical assistance.  START will assist the district in organizing functional teams, applying new learning, and assessing their supports for students with ASD and their families. 

Return to top

Training Emphasis

• Target Student - Progress in the core areas: Behavior, Social, Communication, Educational Strategies, and Family Support.

• Team - Ability to communicate, problem solve, make decisions, work collaboratively, understand the various disciplines and their different roles in supporting students with ASD.

• Team Members - Increase in content knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge in order to serve as a more competent and successful team member within a disciplinary team. 

• Program/System - Positive changes in how students with ASD are supported within classrooms and buildings; identification of barriers to effective teaching and support and initial steps to address those barriers; administrative support. 

• Increased Local Capacity - Trainer/Coaches and Team Coaches with increased knowledge and skills.   

Return to top

Requirements to Participate in START Intensive Training

To participate, a school system must do the following:

1. Submit application to the START office  - Download '12-13 K-12 Intensive Training Application
2. Assemble a team comprised of 5-7 school professionals around a target student with ASD.  Teams can include, but are not limited to, the general education teacher, special education teacher, school psychologist, school social worker, provider of speech and language, occupational therapist, ISD or school administrator.  Each team should include the parent(s) of the target student.
3. Facilitate and coordinate the logistics of the intensive training.
4. Assemble a group of professionals who can serve as  Trainer/Coaches in the years following intensive training.
5. Connect with or develop as a Regional Collaborative Network.

Training costs including the presenters, materials, and resources are provided at no cost to the district.  District responsibilities include costs of professional time away from the classroom or other responsibilities, the costs for a training facility, and refreshments and/or lunch for participants.

Return to top