MCPS+Autism+Services


 * **GOALS**
 * To ensure that students with disabilities have access to the MCPS Fundamental Life Skills Program of Study.
 * To provide a comprehensive and highly structured individualized service that is based on a behavioral model of skill instruction in public general education facilities.
 * To provide structured opportunities to interact with non-disabled peers.

> Austim Services provides support to students with Autism Spectrum Disorders whose complex learning, language and behavioral needs require systematic, repetitive instruction in a small group setting. Students typically have significant delays in the areas of cognition, communication, and social/emotional and adaptive behavior. >
 * **POPULATION**

> School IEP teams that are considering recommending a student for placement into the school age Autism services work with their special education supervisor to initiate a review by the staff of Autism Services prior to placement by the school team. >
 * **PLACEMENT PROCESS**


 * **MODEL**
 * Autism Services provides children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ages 5-21, a highly structured setting.
 * These students require a combination of pre-academic and functional life skill instruction, with emphasis on the development of language, social skills, and behavioral strategies.
 * Students participate with non-disabled peers as appropriate.
 * Emphasis is placed on providing an in-class transdisciplinary model of service delivery so that all staff are trained to implement the recommendations of related service providers.
 * The primary methodology in the elementary and middle grades is discrete trial instruction (transitioning to verbal behavior), while the focus from middle to high school shifts to vocational training and community-based schools.
 * The elements of instruction are dependent on repetitive directions and high rates of immediate feedback, in a prescribed systematic, sequential format.