LEADERSHIP
noun
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the action of leading a group of people or an organization.
"different styles of leadership"
Why Choose Leadership?
Leaders empower others to develop skills, collaborate, and achieve more. Choosing the leadership track at the University of Kansas was an easy choice. I want the ability to help others grow personally and professionaly in their abilities to be supportive of students with autism spectrum disorder. I want to foster collaboration and teamwork amongst my peers and encourage other professionals to engage more in conversations about providing opportunities for our students in a least restrictive environment. I want to encourage conversation and change within the schools that I work, and help others be open to new ideas and evidence-based practices. A good leader should have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and be willing to seek out help when needed.
On a personal note, I chose leadership to not only make a difference in my own schools, but in many ways because as a mother of a child with autism spectrum disorder, I saw a need for supportive leadership in the public school system. My experience is that there are often changes in faculty and a lack in consistent therapy and support due to staff shortages and minimal understanding of autism in the general education staff. I hope to make a difference, advocate, and support our students throughout their education. The public education systems in the United States need positive role models, and I hope to be a positive influence for both students, staff, parents, and my community.
LEADERSHIP COURSES:
SPED 756 - Special Education Leadership
SPED 756 is an introductory course in special education leadership. The class focuses on law and policy implementation in the educational environmement. It is designed to provide future school leaders, special education stakeholders, and other school personnel with the historical background of special education law and policy. The course focuses on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). SPED 756 is designed to give individuals a working knowledge of IDEA's procedural requirements, evidence-based practices, and progress-based practices associated with implementation in schools. The course includes knoweldge of inclusive special education practices, and critique of implementation and procedures.
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SPED 757: History, Context, and Critique of Special Education
SPED 757 is a course designed to provide future school leaders, special education stakeholders, and other school personnel with a general understanding of the history of how individuals with disabilies were treated or mistreated, and how this led to the development of special education law and policy over time. The course focuses on current issues dealing with the post-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) era. It offers theory on organization of the field of special education, highlights goals and issues pertaining to legislating leadership, and focuses on justice reform and inequity in public education institutions.
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SPED 758: Appropriate Education and Least Restrictive Environment
SPED 758 is designed to give future school leaders, special education stakeholders, and other school personnel with a deeper understanding of two specific core principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These two core principals are:
(1) Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
(2) Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
The course builds on the knoweldge of the two previous courses in the leadership track and aims to address key issues in core concepts of IDEA, criticism of these concepts, and potential remedies to help IDEA be more inclusive and provide for more of the population with disabilities.
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RESOURCES
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"The World Needs All Kinds of Minds"
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"Autism: What We Know"
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a teacher’s union. In the link provided is a resource created for teachers to understand and support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The resource provides information for assessment, evidence-based practices, behavioral plans, and resources and information for families. https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/studentswithautism.pdf
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The National Education Association (NEA) is a teacher’s union. In the link provided is a resource created for educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, and caregivers. It contains information about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The information focusses on new information regarding the education and teaching practices that should be used for a child with ASD. The article discuses how to create an inviting environment, promoting self-determination, and inclusion. This is a great resources for teachers to look at prior to the start of a new school year in order to reflect on best practices for their own classroom.
http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/Autism_Guide_final.pdf
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the nations leading medical agency. This article focuses on an updated screening tool that physicians administer to parents to help determine if a very young child has autism. There is a link provided in the article for a free download of the assessment (M-CHAT–R/F).
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The Autism Society-The Heartland focuses on the whole person and the family. They are creating opportunities for training, self-advocacy and support. They remain focused on the needs of individuals affected by the autism spectrum disorder and their families. They are committed to providing current and accurate resources and information in order for families to advocate effectively. They collaborate with existing community agencies and organizations to address the needs of the autism community. They promote public awareness, support and self-advocacy for those affected by autism spectrum disorders.
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Scientific and professional organization devoted to promoting the highest quality autism research in order to improve the lives of individuals affected by ASD. The Society holds an annual scientific meeting - the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). INSAR membership is open to individuals engaged in academic or research activities, graduate students and post doctoral researchers, and others vested in the study of autism.
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This site has an extensive video glossary with clips of toddlers at 18 to 24 months of age showing behaviors that are hallmarks of ASD, alongside video clips of typically developing toddlers in similar settings. These videos may help parents and health care providers distinguish between sometimes subtle behavioral differences and identify children who may benefit from ASD screening. This site also offers online training to support families and professionals.
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RESOURCES
Click the Link!
"The World Needs All Kinds of Minds"
Click the Link!
"Autism: What We Know"
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a teacher’s union. In the link provided is a resource created for teachers to understand and support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The resource provides information for assessment, evidence-based practices, behavioral plans, and resources and information for families. https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/studentswithautism.pdf
​
The National Education Association (NEA) is a teacher’s union. In the link provided is a resource created for educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, and caregivers. It contains information about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The information focusses on new information regarding the education and teaching practices that should be used for a child with ASD. The article discuses how to create an inviting environment, promoting self-determination, and inclusion. This is a great resources for teachers to look at prior to the start of a new school year in order to reflect on best practices for their own classroom.
http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/Autism_Guide_final.pdf
​
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the nations leading medical agency. This article focuses on an updated screening tool that physicians administer to parents to help determine if a very young child has autism. There is a link provided in the article for a free download of the assessment (M-CHAT–R/F).
​
The Autism Society-The Heartland focuses on the whole person and the family. They are creating opportunities for training, self-advocacy and support. They remain focused on the needs of individuals affected by the autism spectrum disorder and their families. They are committed to providing current and accurate resources and information in order for families to advocate effectively. They collaborate with existing community agencies and organizations to address the needs of the autism community. They promote public awareness, support and self-advocacy for those affected by autism spectrum disorders.
​
Scientific and professional organization devoted to promoting the highest quality autism research in order to improve the lives of individuals affected by ASD. The Society holds an annual scientific meeting - the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). INSAR membership is open to individuals engaged in academic or research activities, graduate students and post doctoral researchers, and others vested in the study of autism.
​
This site has an extensive video glossary with clips of toddlers at 18 to 24 months of age showing behaviors that are hallmarks of ASD, alongside video clips of typically developing toddlers in similar settings. These videos may help parents and health care providers distinguish between sometimes subtle behavioral differences and identify children who may benefit from ASD screening. This site also offers online training to support families and professionals.
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The Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) - is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services and supports.
504 Plan - is a plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success and access to the learning environment.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - is a discipline that applies behavioral science interventions in real-world settings including schools, homes and clinics. The goal of ABA interventions is to improve socially important areas such as behavior problems, transitions, and learning
Theory of Mind - The ability to understand that others that you interact with have beliefs, desires, feelings and intentions that are different from one’s own.
Evidence-Based Practices - Many interventions exist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Yet, scientific research has found only some of these interventions to be effective. The interventions that researchers have shown to be effective are called evidence-based practices (EBPs). One reason for using EBPs is because, by law, teaching practices must be based on evidence of effectiveness. In good conscience, only proven techniques should be implemented in order to best benefit the child.
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Age Equivalent – is a very general score that is used to compare the performance of children at the same age as one another.
Correlation – is the amount of positive or negative relationship existing between two measures. The stronger the tendencies, the larger the measure of correlation.
Criterion Related Validity – is used to demonstrate the accuracy of a measure or procedure by comparing it with another measure or procedure which has been demonstrated to be valid.
Grade Equivalent – is the score that represents the grade and month in school of students in the norm group whose test performance is equivalent to the test performance of a given student.
Mean – is the arithmetic average of a set of numerical data.
Median – The median is defined as the score below which 50% of the cases fall.
Mode – is the most frequently occurring score in a distribution.
Range – is the numerical difference between the largest and smallest values in a set of data.
Percentile Rank – is a value on a scale that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to it or below it.
Predictive Validity – is the extent to which a procedure allows accurate predictions about a subject’s future behavior.
Raw Scores – a student’s observed score on a test (the number correct).
Reliability – refers to the consistency of measurements.
Scaled Scores – When a series of subtests comprise an entire test, each subtest receives a raw score. This score is interpreted as a scaled score. Scaled scores are very specific subtest scores.
Standard Score – a score that has been transformed to fit a normal curve, with a mean and a standard deviation that remain the same across ages.
Standard Deviation – is a statistic that indicates the amount of variability in a group of scores.
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KEY TERMS
