Sounds like this part of Oregon is on the right track if anyone is looking to relocate! Always good to see what's RIGHT in education. Taken from the Register Guard newspaper www.registerguard.com
VIEWPOINT
Tyler is a 4-year-old boy who goes to a neighborhood preschool, likes to build large structures with Legos and can identify all the letters of the alphabet. An early childhood special educator helps his teacher adapt activities so he can learn.
Ryan is a 4-year-old boy who goes to an intensive specialized preschool where he practices specific skills and is learning to use pictures to com- municate.
Tyler and Ryan both have autism, yet these boys have very different educational needs.
Ten years ago, the knowledge and skills needed to provide high-quality educational programs for children like Tyler and Ryan were still in the early stages of development.
As the number of children diagnosed with autism has risen dramatically over the past decade, research into effective teaching strategies has also increased.
EC Cares, Lane County's early intervention program, and local school districts have put tremendous resources and effort into implementing evidence-based techniques to help children with autism.
Children with autism are being diagnosed at younger ages, often in the toddler and preschool years.
The earlier intervention begins, the better the results.
If parents are concerned about the development of their baby or preschooler, a phone call to EC Cares will quickly start the process of getting help.
There is no waiting list, and all services are provided at no charge.
A developmental specialist will gather information over the phone and then schedule an initial screening, usually within one week of a parent's call.
If a child appears to have delays, a complete developmental evaluation is then scheduled.
For most children, the process from phone call to having an educational plan in place takes about five weeks.
Accurate identification of autism in a young child is sometimes challenging.
Autism is a "spectrum disorder," meaning that children with autism have a range of skills and abilities, with the common thread being difficulty in communication and social skills. A diagnosis of autism is given only after a child has met several criteria with characteristics that are maintained over time and are seen in different settings.
The evaluation process can feel lengthy to parents, yet most pro- fessionals believe in the importance of careful diagnosis so that an educational team's determination that a child has autism is an accurate description of the child's learning style.
Educational services are individualized and change as children's needs change. Teachers may make home visits to help parents learn ideas and strategies to use at home. Parents may attend a parent-child group that emphasizes communication and social skills for children. Or children may get help from a licensed teacher based in either a community preschool or a specialized preschool. Speech therapy, occupational therapy or physical therapy also may be provided.
What progress has been made in improving education for children with autism?
In 1998, the Oregon Department of Education funded a five-year study to measure the progress of children with autism. The study monitored children in every region of Oregon as they moved from early intervention into elementary school. Ninety-one percent of children made significant gains in communication skills, social interactions and cognitive development.
In 2003, the Oregon Department of Education began a project to establish training sites for professionals in each region of Oregon. There are currently 32 training classrooms, with four in Lane County.
Ten years ago, EC Cares had no teachers with specific expertise in autism. Now, with almost 100 children - 8 percent of those receiving help from EC Cares - identified as having autism, we have four autism specialists trained to work with young children, and all our teachers and therapists have increased their skills in this area.
The College of Education at the University of Oregon was awarded a five-year federal grant to train graduate students in educating children with autism. Project PASS, or Preparing Autism Specialists for Schools, is training many professionals who will remain in our area.
No parent wants to learn that their child has autism. While educators cannot "cure" autism, children are being identified at an earlier age and the number of dedicated professionals skilled at helping children learn is growing.
As educational and medical research focus on children such as Tyler and Ryan, we believe the future of children with autism is brighter and will continue to improve in years to come.
Valerie Close and Judy Newman are co-directors of EC Cares. Parents concerned about their young children may call EC Cares at 346-2578.