Education and Early Childhood Development
Health and Community Services
April 2, 2015

Enhancing Autism Supports for Students, Families and Communities

New Online Autism Training Will Enhance Supports for Students

Through an Atlantic Canadian initiative, educational personnel throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will have access to a new online training program for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program will allow the education system to be more responsive to emerging research and the needs of students with autism.

"Ensuring our students who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder have the best possible resources available to them is a priority for this government. This new online training program is a collaborative effort between the Atlantic Canadian provinces that allows our educational personnel to increase their knowledge and skills related to the strengths and needs of students with ASD. I am especially pleased that over 250 educational personnel from this province have already registered for this training which will benefit our students and their families."
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

This 40-hour, self-paced online training program titled ASD and Behavioral Interventions: An Introduction for School Personnel includes 10 modules and addresses topics such as ASD and its impact on learning, communication and social skills development, identifying the student's needs, as well as managing behaviour.

"My department works closely with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development on initiatives related to Autism Spectrum Disorder. This latest offering is an example of that collaboration. The Provincial Government is committed to enhancing access to services to better assist both children and adults living with ASD. Approximately $12.5 million is invested annually in intervention services for individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism."
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

This new training program will complement the many resources that are currently available to students with ASD including speech language pathologists, student assistants, educational psychologists, special education teachers, as well as assistive technology such as iPads for communication. For more information on this new initiative, educational personnel should contact their school administrator or district student support services personnel.

"The Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is supportive of initiatives that bring greater opportunity for professional development in teaching strategies to help ensure those with autism experience success in the classroom. This represents critical learning for all educators working with children in our school system, and at times that are convenient for them. I congratulate the Provincial Government on helping increase the opportunity for all children with ASD to receive an education in an inclusive classroom, on a full-time basis, with their peers."
- Scott Crocker, Executive Director, Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

This Atlantic Canadian initiative was developed from a partnership between the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET) and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA). CAMET is an intergovernmental agency that enhances cooperation in public and post-secondary education in Atlantic Canada. APSEA provides programs and services for children and youth who are blind and visually impaired and deaf and hard of hearing.

QUICK FACTS

• Through an Atlantic Canadian initiative, educational personnel throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will now have access to a new online training program to increase their knowledge and skills with respect to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Over 250 educational personnel from Newfoundland and Labrador are registered for the first training session which will take place from April 2 to June 26, 2015.
• It is a 40-hour, self-paced online training program titled ASD and Behavioral Interventions: An Introduction for School Personnel and includes 10 modules that addresses topics such as ASD and its impact on learning, communication and social skills development, identifying the student's needs, as well as managing behaviour.
• This Atlantic Canadian initiative was developed from a partnership between the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority.
• For more information on this new initiative, educational personnel should contact their school administrator or district student support services personnel.

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Media contacts:

Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca	John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca
Scott Crocker Executive Director Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-722-2803 scrocker@autism.nf.net

2015 04 02                              10:35 a.m.