Aztec Complex
2611 Eubank NE, Portable 15
Phone: 505-298-6752

Students with autism present unique challenges to school teams. Regardless of whether this is your first or fiftieth experience with one or more students with autism, it may be helpful to share your concerns, frustrations and triumphs with other professionals who are trained to consult with you regarding students with autism. The recent increase in the number of students diagnosed with autism has led to continuing research concerning the most effective instructional strategies. Methods that are effective for other students with or without disabilities are often not effective for students with autism. The Autism Resource Team has a variety of resources to share, expertise in areas related to quality programming and a readiness to help school teams meet the challenges of working effectively with students with autism. In addition to consultation, the Autism Resource Team provides a variety of training opportunities throughout the school year. Schools can also request autism-related staff development. The Autism Resource Team is here to help you put the pieces together.

H. Wayne Knight - Coordinator
City Center 200 West
855-9930     knight@aps.edu

Sandy Goller - Secretary
Ext. 3393     goller@aps.edu

Carolyn Biswell, BA - Behavior Management Specialist
Ext. 3431    cebiswell@msn.com

Melanie Brawley, PhD - Autism Resource Teacher
Ext. 3346    brawley@aps.edu

Karen Hoover, MA - Autism Resource Teacher - Co-leader
Ext. 3428    hoover@aps.edu

Marci Laurel, MA, CCC-SLP - Speech & Language Pathologist
Ext. 3345    laurel@aps.edu

Mary McCarthy, BA - Discrete Trial Trainer
Ext. 3432    mccarthy_m@aps.edu

Leeanne Moore - Behavior Management Specialist
Ext.         leeanne.moore@aps.edu

David Nelson, MA, LED - Diagnostician
Ext. 3347     nelson@aps.edu

Diane Reinhardt, LMSW - Social Worker
Ext. 3434    swerdiane@msn.com

Sylvia Sarmiento, MS, CCC-SLP - Speech & Language Pathologist
Ext. 3403    sarmiento@aps.edu

Nick Tafoya - Discrete Trial Trainer
Ext 3432    tafoya_nick@aps.edu

Maryann Trott, MA - Autism Resource Teacher - Co-leader
Ext. 3427    trott@aps.edu

Consultation: In order for a school team to receive consultation regarding a student who either has a diagnosis of autism or displays significant characteristics common to students with autism please follow the process indicated below.

• Fill out a consultation request form and return it to Maryann Trott at Aztec Complex, email it to trott@aps.edu or fax it to Maryann at 298-6759. Requests from families must come through the school.
• The consultation request is assigned to the appropriate member or members of the Autism Resource Team (ART). A school team member, usually the teacher, will be contacted for further information and to set up an appointment for an observation.
• Following the observation, the ART member(s) will talk with appropriate members of the school team to determine the best ways to help the school team work with the student in question. This may include suggestions and training regarding specific techniques, materials, modeling or anything else decided upon by the ART consultants and the school team.
• A written report will be sent to the teacher, principal and/or head special education teacher following the consultation. A copy will be included for the parent. Unless the parent has contacted the team regarding the referral, sending the report to the parent is at the discretion of the school team. If the parent has contacted the team or requested a copy of the report, a copy will be sent to the parent one week following its delivery to the school. 
• The school team and the ART members will determine appropriate follow-up.

Assistance with the diagnostic process:  If the school team suspects that autism may be an appropriate special education eligibility and wishes to assign that eligibility or change the current eligibility for a student, the educational diagnostician must submit a request for an Autism Panel Review. Please follow the process indicated below.

• The educational diagnostician submits a request for an Autism Panel Review
• An Autism Review Panel member will contact a member of the school team, usually the teacher, in order to schedule an observation.
• Following the observation, the Autism Review Panel member submits a written observation report to the educational diagnostician along with a list of specific information needed to complete an autism review. It is very important to have all requested information. Missing information may lead to delays in the process.
• The educational diagnostician contacts a member of the review panel to make an appointment to present diagnostic information regarding the student at an Autism Review Panel meeting.
• The Autism Review Panel assists school teams in determining if evaluation results and data appear consistent with an educational classification of autism. The school Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) makes the final determination as to eligibility.

Training:  A wide variety of training opportunities are available from the Autism Resource Team. Large trainings open to professionals and paraprofessionals throughout the district are offered at least once a year. Other trainings are available for large or small groups as requested by schools or individuals. Please contact Maryann Trott (298-6752 X 3427, trott@aps.edu, or fax 298-6759) with any training requests.  

Autism Resource Services Request for Consultation

Autism Resource Services Brochure

News from Spring 2005 Issue of the NM Autism Society Newsletter

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