Use this site to access recordings and presentations from National Conferences

Autism Society records most keynote and concurrent sessions at their annual conferences. You can see and hear those recordings by purchasing full online access, or individual recordings.

5008 Developing An Evaluation Team for Your Autism Program

Friday, July 9, 2010: 2:30 PM-3:45 PM

Reunion E (Hyatt Regency Dallas)

This interactive guide for developing effective autism program evaluation teams discusses the Empowerment Evaluation model. Activities and examples are provided for building personalized and effective teams that have a thorough understanding of critical program components and component modifications for the most effective outcomes. Discussion of results from two independent field-based research activities, a broadly focused autism program and one more narrowly focused will provide participants with a foundation for developing their own program evaluation team(s) of any size.

Rationale: Educational accountability is at the forefront of the educational system in the United States and ongoing program evaluation is an important component of all educational programs, including those for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Program evaluation of ASD educational programs with accountability is difficult due to the lack of practical information regarding this topic and the large amount of time needed to conduct comprehensive evaluation activities.

Objectives: This session will disseminate practical information about collaborative program evaluation through discussion of a large-scale program evaluation and a small-scale specific component of two local school districts' ASD programs. Presentation of program activities will demonstrate effectiveness and validity of the model based on current evidence-based practices and demonstrate how program evaluation can be used to improve any size public or private program.

Learner Outcomes: Participants will gain knowledge and inspiration to start their own evaluation of an educational program along with recommendations to address areas of identified weakness, suggestions for effective communication, overcoming challenges during program evaluation and proposed ways to counter challenges in future evaluations.

Modes of Presentation: An interactive presentation between presenters and participants provides ample opportunity for active participation throughout the session. To provide further clarification of the collaborative program evaluation process, participant questions, comments and concerns are encouraged. Participants will be provided with hands-on activities and presentation handouts.

Practical Applications: Stakeholders can conduct evaluations on any size program to determine program effectiveness and efficiency. Benefits of collaborative program evaluations are verification of outcomes-based delivery of services, demonstrated program consistency with stated goals, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and provision of evidence of effective programs for duplication elsewhere. Such programs become accountable to administrators and the public by generating process– and outcomes-oriented accountability, which includes accountability for improvement, community ownership, inclusion and democratic collaborative participation to create an internal accountability to stakeholders and an external accountability to administrators, the public and funders.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will learn to develop an action plan for evaluating their current or future autism programs.
Participants will participate in proven evaluation techniques by developing a mock empowerment evaluation model.
Participants will gain knowledge and inspiration to start their own evaluation of an educational program along with recommendations to address areas of identified weakness, suggestions for effective communication, overcoming challenges during the program evaluation and proposed ways to counter challenges in future evaluations.

Content Area: Life with Autism

Presenters:

Anita Kliewer, M.Ed.
Adjunct
University of North Texas

Anita Kliewer is the parent of an adult child diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. She is currently an adjunct professor and pursuing a Ph.D. in Autism Research from the University of North Texas. She is certified to teach early childhood-4th-grade regular education and Pre-K–12th-grade special education.

Trube Miller, M.Ed.
Counselor

Trube’s experience encompasses counseling, guidance sessions, consulting, and providing referrals. She assists families and students with transition and postgraduate plans. Her research interests are in the areas of personnel preparation, specifically focused on school counselors working with students identified with autism spectrum disorders and video instruction as an intervention modality.

Angela Cowan, M.Ed.
Autism Coordinator
University of North Texas

Angela Cowan, a parent of a teenage boy with autism and special education teacher, is completing a doctoral program in Autism Research at the University of North Texas. Mrs. Cowan has extensive experience and expertise in the area of autism. Professional activities include research, advocacy, parent training, and program development.

Heather Hughes, M.Ed.
Director of Special Education
University of North Texas

Heather Hughes is Director of Special Education in a local school district. She has extensive expertise in the area of autism and special education law. She has been instrumental in program development and staff development. Ms. Hughes is a doctoral candidate in Autism Research at the University of North Texas.

Jennifer Austin, M.Ed.
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
University of North Texas

Jennifer Austin is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology at a local school district in the DFW area. She has extensive experience in the area of autism and autism programming.

<< Previous Session | Next Session >>