When I first started teaching students with autism I was given the ABLLS and IEP goals. I had to do my best with those resources and whatever else I could find. 

So in my first year I found Sasha at Autism Helper and Christine Reeve at Autism Classroom News and they helped me through that first year.  

My second year I entered a cohort with the TexasAutism Circuit on the 27 Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) for working with
people with Autism. It was very intensive yet beneficial to teaching. I now implement the EBP’s in meaningful ways within my classroom and they are imbedded within my lessons instead of in isolation. 

Before I did the Autism Circuit I only taught my students using basic ABA which was effective but I found it difficult to bring in curriculum standards. 

What are EBPs? In short they are practices that have been scientifically researched to be effective interventions. In fact it is the law that teaching practices must be based on evidence. Surprisingly EBPs are things a lot of teachers do in the classroom daily but use different terminology for it. I remember one of my mentors from my alternative certification program said you know how to use the tools but you just have to articulate what you use to others. How many teachers do you know find strategies to decrease problem behavior in class by manipulating the environment to set the student up for success or have a caught being good system of encouragement for students to help decrease maladaptive behavior well that is antecedent based interventions. Good teaching is not wizardry it is evidence and research based. I have a good friend that taught for 25 years that would show me different things my first year that were her tried and true tools that she used like incorporating movement in daily routines (exercise), her expertise was research based evidence based practice. 

I am going to create a series of blog post with ways I have found to use the EBPs and links to resources. The 27 evidence based practices are good for all students not just students with autism so I am going to feature 1 or 2 a week to really show others ways I have found that work. What I like about these evidence based practices is that it so not something used in isolation but in tandem with my curriculum. Some of these practice won't be new to you and some of them will so I hope if nothing else you have some new tools to use when teaching individuals with autism and find the EBPs work for all students. So for now I will link the National Professional Development Center on Autism SpectrumDisorder (NPDC) for you to check out what they are.

Do you used EDPs with yours students?