|
Gretchen Schmidt Mertes, M.Ed., Educational Specialist in Autism, Special Services for Bethel School District, WA
This session will explore ways that Social Thinking can easily be introduced school-wide, ways that Social Thinking instruction can and should be differentiated for all students, and will offer tools for universal screening, data collection, progress monitoring and more. Please go to the Conference Session Selection menu if you'd like to attend.
Response to Intervention (RTI) supports students’ school wide in academics and Positive Behavior Supports (PBS/PBIS) offers school wide behavioral supports for students with challenging behaviors – both are based on differentiated instruction. Students with Social Thinking Deficits, Asperger’s, ADHD, and other “behavioral disabilities” such as organizational challenges, wiggles, and quirkiness, often struggle to keep up with both academics and behaviors. This session will explore ways that Social Thinking can easily be introduced schoolwide, ways that Social Thinking instruction can and should be differentiated for all students, and will offer tools for universal screening, data collection, progress monitoring and more.
Learning objectives
1. Participants will be able to describe systems for teaching Social Thinking in a Differentiated Instruction Model.
2. Participants will gain data collection tools for Universal Screening and progress monitoring of Social Thinking skills.
3. Participants will review a plan for introducing, planning for and implementing a school wide Social Thinking model.
Presenter
Gretchen Schmidt-Mertes is an Educational Specialist in Autism and a well known presenter and consultant throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has 20 years of experience teaching both general and special education, and has served students pre-school through high school. Gretchen completed the Professional Training Program at the University of Washington Autism Center, and has undergone extensive training in Asperger's through the Professional Development in Autism Center at the University of Kansas. She has also mentored with Michelle Garcia Winner at the center for Social Thinking in San Jose. She is currently the Autism Specialist for the Bethel School District and is a Regional Autism Facilitator/Trainer for the Autism Outreach Project through Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State. Gretchen provides technical support, training and consulting for districts, schools, and families of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. |
