Structured Teaching Level I (modified 4-Day Training)

“Structured teaching” encourages professionals to understand and assess the characteristics of autism for each child and then develop instructional curriculum based on that assessment. This intensive seminar provides teachers and other professionals with an overview of structured teaching, and the chance to see it in action by working directly with students of different ages and developmental skills in a demonstration classroom.

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe and understand the characteristics of autism
• Explain classroom assessment
• Demonstrate the components of structured teaching
• Understand how to work with families of children with autism
• Describe and address the communication difficulties of children with autism
• Explain independence, social, and leisure skills
• Describe how structured teaching principles affect behavior management strategies

Training dates and times:
Monday, August 4 – Thursday, August 7, 2014 (9:00am – 3:00pm)
Parents meeting:  Wednesday, August 6, 2014 (4:00pm – 6:00pm)

Wendy Moran
Executive Director

Wendy Moran is the Executive Director of the TIM Academy, where she serves as both an administrator and autism consultant. She has over 24 years of autism experience as a classroom teacher, parent educator and professional staff developer.  She designs and delivers staff development programs and provides consultative services to both public and private schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. Wendy has participated in several mission projects enhancing the education of individuals with autism in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

Kathleen Fitts
Assistant Director

Kathleen Fitts has more than 22 years of experience in special education, including classroom teaching, training of staff, and administration.  She has been a collaborator with the TIM Academy for several years and was appointed Assistant Director in 2011.  Her current role emphasizes the training of individuals who work with children with autism.
Kathleen has a diverse background in Special Education.  She came to the TIM Academy after working in an elementary autistic support classroom in the Phoenixville Area School District.  Prior to this, she spent 10 years at a school exclusively for students with autism where her responsibilities ranged from classroom teacher to Assistant Director.  During this time, she played a major role in establishing the Structured Teaching training program for staff at this School and other institutions.  She spent the first 8 years of her career as a high school teacher in New Orleans Public Schools working with students in emotional and behavioral support classrooms.

Chrissie Lucey
TIM Academy Trainer

Chrissie Lucey has over 25 years of experience working at a private school for individuals diagnosed with autism.  She has experience working with students who have a wide range of cognitive, behavioral and social skill development. Chrissie has worked collaboratively with the TIM Academy training team for 17 years.

About Tobago

• Tobago is the small sister island of Trinidad located northeast of South America, and they are the two most southern islands in the Caribbean. Tobago’s population is approximately 65,000.

• Three years ago a group of parents who have children with autism founded the non-profit organization, “Autism Tobago”. Because there is no census information taken in Trinidad & Tobago, there are no known numbers or incidences of autism. Autism Tobago receives no government funding and for the past 3 years have been trying to raise funds to purchase a building to call their home. Despite this, we continue to educate families with autism in rented or borrowed venues. Autism Tobago’s mission is to improve the quality of life of persons living with Autism in Tobago; its vision is to be the leading voice for persons living with Autism, their families, and care providers.

Needs of current/next Training Program Dec 2-6, 2013 for Autism Tobago: 6 handheld pocket camcorders (~$30 each) 6 memory cards (~$20 each) Contribute to Autism Tobago in order to host a social evening for all participants on December 5, 2013 (a first-time gathering for all parents with their families to meet during the training program, to network, and to build support amongst themselves) Send a check to “Autism Tobago” to help cover travel and local expenses for training team (1US $ = 6TT $)