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Mission

The Communities of Practice in Autism (CoPAs) will share knowledge and information about evidence-based strategies in natural environments, focusing on infants, toddlers, and young children diagnosed or suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families, to enhance supports and services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• 2008 Conference Presentations
• Meeting Minutes
• New CoPA Leader Application
• Virginia Communities of Practice in Autism Evaluation Report
  

Key Outcomes

• Improve knowledge of providers and others related to evidence-based intervention for young children with  Autism
• Identify and disseminate strategies that can be used in natural settings, such as the home, and embedded into the daily routine of the family
• Foster communication and collaboration among providers, with families, and other community members to improve implementation of the IFSP/FSP
• Improve supports and services for all children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families

Challenges and Barriers

• Lack of knowledge about what is evidence-based for infants, toddlers and young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Lack of knowledge about natural, embedded strategies
• Providers do not always know how to explain the rationale for specific interventions, supports, and/or services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to families or others in the community
• Providers do not always know how to teach family members or solve problems with families for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Goals for Year 1

• Develop regional goals and activities based on the CoPA mission and regional issues and needs
• Hold nine meetings based on the regional goals
• Evaluate changes pre and post using a measure of perceived need for information, resources, and skills
• Develop a sustainability plan (begin planning mid-year) in order to continue regional/local CoPAs, including
• CoPA leaders and satellite CoPA sites, as appropriate
• Needs for sustainability (funding, supports, etc)

Communities of Practice Leaders

• Back to the Basics of Autism Supports and Services: Sensory, Social and Speech, Dr. Carol Schall
• Cultivating Communities of Practice in Autism, Belinda Hooper
• Distinctions between Communities of Practice and Other Structures, E. Wenger, R. McDermott & W.M. Snyder
• Positive Behavior Support for Infants and Toddlers, Dr. Carol Schall
• Strategies for Increasing Communication in Natural Environments, Sue Palko
• Teaching Early Social-Communication Skills to Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dr. Maureen Conroy and Abigail Vo
  • Handout
• Understanding Understanding Sensory Processing: Looking at Children’s Behavior Through the Lens of Sensory Processing, Dr. Dianne Koontz Lowman
  

NoVA CoPA (Chik)

• Putting Communities of Practice in Autism (CoPA) into Place
• March 24, 2008  

NoVA CoPA (Kent)

• May 8, 2008   March 13, 2008   February 14, 2008   January 10, 2008
• December 13, 2007   November 8, 2007

Southwest Virginia Autism Action Group

• May 20, 2008
• November 20, 2007

Southwestern CoPA

• August 21, 2008  June 26, 2008   April 10, 2008   February 19, 2008   January 31, 2008   January 3, 2008  
• November 8, 2007  

Tidewater CoPA

• May 6, 2008   April 1, 2008   March 4, 2008   January 8, 2008

Valley CoPA

• July 9, 2008   June 11, 2008   May 14, 2008   April 9, 2008   March 12, 2008   February 13, 2008   January 9, 2008  
• December 12, 2007   November 7, 2007