Conference on
EDUCATING STUDENTS
WITH SIGNIFICANT
COGNITIVE DISABILITIES
August 19, 2011
8:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Marriott Hotel, Farmington
Focusing on Emerging
Topics in Educating
and Assessing Students
with Significant
Cognitive Disabilities.
CONNECTICUT
STATE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
Presented by the Connecticut
State Department of Education
in cooperation with the
University of Connecticut’s
Neag School of Education
Educating Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
Registration and Pastry
8:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Welcome and
Keynote Address
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Morning Break
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Educating Students
with Autism
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Session A*
1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon Break
2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Session B*
* Session A is repeated at 2:00 as Session B.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank our presenters and keynote
speaker for their presentations of current and critical
content which will enhance educational opportunities
for students with significant cognitive disabilities in
Connecticut. Thank you also to Dr. Barbara Beaudin,
Associate Commissioner and Dr. Robert Lucco,
Bureau Chief for their continual vision, leadership
and direction focusing on improving Connecticut’s
assessment system for all students.
Janet Stuck
Special Populations Consultant and ESSCD Organizer
Connecticut State Department of Education
Division of Assessment, Research and Technology
Bureau of Student Assessment
VIDEO RECORDINGS / CONFERENCE MATERIALS
We would also like to thank Dr. Mary Yakimowski, Director, Office of Assessment, NEAG School of Education,
University of Connecticut for coordinating UCONN resources for the Educating Students with Significant Cognitive
Disabilities Conference.
The following sessions will be video recorded:
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– Dr. Jacqueline Kearns
s%DUCATING3TUDENTS7ITH!UTISMn#ONSIDERATIONSAND%VIDENCE"ASED3TRATEGIES
– Panel presentation by Dr. John Molteni, Tara Bellefleur, Patricia Hardison and Christina Kiley
s7HAT(AVE7ELEARNED!3UMMARYOF#-4#!043KILLS#HECKLIST6ALIDITY2ESEARCH3TUDIES
– Dr. Jessica Goldstein
2ECORDINGSANDCONFERENCEMATERIALSWILLBEAVAILABLE at:
HTTPWWWEDUCATIONUCONNEDUASSESSMENTCONFERENCESCFM
Our appreciation is extended to session moderators and videographers from the University of Connecticut’s Neag School
of Education: -ARISADEL#AMPO3ARAH&UNKE9UJIN+IMand7EI8IA
On behalf of the Connecticut State Department of Education, EASTCONN will be providing
#%5Sto qualified participants.
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2
Educating Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. REGISTRATION & PASTRY
8:45 – 10:00 a.m. WELCOME & KEYNOTE ADDRESS
What Does College and Career Ready Mean
for Students Who Are Participating in Alternate
Assessments? (Grand Ballroom)
has been learned about the Skills Checklist, there are still many
questions to be answered. The purpose of this session is to review
findings from three completed research studies on the use of the
Skills Checklist by teachers and schools.
Check Our List of AT Resources for Your Students
Who Qualify for the Checklist (Massachusetts)
Presenter: Dr. Jacqueline Kearns, University of Kentucky
Presenters: Amy Norton and Carol Magliocco, EASTCONN
This session will highlight data on the learner characteristics
of students who take alternate assessments, consider the life
outcome possibilities, and the implications for curriculum,
instruction and assessment for these students.
In this session, participants will learn about the broad range
of assistive technologies available to support students whose
significant disabilities qualify them for the CMT checklist.
The presenters will demonstrate software options that provide
modified curriculum and others that can be edited to meet the
unique needs of learners with significant disabilities. In addition, alternative access methods for student who are unable to
use a standard mouse and/or keyboard will be demonstrated.
A list of web resources will be provided.
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. MORNING BREAK
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. PANEL PRESENTATION
Educating Students with Autism – Considerations
and Evidence-Based Strategies (Grand Ballroom)
Presenters:
Dr. John Molteni, Saint Joseph College
Tara Bellefleur, Teacher, the Gengras Center
Pat Hardison, District Consultant, West Hartford
Christina Kiley, Teacher, Plainville Public Schools
This panel presentation will outline considerations in assessing
skills, developing goals and objectives, and instructional strategies for individuals with autism from Pre-K through transition
age. Participants will develop an understanding of evidence-based
strategies and the use of data to support ongoing decision making.
11:45 a.m –12:30 p.m. LUNCH
12:30 –1:45 p.m. SESSION A*
What Have We Learned? A Summary of CMT/CAPT
Skills Checklist Validity Research Studies
(New Hampshire)
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Goldstein, University of Connecticut
In 2007, the Connecticut State Department of Education
(CSDE) joined a consortium of five states/jurisdictions in the
Priority B AA-AAS Validity Evaluation, a project funded by
a grant from the Office of Special Education Programs at the
U.S. Department of Education to focus on the development
of validity evidence for alternate assessments of alternate
achievement standards (AA-AAS). Assessment validation has
been described as a “lengthy, even endless process.” While much
August
Marriott Hotel, Farmington
Best Practices In Determining LRE (Vermont)
Presenter: Rhonda Kempton, Connecticut State Department
of Education
This presentation will provide information about federal and
Connecticut state legislation, regulations and policies for
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The implications for
procedures and practices regarding student participation and
best practices for determining the least restrictive environment
and participation opportunities will be shared.
Effective Paraprofessional Supervision (Rhode Island)
Presenter: Iris White, Connecticut State Department of Education
It is often unclear whose responsibility it is to manage, supervise,
and direct the work of the paraprofessional. Participants will refine their understanding of the distinction between teacher and
paraprofessional roles, responsibilities, and ethical issues; develop
skills and strategies to maximize the support of paraprofessionals
in service delivery; and understand the provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the No Child Left Behind
Act regarding paraprofessionals and their supervisors.
1:45 – 2:00 p.m. AFTERNOON BREAK
2:00 –3:15 p.m. SESSION B*
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3
Educating Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
REGISTRATION AND PASTRY
8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
WELCOME AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS
8:45 – 10:00 a.m.
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(by Jacqueline Kearns — Grand Ballroom)
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
MORNING BREAK
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
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(with John Molteni, Tara Bellefleur, Pat Hardison and Christina Kiley — Grand Ballroom)
PANEL PRESENTATION
LUNCH
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
SESSION A*
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Vermont Room
Rhode Island Room
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IN$ETERMINING,2%
(Rhonda Kempton)
%FFECTIVE
0ARAPROFESSIONAL
3UPERVISION
(Iris White)
New Hampshire Room
Massachusetts Room
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#HECK/UR,ISTOF!4
!3UMMARYOF#-4#!04
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3KILLS#HECKLIST6ALIDITY
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2ESEARCH3TUDIES
FORTHE#HECKLIST
(Amy Norton/Carol Magliocco)
(Jessica Goldstein)
AFTERNOON BREAK
1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
SESSION B*
2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Vermont Room
Rhode Island Room
"EST0RACTICES
IN$ETERMINING,2%
(Rhonda Kempton)
%FFECTIVE
0ARAPROFESSIONAL
3UPERVISION
(Iris White)
New Hampshire Room
Massachusetts Room
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#HECK/UR,ISTOF!4
!3UMMARYOF#-4#!04
2ESOURCESFOR9OUR
3KILLS#HECKLIST6ALIDITY
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(Amy Norton/Carol Magliocco)
(Jessica Goldstein)
*Session A is repeated at 2:00 as Session B.
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Educating Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS
Tara Bellefleur
Gengras Center
Tara Bellefleur holds a M.Ed. in special education from American International College and advanced certificates in
autism and applied behavior analysis from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. She is a case manager in the Life
Unit, instructing students ages 18 to 21 at the Gengras Center. Tara teaches functional academics, life/independent
living skills, a campus work team and conducts bi-weekly community training. Tara has recently presented her behavior
analytic research findings at conferences in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Colorado. She also has served on the school
board of Saint Timothy Middle School for the past eight years and has chaired it for two.
Dr. Jessica Goldstein
University of Connecticut
Dr. Jessica Goldstein is an assistant professor in residence in the Measurement, Evaluation and Assessment program at
the University of Connecticut. Dr. Goldstein’s research interests include the validity of large-scale assessment systems
for special populations and the use of alternative measures of student achievement for school accountability. She is
currently working with the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) on several validation studies of existing
measures of student achievement including the CMT/CAPT Skills Checklist, the CMT/CAPT Modified Assessment
System, and the Kindergarten Entrance Inventory. She previously worked with CSDE to develop an online benchmark
assessment system. Dr. Goldstein has extensive experience in hierarchical linear modeling, and has used multilevel
modeling techniques to analyze large national datasets.
Pat Hardison
West Hartford Public Schools
Pat Hardison, Ed.M., is an early childhood educator at Smith School in West Hartford. Pat received her undergraduate degree in child study/special education from Saint Joseph College and her master’s degree in special education from
Temple University. She completed the required coursework for becoming a board certified behavior analyst at Penn
State University and is currently being supervised by Dr. John Molteni in her field experience. Pat helped to develop the
preschool autism program at the Early Learning Center in West Hartford and has served as a consultant throughout the
district for students on the autism spectrum. In addition to working directly with students, her interests include working
with families and mentoring teachers.
Dr. Jacqueline Kearns
University of Kentucky
Currently, Dr. Kearns from the University of Kentucky directs the professional development component of the National
Center State Collaborative (NCSC) GSEG Project under the direction of the University of Minnesota. Previously,
Dr. Kearns served as principal investigator for the National Alternate Assessment Center, a collaborative effort with
UNCC, NCEO, NCIEA and CAST that brought together measurement, special educators, and content specialists
learning/teaching about alternate assessments. She has completed two other OSEP funded directed research projects:
“Including Students Who are Deafblind in Large Scale Assessment,” “Universal Design for Assessment: Applications of
Technology”and “Validity Evaluation of Kentucky Alternate Assessment.” She also is completing a multi-state GSEG
Consortium on Validity Evaluation of Alternate Assessments. She co-authored two texts on alternate assessment.
continued
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Educating Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Rhonda Kempton
Connecticut State Department of Education
Rhonda Kempton is an education consultant with the Connecticut State Department of Education in the Bureau of
Special Education. Her main responsibilities include monitoring and improvement activities related to Indicator 5
(Least Restrictive Environment). She also conducts private school approvals, investigates complaints, and conducts
focused monitoring and improvement for academic achievement for students with disabilities. She participated in the
development of the Skills Checklist. She has over 20 years of experience as a special educator, was a special education
administrator for three years and served as least restrictive environment facilitator for several years in district under the
P.J. settlement agreement. She also currently serves as adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University in the
special education department. She has a sixth-year collaborative degree in educational leadership and special education.
Christina Kiley
Plainville Public Schools
Christina Kiley brings several years of special education experience to the field of special education. She has been a
developmental resource teacher in Plainville since 2006. Prior to working in Plainville, she was a paraprofessional at the
Gengras Center. Currently, she also works as a lead ABA therapist for Creative Interventions, LLC. Christina graduated
from Pine Manor College with a degree in visual arts, and received her Master of Arts in special education with teacher
certification from Saint Joseph College. She is currently enrolled in Saint Joseph College’s ABA certificate program and
is under the direct supervision of Dr. Molteni.
Dr. Carol Magliocco
EASTCONN
Carol L. Magliocco, Ph.D., P.T., ATP, received her doctorate in special education from the University of Connecticut
in 2001. Since that time, she has served as EASTCONN’s coordinator of assistive technology. Dr. Magliocco provides
a range of services to school districts including student assessment, consultation and professional development and
assisting districts to integrate the use of assistive technology into the general education classroom and curriculum.
Prior to joining EASTCONN, Dr. Magliocco worked in the University of Connecticut’s Assistive Technology Training
Center, providing statewide training for the Connecticut Tech Act and serving as an instructor for graduate coursework
in assistive technology.
Dr. John Molteni
Saint Joseph College
Dr. John Molteni received his Ph.D. in clinical child psychology from Saint John’s University. He is an assistant professor
and director of the Institute for Autism and Behavioral Studies and program director of special education at Saint
Joseph College. He directs the Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders and developed the Graduate Course
sequence in Applied Behavior Analysis, a program in which he teaches and supervises students. His teaching credentials
include courses in special education, behavior analysis and clinical psychology at multiple universities in Massachusetts
and Connecticut. Dr. Molteni is a licensed psychologist and a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has
developed instructional and behavioral programs for children, adolescents and young adults with autism and related
disabilities. Dr. Molteni’s clinical and consulting work has included involvement with public and nonpublic schools,
residential treatment facilities, inpatient psychiatric units, government agencies and outpatient clinics. Dr. Molteni
has presented workshops and his research at regional and national conferences and has conducted training and case
continued
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Educating Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
consultation internationally. His research interests include analysis of challenging behavior in applied settings, ethical
and professional issues for behavior analysts, feeding disorders in children with autism and related disabilities and factors
that influence choice-making. Dr. Molteni currently serves as the past president of the Connecticut Association for
Behavior Analysis after serving as president for the past four years.
Amy Norton
EASTCONN
Amy T. Norton, M.Ed, ATP, is an Assistive Technology Specialist at EASTCONN and also provides a range of services
to school districts including student assessment, consultation and professional development and assisting districts
to integrate the use of assistive technology into the general education classroom and curriculum. Before coming to
EASTCONN, Ms. Norton was an assistive technology specialist at the NEAT Center at Oak Hill in Hartford where she
provided evaluation, consultation and training services on assistive technology for individuals with disabilities across the
lifespan. During this time she provided evaluations, consultations and training for numerous school districts throughout
the state. Previously, Ms. Norton was a consultant at the State Education Resource Center (SERC) where she coordinated
the Technology in Education Initiative and provided training, consultation and technical assistance to school districts
throughout the state.
Iris White
Connecticut State Department of Education
Iris White is an education consultant with the Connecticut State Department of Education in the Bureau of
Accountability and Improvement. Her main responsibilities include the coordination of the Connecticut Accountability
for Learning Initiative (CALI) and statewide paraprofessional professional development. Iris has a bachelor’s degree in
special education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany and a master’s degree in curriculum development and instructional technology from the State University of New York at Albany.
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