So many acronyms and so little time!
When these are all seen as separate or additional things to do, it can become overwhelming or, maybe, even scary (Oh my!). By looking at High Leverage Practices (HLPs) and Evidence Based Practices in Autism (EBPs) as a collection of helpful tools for implementing IEPs, they can become a little less scary and overwhelming.
What are EBPs and HLPs?
In 2014, the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC) published their report on 27 strategies that met criteria for being identified as evidence based practices for autism. These are a set of practices that have been shown, through scientific research, to be effective with students with ASD. A set of 22 High Leverage Practices for special educators was released by the Collaboration for Effective Education Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in 2016. HLPs are frequently occurring practices that all special educators should know how to do.
How can HLPs and EBPs help with IEPs?
Both HLPs and EBPs support high quality implementation of IEPs and promote increased student outcomes across content areas and settings. Focusing on how these practices can support and guide instruction that positively impacts student learning can help educators to see them as tools rather than obstacles. Overlaps in identified practices are noted and a few examples are outlined below.
|
HLP |
EBP in Autism |
|
| HLP9 Teach social behaviors
Includes explicit instruction in: self-management, communication, and interpersonal skills |
Self-Management
Social Skills Training Functional Communication Training |
|
| HLP10 Conduct functional behavioral assessments to develop individual student behavior support plans | Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) | |
| HLP16 Use explicit instruction
Includes modeling and scaffolding |
Modeling
Task Analysis Prompting |
|
| HLP19 Use assistive and instructional technologies | Technology-aided Instruction and Intervention | |
| HLP20 Provide intensive instruction | Discrete Trial Training (DTT) | |
| HLP21 Teach students to maintain and generalize new learning across time and settings | Naturalistic Interventions |
Where can you learn more?
Borrow books on HLPs from the TTAC ODU Lending Library, by visiting our site and searching the library catalog for “high leverage practices”.
Information on EBPs for autism, along with online learning modules, can be found on the NPDC website.
Information, resources, and online learning modules about HLPs can be found through the CEEDAR website and through the IRIS Center.
References
McLeskey, J. et al. (2017), High Leverage Practices in Special Education. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children and CEEDAR Center.
Wong, C., Odom, S. L., Hume, K. Cox, A. W., Fettig, A., Kucharczyk, S., … Schultz, T. R. (2014). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young ddults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Autism Evidence-Based Practice Review Group.
