Easter Seals Outreach Program
Easter Seals Arkansas’ Outreach Program is an Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit (ADE-SEU) Title VI-B grant-funded program that supports a multidisciplinary team of consultants who address the school-related issues of students with disabilities ages 3-21 years. After receiving a referral via the ADE-SEU’s CIRCUIT process (see below), the Outreach team travels statewide to provide consultations, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities that address the needs of specific students, as well as build staff capacity within the local school district.
The Outreach Program uses and encourages an integrated team approach in building collaborative relationships among consultants, teachers, parents, administrators, and therapists to assess need and recommend services. The team is committed to providing quality services to enable students to reach their highest potential.
Our team consists of Occupational Therapists, Psychological Examiners, Special Educators, and Speech Language Pathologists.
CIRCUIT

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 (Public Law 108-446) authorizes State activities to Local Education Agencies, including direct and supportive service activities, to improve results for children with disabilities, ages 3 to 21, by ensuring a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. For this purpose, a regional cadre of special education consultants is available who can assist in interventions for students with sensory disabilities, multiple physical disabilities, behavior, and autism spectrum disorders.
Training Opportunities
Our Outreach Training Facility is located at 3724 Woodland Heights Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212 approximately 200 feet from the main Easter Seals campus.
| Date | Training Title | Presenter | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
June 7 and 8, 2010 |
STAR Autism Program Basic 2 Day Overview |
The STAR Autism Team - Joel Arick, Ph D & Sheila Magee, MS |
Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
| June 14-18, 2010 | BASIC: Behavioral Approaches using STAR Implementation & Coaching Training | The Outreach Team | Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
Full |
| June 21-25, 2010 | BASIC: Behavioral Approaches using STAR Implementation & Coaching Training | The Outreach Team | Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
July 26 and 27, 2010 |
STAR Autism Program Basic 2 Day Overview |
The STAR Autism Team - Joel Arick, Ph D & Sheila Magee, MS |
Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
| August 2-6, 2010 | BASIC: Behavioral Approaches using STAR Implementation & Coaching Training | The Outreach Team | Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
| August 9-13, 2010 | BASIC: Behavioral Approaches using STAR Implementation & Coaching Training | The Outreach Team | Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
September 8 and 9, 2010 |
STAR Autism Program Basic 2 Day Overview |
The STAR Autism Team - Joel Arick, Ph D & Sheila Magee, MS |
Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
September 10, 2010 |
FACTER: Functional Assessment and Curriculum for Teaching Everyday Routines |
The STAR Autism Team - Joel Arick, Ph D & Sheila Magee, MS |
Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
| September 20 & 21, 2010 | A TWO DAY ANIMATED-LITERACY™ WORKSHOP: Developing Language and Literacy | Jim Stone, M.A., | Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
September 28 & 29, 2010 |
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) - Basic Training |
JoAnne Matteo, MS, CCC-SLP |
Outreach Training Facility Little Rock, AR |
|
STAR Autism Program: A Research-Based ABA Curriculum
Joel Arick, Lauren Loos, Ruth Falco , Dave Krug, with contributions by John Gill.
The STAR Autism Program teaches children with autism the critical skills identified by the 2001 National Research Council. The ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) instructional methods of discrete trial training, pivotal response training and functional routines form the instructional base of this comprehensive program for children with autism.

The STAR Program includes detailed lesson plans, teaching materials, data systems and a curriculum-based assessment for teaching in the six curricular areas of receptive language, expressive language, spontaneous language, functional routines, academics, and play & social skills.
FACTER: Functional Assessment and Curriculum for Teaching Everyday Routines
(Arick, J., Nave, G., Hoffman, T., 2004)
|
What is Animated-Literacy™?
Animated-Literacy™ is a comprehensive, researched based, multisensory approach to reading, writing, and oral language instruction that moves students from the earliest stages of literacy to fluency and independence in reading and writing at a third grade level. Phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, comprehension, and fluency are all key elements of the program.
In addition to current reading research, Animated-Literacy™ makes direct use of language research and brain research including research in memory, motivation, and the role of emotion in guiding attention and learning. An overview of current reading research, brain research, and language research is provided in the Animated-Alphabet™ Story, Song, And Action Book.
www.animated-literacy.com
PECS Basic Training
- This intensive two-day training is designed to teach participants the theory behind the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and the protocols for how to appropriately implement the six phases of PECS.
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is used to rapidly teach communication skills to those with limited functional speech. PECS promotes communication within a social context, without lengthy prerequisite training. Training in PECS begins by teaching a spontaneous request and goes on to teach additional communicative functions such as responding to questions and commenting. An added attraction for preschool children with autism and related disabilities is the high proportion of children who acquire independent speech. Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, plus attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples and role-play opportunities. Participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of how to implement PECS with individuals with autism, related developmental disabilities, and/or limited communication skills.
What You Will Learn:
- The key Pyramid components to designing effective educational environments
- Strategies to create an abundance of opportunities for communication
- The relationship between PECS and traditional communication training approaches
- How to implement all six phases of PECS with target individuals using a behavior analytic orientation
- The criteria for transitioning from PECS to other communication modalities
Agenda: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Registration Time: 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM
CEUs: 1.3 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area) & 7.0 BACB CEUs
Tuition includes: The Second Edition PECS Training Manual with Data Forms CD (a $69.00 value) - Detailed Handouts with space for note taking - Certificate of Attendance - Continental Breakfast both days - ASHA and/or BACB CEUs are available
www.pecsusa.com
