Behavior and communication are two aspects of development that are closely associated. Often the roles of speech-language pathologists and behavior specialists overlap. The goal of this presentation is to outline how speech-language pathologists and behavior analyst’s responsibilities align with a focus on collaborative practices. An autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires transdisciplinary practice to support individuals to succeed across settings, from home to school, and into their communities. This presentation will highlight the benefits of a transdisciplinary team approach to intervention.
Jodi LeGray is currently a Team Lead for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Aurora Public Schools and a part-time Autism Specialist for the Colorado Department of Education. She has been a coach in the educational setting for both early childhood instruction and supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across educational programming. Her research interests include ASD identification and treatment, early childhood language development and service delivery, and single-subject research design for addressing clinical questions.
Kelly Tousley, MA ECSE, RBT is currently an early childhood special educator and autism specialist across five school districts in the Western Slope region of Colorado. She has primarily worked in early intervention, with an academic focus in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Kelly has worked as a home therapist, lead classroom teacher and a member of the regional child find team. Kelly has completed advanced graduate coursework in applied behavioral analysis. She loves working with school teams to create stronger inclusive classrooms for children with autism, coaching teachers and supporting parents through early intervention programming.