Mission of the Autism Project

Mission Statement

The Autism Project's mission is to demonstrate for school personnel and parents how to design and implement appropriate school-based programs for Mississippi students who have been determined to be eligible to receive special education services in the category of autism.

Primary Activities in Support of the Autism Project's Mission

Autism Project staff perform two primary activities:  (a) direct service provision to students with autism and (b) statewide trainings.

Direct service provision to students.  During the 2012-2013 school year, Autism Project staff will operate three classrooms at the Autism Demonstration School.  Preschool, Kindergarten, First, or Second Grade students with autism may be considered for placement in these classrooms.  Applications for enrollment are now being accepted.  Anyone interested in submitting an application should contact the Autism Project by calling 228.863.1755 or sending an e-mail to autism@usm.edu.

Training

Autism Project staff conduct trainings at the Autism Demonstration School and throughout Mississippi.  Trainings are tailored to address the needs of the individuals or organizations requesting them. Given how the classrooms at the Autism Demonstration School have been configured and are operated, training activities can be designed to meet the needs of a broad range of school personnel and parents, including general and special education teachers (grades Preschool -12) and related service personnel. Of particular note is the option of participating in a training within the Autism Demonstration School's Extended Classroom/Training Facility.  The Extended Classroom/Training Facility contains an audiovisual system that is tied to the three classrooms that comprise the Autism Demonstration School.  Specifically, surveillance cameras and microphones are employed throughout the classrooms.  This arrangement includes having the special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, and instructional assistants who work in a classroom wear lapel microphones and earbuds that allow them to converse, in real time, with trainees who watch and listen to the audio and video feed that is being sent from the classroom to the computer, speakers, and projector that comprise the Participant Viewing Station in the Extended Classroom/Training Facility.  All the while the training session is being mediated in the Extended Classroom/Training Facility by the Autism Project's Director of Training.

Tours

Autism Project staff conduct tours of the Autism Demonstration School once each month.  Tours consist of a presentation in which various aspects of the Autism Project are explained, followed by a visit to the classrooms and other locations within the project’s facility.  Please call 228.863.1755 or e-mail autism@usm.edu for schedule information.