# Specialisterne: leveraging the unique skills of Autistics at competitive market terms **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [May 10, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245 "2011-05-10T07:15:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 172
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245/172 "2012-08-16T15:36:04Z")
I mentioned Positive Behavior Support (PBS) in an earlier [post](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/328) - where the goal of is to redirect socially unacceptable behavior and teach replacement skills so that the participant will be successful. I also mentioned in a [post](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245/170) from a couple of days ago that Andrew Nelson is a Positive Behaviour Support Trainer with the Huntington-based, West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University. Dr. Barbara Becker-Cottrill was a key developer of this model, which incorporates features of wrap-around support to PBS, entitled ‘Family Focus Positive Behavior Support’ (FFPBS)… > [@](#): > > …“We have a little over 2,800 people registered for our services,” Cottrill said. "We offer a variety of services for families. Some of them are resource services, but our direct service-delivery-model is called the Family Focus Positive Behavior Support Process. We can work with approximately 85 families all around the state in a year’s time and we work very closely with them. > “We help the families develop a team, and then we support the family and the team members in developing a comprehensive plan for that individual child,” Cottrill said. “We then coach the families and team members on how to implement the plan. We are truly looking to increase the quality of life for the child and the family.”… And an example of an Autistic child being helped by a similar program… > [@](#): > > …The Kentucky Autism Training Center developed a pilot project modeled after the Family Focus Positive Behavior Supports (FFPBS) model used by Marshall University. A KATC field training coordinator delivered services associated with the FFPBS model to the team of thirteen year old Adam… and his parents… Adam was selected for the pilot FFPBS project because of his aggressive and potentially dangerous behaviors. Adam did not have meaningful or functional communication for most of his needs, though he does know some limited sign language. > > [see article link in the sources below for the rest of the story] > > …“Not only has Adam’s quality of life really improved but the quality of life for us as a family is much, much better…” > > - Adam’s Mother] > > …“I especially liked meeting with all the stakeholders on a regular basis. Adam has improved a great deal and I attribute it to the suggestions and follow through with ideas from his team members.” > > - the Vice Principal of Adam’s school] Here is a link to a set of slides from a presentation on the FFPBS program given at the 8th annual Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS) Conference last year in Denver, Colorado: [http://www.apbs.org/Archives/Conferences/8thconference/files/E16-Hays.pdf](http://www.apbs.org/Archives/Conferences/8thconference/files/E16-Hays.pdf) (sources: [Local agencies offer services for those in need - Sports - The Parthenon - Marshall University](http://www.marshallparthenon.com/sports/local-agencies-offer-services-for-those-in-need-1.2724143#.UC2DAFFRqRY); [Kentucky Autism Training Center | Education & Human Development](http://louisville.edu/education/kyautismtraining/about/annual-reports/KATC-2007-AR.pdf/at_download/file)) --- _[View the full topic](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245)._