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Published on: 2/19/2007
Last Visited: 3/26/2007
Thomas Higbee, director of USU's Autism Support Services, spent more than 10 years researching and developing cutting-edge ideas that sparked the birth of the ASSERT program.Research has shown that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) do not learn readily in typical environments, so Higbee fashioned an atmosphere ideally constructed for ASD treatment.
ASSERT provides consultation services and curriculum to school districts.Higbee and his graduate students frequently visit sites in school districts to provide in-depth training and ensure that students are getting the best instruction possible.
"The hard work has really paid off and we have seen dramatic positive changes in our students," said Higbee.
This individualized educational program has been improving the lives of children with ASD since 2003.What started as a 10-week summer course has become a highly-successful year-round preschool program that continues to revolutionize the way children with autism are educated.
This innovative program serves children three to five years in age.Each child has a personal instructor to work with for 20 hours a week and is given an individualized plan tailored to their needs.
"Intensive behavioral intervention for young children with autism is important because the earlier you work with the children, the bigger positive impact you can have on their progression," Higbee said.
The preschool program also teaches social skills and encourages leisure and play activities with structured peer-play interactions.Functional behavioral assessment and intervention techniques are used to address challenging behaviors.
"Learning doesn't stop at the classroom threshold," Higbee said.
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Higbee has been very satisfied with the outcome of the program and the positive change in the students.
"The life-changing improvements we have expected from our students are happening," Higbee said.
The impact on the students and significant changes can be credited to the intense training and professional caliber of the instructors.Graduate and undergraduate students at USU can apply to work in the program and earn either university credit or compensation while learning how to effectively teach students with ASD.
Higbee said the ASSERT success comes from the rigorous training and satellite program.
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Dr. Thomas S. Higbee is a national expert on both assessment and intervention strategies for people with autism.He has published 15 research studies and given more than 50 presentations at state and national conferences on the topic.He is Director of the program Autism Support Services: Education, Research, and Training (ASSERT), which he founded in 2003.Over the past 10 years, he has worked with children with developmental disabilities in home-, center-, and school-based programs.He has trained teachers in school districts in California, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.Dr. Higbee is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Utah State University where he has worked since 2002.Before coming to USU, Dr. Higbee served for three years as Senior Clinician at Spectrum Center for Educational and Behavioral Development in Berkeley, Calif., a non-profit agency that operates non-public schools for students with severe disabilities and behavioral disorders.
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