Have you ever wondered what the big deal is about evidence-based practices? Someone recently told me that Evidence-Based Practices is just another new “hot topic” in education and it will eventually go away… I had to disagree.

“Evidence-based practices (EBP’s) are the basis on which teachers and other service providers are required to design educational programs for learners with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).” (Odom, Klingenberg, Rogers, and Hatton, 2010). If you read that sentence carefully you noticed the word REQUIRED – using evidence-based practices to design educational programs for individuals with ASD is not optional.

The good news is that there are many resources for identifying evidence-based practices that have been proven to be effective for learners with autism. The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC) provides comprehensive information about the scientific evidence that exists on various educational and behavioral interventions for those on the autism spectrum.

For a list of the EBP as recognized by the NPDC download the 2014 EBP report here. The ASD Network is committed to providing training and support for the implementation of EBP in Nebraska Schools. Please check our training calendar for upcoming trainings and talk to your regional ASD Coordinators regarding more information about EPB. Also, please check out our resource exchange wiki site for practical ideas on EBP!