Purdue’s IPE-SHINES serves Greater Lafayette high intensity needs K-6 students, trains master’s students
An interdisciplinary team of Purdue University researchers developed an interprofessional training program for graduate students to gain experience working with high intensity needs students in the Greater Lafayette area. There is a national need for highly skilled master’s level practitioners in the fields of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Speech Language Pathology (SLP). In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $1.16M to the College of Education and the College of Health and Human Sciences to fund the Interprofessional Education for Supporting High Intensity Needs of Exceptional Students (IPE-SHINES) project. IPE-SHINES graduate students (l to r) Devangi Vachhani, Mary Kate Lindenman and Haylee Page work with special needs children at Earhart Elementary School in Lafayette, IN. (Photo provided) High intensity needs (HIN) can include autism, developmental delays, developmental language disorder, intellectual disability, and multiple other disabilities. ABA applies learning principles and the science of behavior to help bring about desired behavior change. IPE-SHINES is a bold, innovative collaboration that challenges ABA and SLP master’s students to learn about each other’s disciplines through strategic interprofessional education and practicum experiences. Juliana Aguilar and Jasmine Begeske (Co-PIs), clinical assistant professors of special education in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Studies, are collaborating with Chenell Loudermill (PI), clinical professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences’ Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, to promote healthy interprofessional collaborations between master’s students in their two disciplines. Prof. Juliana Aguilar observes IPE-SHINES graduate student Devangi Vachhani working with a student in an autism classroom. (Purdue University photo/D. Starr) Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) both work with HIN children but do not always have the opportunity to train together during their graduate programs. IPE-SHINES developed interprofessional training to train master’s level graduate students in these disciplines to provide direct clinical services independently or collaboratively and become highly qualified service providers. “SLP graduate students participated in shared coursework, interprofessional seminars, and joint clinical practicums with our ABA students,” Aguilar said. “Dr. Loudermill, Dr. Begeske, and I organized practicum placements, interprofessional opportunities like stakeholder panels, Individual Education Plan (IEP) training workshops, and an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) training workshop which deepened our understanding of the tool and its utility in assessing autism spectrum disorders.” IPE-SHINES includes observational practicums for graduate students to learn about each other’s fields, and collaborative practicums to allow ABA and SLP students to work together to provide needed services to “shared” HIN students. Formerly, community partners like Lafayette School Corporation’s (LSC) Linwood Early Childhood Education Center and GLASS Special Services, Little Star Therapy, and Wabash Center’s SOAR Autism Services hosted ABA practicums for the Purdue students. But starting in fall 2024, the project’s graduate students have had the opportunity to work in Greater Lafayette’s first-ever autism classroom at Earhart Elementary School. The project also offered another new placement in fall 2024 at Wabash Center, where ABA students worked with Richard A. Price, assistant professor of special education in the Department of Educational Studies, to gain experience in transition-based services. These services focus on preparing individuals to move smoothly between different environments or life stages – which is particularly helpful for those with autism spectrum disorder. Aguilar and Loudermill received a Community Partner Award from Wabash Center in October 2024 for a shared clinical experience that SOAR hosted during the previous summer. (center of left photo) Drs. Juliana Aguilar and Chenell Loudermill received Wabash Center’s Exemplary Community Partner Award (right photo), with SOAR and Center employees and State Rep. Sheila Klinker (in red jacket) looking on. (Photos provided) The training has significantly impacted the Purdue graduate students. “My experience in an autism-focused classroom helped me to determine that I would be a good fit to work in a school setting post-graduation,” said Emily Feist, an ABA student in the College of Education who is doing her practicum in Earhart’s autism classroom. “There is a high need for behavior analysts in school districts to advocate for students with autism and bring in supports such as sensory breaks, visual supports/aids, one-on-one support, or anything else we can find to help them.” Graduate student Emily Feist working with a student in an autism c
An interdisciplinary team of Purdue University researchers developed an interprofessional training program for graduate students to gain experience working with high intensity needs students in the Greater Lafayette area.
There is a national need for highly skilled master’s level practitioners in the fields of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Speech Language Pathology (SLP). In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $1.16M to the College of Education and the College of Health and Human Sciences to fund the Interprofessional Education for Supporting High Intensity Needs of Exceptional Students (IPE-SHINES) project.
High intensity needs (HIN) can include autism, developmental delays, developmental language disorder, intellectual disability, and multiple other disabilities. ABA applies learning principles and the science of behavior to help bring about desired behavior change.
IPE-SHINES is a bold, innovative collaboration that challenges ABA and SLP master’s students to learn about each other’s disciplines through strategic interprofessional education and practicum experiences. Juliana Aguilar and Jasmine Begeske (Co-PIs), clinical assistant professors of special education in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Studies, are collaborating with Chenell Loudermill (PI), clinical professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences’ Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, to promote healthy interprofessional collaborations between master’s students in their two disciplines.
in an autism classroom. (Purdue University photo/D. Starr)
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) both work with HIN children but do not always have the opportunity to train together during their graduate programs. IPE-SHINES developed interprofessional training to train master’s level graduate students in these disciplines to provide direct clinical services independently or collaboratively and become highly qualified service providers.
“SLP graduate students participated in shared coursework, interprofessional seminars, and joint clinical practicums with our ABA students,” Aguilar said. “Dr. Loudermill, Dr. Begeske, and I organized practicum placements, interprofessional opportunities like stakeholder panels, Individual Education Plan (IEP) training workshops, and an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) training workshop which deepened our understanding of the tool and its utility in assessing autism spectrum disorders.”
IPE-SHINES includes observational practicums for graduate students to learn about each other’s fields, and collaborative practicums to allow ABA and SLP students to work together to provide needed services to “shared” HIN students.
Formerly, community partners like Lafayette School Corporation’s (LSC) Linwood Early Childhood Education Center and GLASS Special Services, Little Star Therapy, and Wabash Center’s SOAR Autism Services hosted ABA practicums for the Purdue students. But starting in fall 2024, the project’s graduate students have had the opportunity to work in Greater Lafayette’s first-ever autism classroom at Earhart Elementary School.
The project also offered another new placement in fall 2024 at Wabash Center, where ABA students worked with Richard A. Price, assistant professor of special education in the Department of Educational Studies, to gain experience in transition-based services. These services focus on preparing individuals to move smoothly between different environments or life stages – which is particularly helpful for those with autism spectrum disorder. Aguilar and Loudermill received a Community Partner Award from Wabash Center in October 2024 for a shared clinical experience that SOAR hosted during the previous summer.
(center of left photo) Drs. Juliana Aguilar and Chenell Loudermill received Wabash Center’s Exemplary Community Partner Award (right photo), with SOAR and Center employees and State Rep. Sheila Klinker (in red jacket) looking on. (Photos provided)
The training has significantly impacted the Purdue graduate students.
“My experience in an autism-focused classroom helped me to determine that I would be a good fit to work in a school setting post-graduation,” said Emily Feist, an ABA student in the College of Education who is doing her practicum in Earhart’s autism classroom. “There is a high need for behavior analysts in school districts to advocate for students with autism and bring in supports such as sensory breaks, visual supports/aids, one-on-one support, or anything else we can find to help them.”
“Working in collaboration with ABA students, paraprofessionals, and teachers within one classroom has enabled me to grow in my interpersonal skills as a future speech pathologist,” said Mary Kate Lindenman, an SLP student.
“The interdisciplinary collaboration between the SLPs, ABA students, teachers, and paraprofessionals furthered my understanding of teamwork and helped me prepare for future collaborations with these professionals,” said SLP student Helen Willis.
Earhart Elementary School’s autism classroom teacher also praised the project.
“The Purdue students applied for and received a grant which allowed us to add sensory tools, communication supports, and social-emotional books to the classroom, making it a more supportive space for our autism students,” said Abigail Ringstrom, autism classroom teacher. “Every day they have worked to help create a sense of routine and structure, which has played a big part in making this new classroom feel like a second home.”
IPE-SHINES’ final cohort is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2026. Although the project is no longer available to new graduate students, interested students may still apply to the Purdue University Graduate School for graduate programs in ABA and SLP.
(HABA) Conference in October 2024. (Photo provided)
“We hope to continue in our collaboration with supporting local school districts and Wabash Center through service provision and education – benefiting the Greater Lafayette community with interprofessional collaborative services and our master’s students with fieldwork experiences,” Aguilar said.
Learn about Applied Behavior Analysis in the College of Education
Source: Juliana Aguilar, [email protected]; Chenell Loudermill, [email protected]
The post Purdue’s IPE-SHINES serves Greater Lafayette high intensity needs K-6 students, trains master’s students appeared first on Purdue University College of Education.
What's Your Reaction?
