MESA Professional Development Opportunities
From Environment to Instruction: Supports for Students with Autism
Audience: All school-based team members
This training equips educators with evidence-based strategies to build supportive classrooms and implement effective instructional, behavioral, and communication supports through guided practice.
Participants will learn to:
- Recognize characteristics of autism in the school setting
- Create structured, supportive classroom environments
- Use visual supports and routines to increase independence
- Teach critical communication skills
- Apply instructional and behavior support strategies effectively
October 27-28, 2026 (Tulsa Tech-Owasso)
December 1-2, 2026 (Rose State College)
February 9-10, 2027 (Rose State College)
Registration: $325/person
Approved under Project 613
ONLINE REGISTRATION COMING SOON
Supporting Students with Autism: A Practical Training for Paraprofessionals
Audience: Paraprofessionals
This training prepares paraprofessionals to support students with autism across school settings using practical, evidence-based strategies.
September 30, 2026 (Rose State College)
January 13, 2027 (Tulsa Tech-Owasso)
Registration: $200/person
Approved under Project 613
ONLINE REGISTRATION COMING SOON
Reducing Challenging Behavior in Students with Autism
Audience: All school-based team member
This training prepares educators to reduce challenging behavior by understanding its function and applying evidence-based strategies to prevent problems, teach replacement skills, and respond effectively.
Participants will learn to:
- Analyze behavior using the ABC framework
- Identify the function of behavior
- Use prevention strategies to reduce challenges
- Teach effective replacement skills
- Apply consistent, appropriate responses
- Use reinforcement to support positive behavior
November 4, 2026 (Rose State College)
December 9, 2026 (Tulsa Tech-Owasso)
February 24, 2027 (Rose State College, hybrid option)
Registration: $200/person
Approved under Project 613
ONLINE REGISTRATION COMING SOON
Conducting FBAs & Writing BIPs
Audience: Administrators, school psychologists, special education teachers, related service providers
This training equips educators to conduct Functional Behavior Assessments and develop Behavior Intervention Plans through guided practice and collaborative analysis to address challenging behaviors.
Participants will learn to:
- Define and analyze behavior using the ABC framework
- Collect and interpret data to determine the function of behavior
- Develop clear, testable hypotheses
- Design prevention strategies based on function
- Teach appropriate replacement skills
- Create and implement comprehensive Behavior Intervention Plans
November 10-11, 2026 (Tulsa Tech-Owasso)
March 2-3, 2027 (Rose State College)
Registration: $325/person
Approved under Project 613
OSDE-SES approved course
ONLINE REGISTRATION COMING SOON
Guided Application of FBAs and BIPs for School Teams
Audience: Administrators, school psychologists, special education teachers, related service providers (2 team members)
Equips interdisciplinary teams to conduct Functional Behavior Assessments and develop Behavior Intervention Plans through step-by-step, guided application using their own student.
Prerequisite: Completed Conducting FBAs & Writing BIPs
2-3 Dates TBD
Location: Virtual, school, and/or Oklahoma Autism Center
Registration: Free
Approved under Project 613
ONLINE APPLICATION COMING SOON
School-Based Autism Assessment Team Course
Audience: School psychologist, speech-language pathologist, and special education teacher (all required)
Equips interdisciplinary teams to use evidence‑based practices for the identification of children with autism through instruction and interactive application.
5 required days across the school year, Dates TBD
Location TBD
Registration: $600/team
Approved under Project 613
ONLINE APPLICATION COMING SOON
Summer Internship
Audience: Early childhood special education teachers, Early childhood general education teachers
Equips educators to support young children with autism through hands-on, guided implementation of evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices.
May 24-27, 2027
Location: Early Foundations Model & Demonstration Site, Oklahoma City
Registration: Free
Approved under Project 613
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Guided Observation
Audience: Early childhood special education teachers, Early childhood general education teachers, related service providers, paraprofessionals, administrators
Prepares educators to support young children with autism through guided observation of evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices.
Date: Call to schedule
Location: Early Foundations Model & Demonstration Site, Oklahoma City
Registration: Free
Approved under Project 613
