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Supporting Students with Executive Function DeficitsWilkins, S.A. & Burmeister, C. (to be published summer 2014). FLIPP the Switch: Powerful Strategies to Strengthen Executive Function Skills. Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing Company

Sheri A. Wilkins, Ph.D.OutlineWhat is Executive Function?Main componentsEF DeficitsEF in specific disabilitiesFive strategies for five components

What is Executive Function?

Components of EFFLIPPWhat do EF Challenges Look Like?Disabilities with EF DeficitsWhats the Problem?

Flexibility

The ability to change your mind and make changes to your plans as needed

Resists change in routineExperiences difficulty making transitionsHas difficulty shifting topic/activityDemonstrates concrete thought processesSees only one solution to a problemHas difficulty coping with unseen eventsProblems with FlexibilityFlexibility ToolsVisual ScalesWait CardCountdown TimerPower CardSituational Expectation NarrativeFLEXIBILITY:Visual Scales 1 2 3 4 5Leveled Emotionality

The ability to emotionally self-regulate when things dont go your way

Extreme reactions to seemingly minor eventsLow tolerance for frustrationDifficulty tolerating mistakesBehavioral outburstsPoor coping strategiesProblems withLeveled EmotionalityLeveled Emotionality ToolsChoice CardsI Can Calm MyselfBreak and Help CardsChunkingSocial StoriesLEVELED EMOTIONALITY: I Can Calm Myself

From SCool Moves, Wilson, D. Impulse Control

The ability to control your impulses, such as waiting to speak until called uponDoes not self-monitorInterrupts othersDoes not consider consequences before actingUnaware of how his/her actions affect othersDifficulty focusing attention on what is relevantProblems with Impulse ControlImpulse Control ToolsPositive Behavior Interventions and SupportsReminder CardsReinforcement SystemsSocial AutopsyCognitive ScriptsIMPULSE CONTROL:Reinforcement

Planning

The ability to make plans and keep track of time so that work is finished on timeDifficulty completing long-term projects Difficulty estimating time needed for task completionHas a disorganized binder/backpack/desk/locker Does not bring necessary materials to class or homeDoes not turn in completed homeworkDifficulty organizing thoughtsProblems with PlanningPlanning ToolsFirst-Then BoardsVideo ModelingMaster Binder SystemContingency MappingProject MappingPLANNING:First/Then

Problem Solving

The ability to keep track of many things at one time and to ask for help or get more information when needed

Difficulty with tasks that require more than one stepLoses place in sequence when interruptedDifficulty keeping track of assignments and expectations of multiple teachersDifficulty generalizing skills and knowledge to other situations and environmentsProblems withProblem SolvingProblem Solving ToolsWork SystemsChecklistsTask AnalysisPrimingMeta-Cognitive Problem-SolvingPROBLEM SOLVING:Meta-Cognitive Problem-Solving (MCPS)Adapted from Collaborative Problem Solving, Massachusetts General Hospital.SummaryWhat is Executive Function?Main componentsEF DeficitsEF in specific disabilitiesFive strategies for five components

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FLIPP the Switch: Powerful Strategies to Strengthen Executive Function Skills in the Common Core ClassroomRiverside County Office of EducationMarch 4, 2014