History
The Oregon Program Autism Training Sites and Supports (OrPATS) project began in 2003 under the name RPATS (Regional Program Autism Training Sites). In 2013 the name was changed to OrPATS to better reflect the project goals. In 2003, a grant proposal was submitted by Dr. Arick, a professor at Portland State University, to the Oregon Department of Education for the purpose of establishing a network of training sites throughout Oregon. The following staff were hired to assist with project implementation: Joel Arick, Dave Krug, Lauren Loos, Ruth Falco, Helen Young, John Gill, and Misten Daniels. The project successfully developed numerous training sites and trained autism consultants at each site to coach others. The OrPATS project also established teams of professionals to provide parent education to parents of pre-school students using the program Teaching Social Communication to Children with Autism (Ingersall, Dvortcsak, 2010).
OrPATS continues to be directed by Dr. Arick through STAR Autism Support and Northwest Regional ESD. Today the project staff responsible for the training sites are Joel Arick, Jennie Willis, Brenda Hancock , Darby Lasely, Karen Shepherd, Alicia Schneider and Katherine Procter. Over the last few years, the OrPATS project has expanded to provide an on-line resource for general educators supporting students with high functioning autism. OrPATS has also developed an on-line version of the ASD Self-Assessment in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon ASD Commission.
OrPATS Highlights between 2003-2011
| Established 42 Training Sites throughout each region of the state |
| Training Sites model evidence-based, applied behavior analysis methods and implementation of research-based curricula with fidelity |
| Established a cadre of autism specialists/consultants who provide training to others at the OrPATS sites |
| Maintained sites and continued development of new training sites throughout the state |
| Provided training and materials as part of the Autism Teams Project to 25 additional teams throughout the state. |
OrPATS Highlights between 2011-2017
| 350+ Teams attended an OrPATS workshop each year |
| 100+ classroom teams have accessed an OrPATS site for “on-site, hands-on” training each year |
| 350+ Students received special education services at an OrPATS site each year |
| 80% of the OrPATS sites established continue to train others |
| Maintained 40+ training sites throughout the state each year |
| Provided training and materials as part of the Autism Teams Project to additional teams throughout Oregon each year |
| Developed and provided an on-line resource for general educators serving students with ASD |
| Collaborated with the Northwest PBIS Network, Inc to provide workshops and training |