Working at AZA United has given me a lot of great learning experiences that will definitely benefit me in the future. My favorite part of this applied study was making the Community Resource Library and the Habilitation Orientation Video. While filming for the video, I had to opportunity to observe what autism interventionists do which was a better model for learning than just a lecture on the dos and don’ts. You have to be flexible, creative, and patient when working with children with autism because it is important to maintain their interest and to sustain control. This applied study taught me not only how to incorporate both of my concentrations because I observed habilitation first-hand and also produced, filmed and edited the training video. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to work with this semester and I genuinely enjoyed working for this company. This applied study has inspired me to continue with schooling because I feel like there is so much more I want and need to learn when it comes to special education. This applied study helped me realize that I do want to pursue a career as either an SLP or a career in the field of education. I also want to perhaps pursue an MBA because I’ve become interested in the business aspect of nonprofit organizations. This applied study has really motivated me to acquire other disciplines that I know I will be able to integrate in my professional career.

I think that AZA United is doing business quite well, for being a nonprofit that started up just a few years ago. The company used to be in a small, cramped office (where I initially interviewed) and moved to the Disability Resource Center, became the 11th best place to work in the valley, and they continue to hire more autism interventionists. If I had to critique them, I guess the only thing I think could be better would be getting the word out there. There could be more done to advertise their business because, though they do have an online monthly newsletter, most of their business seems to be from word-of-mouth. I mean, that is how I got the job. AZA also has a great observation room that isn’t currently being used to its fullest at the moment. I suggest outsourcing the room for observation studies for ASU and new autism interventionists, so they can get an idea on what it is like to habilitate a child with autism. This would not only educate people on the do’s and don’ts, but it will hopefully get students interested in pursuing a career in autism intervention. Though the business is doing just fine the way it is, a little more public awareness could definitely help the it grow more.

Week 11

Hey Bloggers
For my shadowing assignment I decided to follow a typical day in the life of a habilitator, Tracy. Tuesday morning started early at 8 AM at the home of a set of 4 year-old twins with autism (boy & girl - who'll remain nameless for the sake of privacy). My job for the day was to film Tracy doing what she does best for the AZA United Habilitation Training Video, so essentially I was a fly on the wall for the day. the morning started with breakfast for the children (and coffee for the adults - I'm not used to waking up so early!) Since one of the habilitators called in sick, Tracy was in charge of both children for the day. We took the children into the playroom after breakfast to start the habilitating. While one child worked, the other played; the children would only work in 5-10 minute increments then go play, then work, and so forth. Tracy worked on people/photo recognition, one part/two part commands, emotion recognition, symbolic play, and sharing with the use of note/photo cards and objects. Despite a tantrum or two, the children were focused for the most part. When tantrums happened, it was important to ignore the behavior until crying/yelling ceased in order to teach the child that adults respond when people ask questions nicely. After the working portion was over, we took the kids downstairs to play and have a snack. I observed a lot of positive/negative reinforcement being implemented which really helps the children make certain behaviors habitual. After a few hours, their mother was back from work and we were done habilitating for the day. The shadowing was a great informative and fun experience that I hope to do more of before I graduate.

Week 9

I figured that my resume would be the most beneficial for future employers. Here it is pasted from a word document (that I could not figure how to attach to the post, so if anyone knows how to do that let me know so I can revise my blog :) )





Kira L. Lingman


4407 S. Elm Street, Tempe AZ 85282 310-941-5977 (cell) kira.lingman@asu.edu


OBJECTIVE

Organized student exploring opportunities in a business environment where expertise in customer service
and office administration will contribute to company goals and objectives.

EDUCATION

Current student at Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Graduating Cum Laude, May 2009
Emphasis in Speech and Hearing Sciences, Mass Communications
Arizona State University, Tempe AZ

INTERESTS

Instrumental music, primarily playing the guitar
American Sign Language

EXPERIENCE

Intern, Arizona Autism United, Inc. (AZA United, Inc.) January 2009 - Present
• In charge of organizing Community Resource Library that consists of reference material, books, brochures, and other information pertaining to autism
• Responsible for developing an Habilitation Training Video for new employees
• Observed Habilitation teaching methods for children with autism
Student Worker, Student Business Services of Arizona State University October 2007-Present
Tempe, AZ
• Experienced in the Collections, Student Accounts, and Cashiering Departments
• Answered phone calls addressing various questions regarding students’ tuition, refund checks, and other charges on the account
• Trusted with payments in cash and check, department deposits, and confidential information regarding students’ account
• Informed students where financial aid was allocated on their accounts and various information on the refunds generated
• Taught students how to navigate the online database in order to pay accounts in full, print tuition receipts, and keep updated on the status of the account
• Imported crucial data regarding students’ account (i.e. activated and reversed collection holds on accounts, placed comments on accounts when necessary)
Hostess, Rula Bula, Tempe AZ February 2006-May 2006
• Organized servers, tables, menus and reservations
• Obtained valuable communication skills when dealing with a variety of customers and coworkers

Realtor Assistant, O’Connor & Associates, Manhattan Beach, CA May 2003-June 2005
• In charge of advertising layout and distribution (compiled information for pamphlets, scheduled printing with copy center)
• Delivered escrow packages to clients and other realtors
• Accountable for financial banking transactions
• Answered phone calls, took messages, returned phone calls, researched local market information, sent documents to escrow companies and updated client lists

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PeopleSoft

WEEK 7

Working in a field specializing on developing a better quality of life for children with disabilities is definitely something I see myself doing in the future. Working at AZA United has sparked my interest in furthering my education in both Communication Disorders, but in business as well. I do not have a business concentration, but working in a more office/business setting has triggered an interest in this area as well. In the future I would like to work for AZA United as a habilitator (instead of intern), but since I will be moving back to California once I graduate, I will have to find a site similar in practice and values. I would not say I dislike my job at all; the only thing I can think of is that I would like to meet with more children and their families and observe more of the methods that are used when habilitating children with autism. AZA has taught me valuable skills that I can carry on into my future career (especially if my future career is in an educational setting). I learned a lot about Applied Behavioral Analysis and the importance of consistency when habilitating. In the future I would like to work in an educational field with children or adults because it is rewarding to make an impact on someone’s life.

WEEK 5

I’ve noticed many concepts or theories from my disciplines (learned from my college courses) practiced at AZA United since I started working for this organization. One big theory that applies to my Speech and Hearing discipline (as well as a teaching discipline) is ABA. ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis and it concept that all AZA United employees must learn before they habilitate. ABA is a way of not looking at the behavior of a child as good or bad; instead it defines behavior as being measurable, observable, and never occurring in isolation. ABA is a way to objectively look at behavior in order to develop a game-plan that will help improve or increase certain behaviors while replacing the unwanted behavior. Along with ABA there is the concept of Positive/Negative Reinforcement. When habilitating a child with autism, AZA United habilitators use reinforcements which are consequences that support a certain behavior in hopes of increasing the desired behavior. A positive reinforcement would essentially give the child something if they perform the desired behavior (i.e. praise, toy, sticker) while the negative reinforcement is when avoidance occurs to facilitate the behavior. [An example for all you bloggers would be if you were driving on the freeway and see a photo-enforcement sign; you would slow down to avoid a speeding ticket.]
As for the Mass Communications side of my major, AZA United has been actively utilizing the concept of networking. Networking is a strategy used in businesses to build relationships that mutually benefit both parties while also spreading the business to potential clients. Currently, I am contacting various organizations or companies (with the help of the internet – mode of mass media) around Arizona that have similar goals or meet specific needs of our clients. I have been basically been calling and emailing these businesses to obtain information, like brochures and handouts, that I can add to the Resource Library that is intended for professionals, families and people affected by autism. Public Relations is also a concept that AZA United uses. PR is used to connect the organization to its intended audience, or public. With the use of news letters, emails, brochures, word-of-mouth, and public events, AZA United has successfully established a great reputation with its clientele and the community. With the help of public relations, this non-profit organization has really strived in less than 4 years with 200 habilitators to rank number 11 as one of Arizona’s Best Places to Work (Business Journal 2009).

WEEK 4

The main difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary operations is the concept of integration. While multidisciplinary operations have many disciplines solving problems, interdisciplinary operations work together incorporating techniques and strategies from the different disciplines to find the best solution. I would say that AZA United Inc. operates with an interdisciplinary approach (and I'm not just saying that because I'm an interdisciplinary major!). The habilitators have to approach or assess each client differently to develop an individualized plan that will help the child achieve his or her goals. Some children need habilitation in behavior, while others in language, comprehension, or school work. It is important to work with the parent's wants, the child's needs, and the habilitator's experience in order to have a successful outcome.
As an intern, most of my focus is in more of an office setting, and I have noticed the office operate in an interdisciplinary manner. From human relations, to the executive director, to the receptionist, to the office assistants, they are all trained in habilitating children with autism. Their expertise in habilitating children with autism benefits the business aspects of their jobs because they have experience. AZA United's structure could be best described as a team organization. The habilitators have to go through a training process to obtain the necessary knowledge and techniques, but then they act on their own with their clients. This is all done for the greater good of the team and the team's goals of providing habilitation and respite services for children with autism.

WEEK 1

Welcome fellow bloggers to probably the best blog that the Western hemisphere has ever seen! Hello. My name is Kira Lingman and my BIS concentrations are in Mass Communications and Speech and Hearing. Throughout my scholastic career, I enjoyed classes pertaining to the mass media, so naturally I thought I was going to persue a degree or career in that feild. It wasn't until I started taking classes in American Sign Language that I took an interest in speech, hearing, communication, and language disorders. Everything ended up working out because ASU gave me the opportunity to explore both feilds and integrate the knowlege from both disciplines without sacrificing one of my interests. I'm in my last semester currently and I hope to persue a carreer in Speech Language Pathology but I know the insight about mass communications will be benificial when using the media as an outlet to promote my career in the future.
My applied study is at a nonprofit organization called Arizona Autism United (AZA United) that provides habilitation and respite services for children/teens with autism. My main responsibility at AZA United at this time is developing the Community Rescourse Library that consists of important books, articles, and brochures from other similar organizations in Arizona. This definitely relates to my two concentrations because I have been netorking to obtain brochures and such (mass communications), and autism is a communication and language learning disorder (speech and hearing science). This project really requires the integration of both disciplines because this library is intended for the masses who want to educate themselves on the various autism spectrum disorders. As of right now, I still do not know exactly what I want to do once I graduate because I know I will be moving back to California, but this internship is putting me in the right direction to carreer ideas and posibilities.