College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

The Kelly Autism Program (KAP) is refining its programming to take an interdisciplinary approach that combines speech-language pathology, behavioral principles, and neuroaffirming practices. This approach ensures the program is both scientifically grounded in evidence-based practices and responsive to the diverse experiences and needs of individuals with autism. By blending these practices, the program strives to create both an inclusive and supportive environment that results in meaningful improvement for our participants, and a rich, comprehensive training ground for the professionals who come through our program.

The primary goal of Prime Time is to create a supportive environment that celebrates the unique strengths and abilities of each individual. KAP serves autistic children, teens, and adults through skilled, goal-directed activities that focus on communication, group interactions, emotional well-being, and life skills.

To implement an intentional neuro-affirming framework during the fall 2024 semester, the Prime Time team approached each participant with a presumption of competence and strengths-based framework and combined the evidence-based skills within their discipline to develop programming.

Neurodiverse voices were included throughout programming with autistic adults and college students presenting to participants about executive functioning accommodations they found useful, career options, and post-secondary opportunities. Additionally, the physical space was adjusted to consider and respect an individual’s sensory sensitivities. This promoted respect for neurodivergent culture and adheres to the important slogan from the neurodiverse community that we believe in at KAP, “nothing about us without us.”

Aligning with a strengths-based, evidence-based approach, programming included varied visual supports which were consistently created and modified based on participant need.  All communication styles were respected, and meaningful choices were provided to encourage autonomy. Program expectations were clearly posted, allowing for all staff and visitors (which included preservice teachers, students studying communication disorders, dental hygiene students, and doctors from the Bowling Green University of Kentucky campus) to uphold the expectations. Additionally, pro-social behaviors were explicitly taught and then reinforced through access to the KAP store that was stocked with items and activities that were identified by the participants as motivating.

We are pleased that along with these changes, participants made measurable progress in fall 2024 and the journey will continue into the spring 2025 semester and beyond. The team at Prime Time recognizes that perfection isn't the goal; instead, the focus is on growth, advocacy, and adaptability. As the needs of autistic individuals evolve, societal norms shift, and our understanding of neurodiversity deepens, we are proud to be part of this positive progression, guided by strategies rooted in empirical research.

To learn more about KAP, visit wku.edu/kellyautismprogram