What Does "Low-Incidence" Mean?

Around the region, we are commonly referred to as the Autism Coaching Team (or ACT team). But did you know we also coach teams who serve students with low-incidence disabilities? This may have you wondering... What does "low-incidence" mean?

“Low incidence” is a general term used to describe disabilities that are less common within the general population. Examples of low-incidence disabilities include: 

• autism

• multiple disabilities

• hearing impairment

• orthopedic impairment

• visual impairment

• deaf-blindness

• deafness

• traumatic brain injury

• other health impairment (major)

Often, the complexities of these disabilities requires personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge. However, since the occurrances of these disabilities is often so rare, educators may not have the prior training or experience needed to best serve the student. That is where we come in!

The unique role of the Autism & Low-Incidence Coaching Team allows us to see many students with low-incidence disabilities across the region. We get to see what works for these students and coach others on implementing similar interventions in their classrooms. 

We also are able to dedicate additional time and resources to finding evidence-based interventions and research specific to this population of students which translates to our coaching recommendations. Often, we find that busy teachers and specialists providing direct service to students have trouble finding the time and resources needed to do this research on their own so we are happy to help with providing this job-embedded professional development. 

Do you have a student with a low-incidence disability on your caseload? We would love to support you! Learn more about making a referral to our team here: Making an ACT Referral. 

Introducing ACT's new Intervention Specialist, Jackie Vollmer

ACT is so excited to share that a new Intervention Specialist has joined our team. We are know that Jackie's wealth of knowledge and expertise as a classroom teacher will be an incredible asset to the coaching we do. Keep reading to learn more about Jackie!

I am excited to join the Autism and Low-Incidence Coaching Team (ACT) this year as their second intervention specialist.  I just completed my 12th year of teaching at Driscoll Elementary in Centerville, where I taught autistic students and students with low-incidence disabilities.  During the 2021-2022 school year, I was the teacher of the year representative for Centerville City School District. Before becoming an intervention specialist, I worked as a paraprofessional working with the same population of students. I have also had experiences working with students at the middle school and high school levels through summer camps and Special Olympics.

I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be coached by the ACT team in my previous position and utilized many of their evidence-based strategies within my classroom.  In 2018, I was recognized as an A-LIST Teacher by the ACT team.  

In the classroom, I was passionate about helping my students many of whom were nonverbal to find their voice - a means to communicate not only within the school but also at home and in the community. I collaborated with the school speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist to make this possible. 

My primary goal as an educator was to help my students become as independent as possible. My students may have been in elementary school, but we were working on the skills they would need as members of the community in the future. I ensured students were prepared to be successful by organizing community trips, sharing appropriate community events with families, and linking families with the local board of developmental disabilities. I spent time coaching families and attending monthly parent meetings organized by the district’s parent mentor.

Over the years, I had the opportunity to mentor many new teachers, some of who are now A-LIST teachers and it was through those experiences I found my new passion for coaching teachers. 

FREE Regional Center Training Opportunity from the Autism & Low-Incidence Coaching Team: Behavior Bootcamp

 Back by popular demand! We are excited to share with you our upcoming in-person series Behavior Boot Camp!

This FREE training will be for two days at the MCESC Regional Center, September 19th and October 23rd (must register for both).