A workshop being conducted at the Winshape Retreat at Berry College by the Op Foundation continues today to find solutions for children with autism in public education.

Special education teachers were on the mountain campus of the college starting Wednesday morning, where instructors Emily Sweeney Kerwin and Maggie Hagerty from Carbone Clinic presented information about teaching verbal skills to autistic children in their classrooms.

Kerwin said the public classroom environment makes it difficult for teachers to instruct autistic children verbal skills because of the challenge of not having one-on-one instruction with a child.

“The three things we’re doing is identifying appropriate goals and objectives for children, managing behavior which interferes with the classroom environment, and implementing organization and effective teaching which brings about positive outcomes,” Kerwin said.

Hagerty said one of the main problems for teachers is scheduling for classrooms, which might have fewer adults to supervise and more children to teach.

“We’re being asked about how to schedule time for individual instruction when you only have two or maybe three adults in the classroom,” Hagerty said.

Teacher Brian Ross from West Central Elementary School said he has found the workshop helpful in finding teaching techniques.

“It really gives us a basis where to start but also helps us set goals for where our students need to be in the future,” Ross said.

Jessica Bost, the executive administrative assistant for the Op Foundation, said the organization is planning another workshop sometime in January 2010 with Dr. Brian Iwata. She said to check their Web site for more information about the upcoming workshop.

The founders of The Op Foundation are Paul and Joy Walker, of Rome. The nonprofit organization seeks ways to help children with developmental delays and disabilities.