We are Philly AIMS (Autism Instructional Methods Support)

We’re a team of researchers and clinicians at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine dedicated to improving the quality of education & behavioral health services for children with autism by moving research into practice. Philly AIMS was established in 2008 with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and the U.S. Department of Education to conduct a randomized controlled trial of autism-specific interventions, which was, at the time, the largest study of an educational intervention for children with autism, and the first to be conducted as a partnership between a university and a school district. We connect educators, clinicians, families and others in the autism community to vital information, resources and evidence-based strategies—and to each other—to improve the quality of education and behavioral health services for children with autism.

Classroom-Based Consultation
Using an individualized approach to consultation, we provide intensive support to teachers, support staff, and administrators of children with autism. Our consultation is grounded in adult learning theory, used to develop educators who want a data-informed practice. Consultants work collaboratively with educators to set goals and monitor progress for individual students, classrooms, and schools. We specialize in addressing disruptive student behaviors, assessment, Applied Behavioral Analytic intervention, and inclusive educational practices.

School-Wide Consultation in Inclusive Practices
We partner with districts to improve and expand inclusive practices within schools. Consultants work with administrators and school teams to prepare leadership to set expectations and provide support for inclusion, to select evidence-based student-directed interventions for meaningful participation, and to develop sustainable strategies for ongoing training for school staff.

Professional Development Training
We provide tailored training to professionals from all backgrounds. Our expert trainers specialize in inclusive educational practices,
class‐wide positive behavioral strategies, and Applied Behavior Analysis‐based interventions like Discrete Trial Training (DTT),
Pivotal Response Training (PRT) and Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI).

Program Development
We work closely with education & behavioral health agencies to develop initiatives for children with autism. Our goal is to help
agencies think strategically about program development that is evidence-based and fiscally sound. Using Implementation Science
approaches, we aim to create programs that sustain long after our support is gone. Our team also assists in program evaluation for
existing initiatives.