Recorded Trainings and Videos
- WEBINAR SERIES: Autism Inclusive Practices - Upper Elem, Middle, High School
- WEBINAR SERIES: Autism Inclusive Practices - Early Childhood, K, 1st, 2nd Grade
- VIDEO: Teaching Toileting to Autistic Children (4-Part Series)
- VIDEO: Teach a Calming Routine to Students
- VIDEO: Teaching a Toothbrushing Routine
WEBINAR SERIES: Autism Inclusive Practices - Upper Elem, Middle, High School
Autism in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for General Education Teachers
Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Session 1
Understanding Autism: Essential Concepts for Teachers, Paraeducators and other School-Based Professionals
Presented on September 20, 2023
Description: To truly help our autistic students, we must take an imaginative leap and try to understand the world from their point of view (paraphrased from Dr. Lorna Wing). Children and youth on the autism spectrum think, process and experience the world in ways that are fundamentally different - different, but not less.
During this presentation, we will guide general education teachers (and others) beneath the surface to develop a deeper understanding of autism and the underlying characteristics that influence how students learn and respond in the classroom. Then we will provide teachers with practical guidance on how to support the neurodivergent learners in their classroom; strategies that teachers can start using right away to support student success and develop trusting relationships.
Session 2
Setting the Stage for Success: Classroom Setup, Structure and Visuals to Support Autistic Students (and everyone else too!)
October 18, 2023
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Description: Teachers will discover best practices for arranging classroom furniture, materials, and sensory spaces that support all students, including autistic learners. Learn how to use visual supports to help students understand classroom expectations, to know what to do, and to increase independence. Develop effective strategies for establishing routines, systems and clear expectations in the classroom. Discuss how structure, systems, and routines enhance learning outcomes for all students.
Session 3
Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom: Practical Strategies in Preventing and Responding to Those Difficult Moments
January 24, 2024 (New Date! Rescheduled from 1.17.24)
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Description: Sometimes the demands placed on students overwhelm their ability to cope and challenging behaviors occur. During this session, teachers will learn how to greatly reduce the frequency and intensity of challenging behaviors through the use of research-based strategies that set students up for success. We will also explore how to know when a student has been triggered and the practical techniques teachers can use to de-escalate a situation and help students return to a state in which they are happy, relaxed, engaged and available for learning.
The concept of "behavior as communication" will be explored, and the ways in which students are attempting to get their needs met via maladaptive behaviors - and how we can help them learn new skills and self-regulate so that they're less likely to engage in challenging behaviors.
Session 4
Autism and Literacy: Strategies for Success with Reading and Writing
February 21, 2024
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Description: Teaching reading and writing to autistic students is more effective when teachers utilize strategies that are responsive to the different ways in which students think and process information. During this session, teachers will learn a variety of specific classroom strategies tailored to neurodivergent learners including the use of visual tools (e.g., semantic webs, mind maps, story diagrams), responding to sensory processing and motor challenges, use of assistive technology, and more! Supporting the Literacy Development of Students with Autism
Session 5
Making Learning Meaningful: Strategies to Motivate and Engage Autistic Students in the Classroom
March 20, 2024
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Description: How do we make learning and participation meaningful from the student's point of view? Teachers often wonder how they can motivate students and get them actively engaged in learning. During this session, participants will learn how to create a reinforcement structure that encourages active participation (i.e., active student responding) and persistence in learning tasks. Explore strategies for keeping your neurodivergent students engaged in activities and instruction.
Session 6
Building Relationships and Social Emotional Learning for Your Students on the Autism Spectrum
April 17, 2024
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Description: While trusting relationships and rapport are important for all teacher-student relationships, they are essential when working with autistic children and youth. During this session, teachers will learn about neurodiversity-affirming approaches to not only build relationships with students but also how to help students develop and maintain healthy peer relationships. It's a damaging myth that autistic people are less interested in social connection and friendship. They often desperately want to connect with peers but may struggle with the social understanding and skills needed to make and keep friends. We'll explore ways to help students improve their social understanding and relationship skills.
Session 7
Helping Students Focus, Organize, and Complete Tasks: Executive Function Supports for Autistic Learners
May 15, 2024
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Description: Learn how to help students with organizational skills including time management, task prioritization, and setting achievable goals. Examine strategies to promote cognitive flexibility, enabling students to adapt to changes and transitions more effectively. Gain insights into helping autistic students develop self-regulation skills, which are vital for managing emotions and avoiding overwhelm. Discover how to tailor executive function supports to meet the unique needs of each student, ensuring personalized progress.
Registration: Click on the title to go to the event page. Look for the "Register" button (you'll need to be logged in via your account to see it).
Supplemental Resources
Get Ready, Do, Done: Helping Students Envision and Achieve their Goals
WEBINAR SERIES: Autism Inclusive Practices - Early Childhood, K, 1st, 2nd Grade
Autism in the Classroom:
Practical Strategies for Preschool and Early Elementary Teachers
10.4.23 • 12.6.23 • 1.3.24 • 2.7.24 • 3.6.24 • 4.3.24 • 5.1.24 • 6.5.24
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM • VIRTUAL
SERIES DESCRIPTION
This virtual series is offered at no charge, and was developed specifically with preschool, kindergarten, first grade and second grade teachers in mind. The series is open all Oregon public school and early childhood professionals who are interested in inclusive practices for children on the autism spectrum and early learners with related social-emotional, learning or behavioral needs.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Community preschool teachers. Kindergarten, first and second grade teachers. Paraeducators working in preschool or early elementary classrooms. Other early childhood and school-based professionals with an interest in successfully supporting neurodivergent early learners in general education classrooms. Note that for seasoned special education professionals, some of the information may be review for you.
SESSION TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS
Autism and Inclusion Best Practices: Helping Preschool and Early Elementary Teachers Succeed
Description: This session kicks off our series by exploring the power and importance of inclusion, while recognizing real-world challenges and barriers faced by teachers. We discuss how to overcome barriers to inclusion, and how teachers can successfully facilitate and model inclusion. From a practical perspective, we explore Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as well as reasonable and achievable ways to apply principles of UDL to enhance the success of not only children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, but also children who struggle for other reasons (e.g., lack of school/learning opportunities, exposure to adverse childhood events, English language learners/culturally and linguistically diverse children).
Session 1 Slideshow and Resources
Autism and Inclusion Best Practices: Helping Preschool and Early Elementary Teachers Succeed
Description: For teachers to help autistic children learn, we have to take an imaginative leap and try to see the work from their point of view. In this session, we explore the many ways in which children on the autism spectrum think, process, and experience the world in ways that are fundamentally different from their typically developing peers. Autism is often thought of as a hidden disability because children often show no outward signs of a disability. Learn about the underlying characteristics of autism and what's going on "beneath the surface" and how these differences manifest in preschool and early elementary classrooms. We will the strengths and gifts possessed by autistic children, and how to build upon those strengths using neurodiversity affirming instructional approaches. Finally, we will provide an overview of evidence-based practices, each of which will be explored in greater depth in subsequent sessions.
Session 2 Slideshow and Resources
Setting the Stage for Success: Classroom Setup, Routines, and Instructional Supports for your Autistic Early Learners
Description: In this session, we'll talk about the physical organization of classrooms and learning spaces so that children are more independent and are better able to gain information from their environments to know what to do. Sensory considerations will be discussed and how to help students remain calm, alert and ready to learn. We'll share how to use routines and routines within routines can be used to provide structure, predictability and improve learning. Finally, we'll explore a wide range of visual supports, how to teach students to use them, and their various benefits (e.g., supporting transitions, adhering to classroom expectations, helping students understand information and express themselves).
Session 3 Slideshow and Resources
Helping Children with Limited Speech in the Classroom: Tips and Strategies for Teachers to Support Communication
Description: In this session, we will discuss children with limited language or who are non-speaking, and how classroom teachers can help them understand others and express themselves. Participants will learn about communication aids and how to model and encourage their use for a variety of purposes (e.g., for children to make requests, to participate in classroom routines, to connect with peers). We will also describe ways to encourage social engagement and connections with peers.
Registration: Click on the title to go to the event page. Look for the "Register" button (you'll need to be logged in via your account to see it).
Session 4 Slideshow and Resources
Preventing and Responding to Challenging Behaviors: Practical Strategies for Teachers (Part 1 of 2)
Description: During this session, participants will learn about a variety of effective strategies to prevent challenging behaviors in the classroom, or that reduce the frequency and intensity of those behaviors. We will explore the concept of "behavior as communication", how we can analyze behaviors to understand what children are attempting to communicate, and how to teach prosocial replacement skills. We will review de-escalation techniques that help when children are triggered, and that help them return to a state of being happy, relaxed, engaged - and ready to learn.
Session 5 Slideshow and Resources
Preventing and Responding to Challenging Behaviors: Practical Strategies for Teachers (Part 2 of 2)
Description: Behavior is a high priority topic for teachers. In this second session, we will further explore tools and strategies that teachers can use to prevent and respond to those difficult moments in the classroom.
Session 6 Slideshow and Resources
Motivating Children to Learn and Increasing Engagement in Instruction
Description: Teachers often report difficulties motivating their autistic students to engage in instruction and classroom activities. During this session, we'll explore ways to get kids engaged in learning and maintain their interest by drawing upon strengths and special interests. We will also share ways to set the stage for success, and how to provide the stand-by support to ensure children are successful.
Session 7 Slideshow and Resources
The Incredible Power of Peers to Create Social Success for Early Learners on the Autism Spectrum
Description: Autistic children need and desire social connection just as much as all other children. They simply lack the skills and understanding to know how to create and maintain those connections. They often struggle to understand social scenarios. Research has demonstrated that peers can be successfully encouraged to support the social engagement and social success of their autistic peers. We will explore ways in which teachers can effectively coach peers.
No Session 8 Video Recording Available
VIDEO: Teaching Toileting to Autistic Children (4-Part Series)
How to Teach Your Child with ASD: A Visual Toileting Routine
- Part I: An introduction to teaching toileting to children with ASD
- Part II: Communication, sensory needs, modifications and adaptations
- Part III: Accidents, smearing, regression, habit/trip training, night time training and public bathrooms
- Part IV: Issues related specifically to boys (males) such as urinating standing up, public bathrooms and etiquette