Instruction

Supporting Students with the Most Intensive Needs | Videos

These three videos highlight key resources available to support families of students with the most intensive needs at home and as they transition to and from in-school services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos speak directly to parents and recommend that parents share the videos (and the highlighted resources) with the team of educators and other professionals working with their child.

Multiple TA&D Centers worked collaboratively to identify these resources and to create the videos that focus on addressing the academic needs, communication needs, and the behavior, transition, and mental health needs of students with significant disabilities. Watch the videos, and find out who the collaborating TA&D Centers were, what resources they have available, and strategies that both educators and parents can use to improve the learning of their children with disabilities.

Accelerating Learning for Students with Disabilities During COVID-19 and Beyond

COVID-19 shuttered school buildings and the impact on students will potentially be significant for years to come. While instructional loss will affect most students, it could have a disproportionate impact on students with disabilities and other historically marginalized populations, including students of color, students impacted by poverty, and English language learners. It’s critical that schools take immediate steps to address the issue of instructional loss and prevent students from falling further behind. This 26-page report from NCLD discusses promising practices for doing just that. It explores in some detail research-based approaches to accelerate learning; how to implement those approaches with success; and policy recommendations and actions at the state and federal levels. Read more about the report and download it here.

Parent/Guardian Re-Entry Guide | 2020-2021

This draft parent reentry guide provides parents with support and resources to help navigate these unprecedented times of schooling during the pandemic. It presents an overview of the potential challenges that may present in the 2020-2021 school year and then addresses how to support students and families in the areas of social emotional learning, academic support at home, family culture and well-being, current operations, and health and safety concerns. It concludes with a large resource list for families.

Read more about what’s in the guide here, as well as where to access it.

Supporting Your Child’s Learning at Home During COVID-19

As schools across the country and around the world are closed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, parents everywhere are searching for reliable, easy-to-understand resources to support their children’s learning at home. The IRIS Center has created a new module specifically for parents to address this urgent and growing need. Parents: Supporting Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic offers practical tools and easy-to-implement strategies to help clarify what is and what is not a parent’s role during school shutdowns; support their child’s learning at home; promote the child’s social and emotional well-being; and support the child if he or she has a disability. Read more about and connect with this learning module here.

Parent as Master Planner

Parents or adult family members play an essential role as learning coaches, ensuring their children have the structure and support to succeed in online and distance learning environments. This learning coach/master planner role is particularly important for children with disabilities, learning and attention issues, and those who struggle with executive function skills, including organization and prioritizing. This article from schoolvirtually.org offers several ways to get started in your role as learning coach. The article ends with a list of Visual Schedule apps you can download. Access the article and the list of Visual Schedule apps here.

Supporting Students with IEPs During eLearning Days

Digital learning environments can present physical, sensory, and learning barriers for students with disabilities. As learners and teachers move to fully online environments in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, what are the considerations for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and the accessibility of the materials and technologies selected? What are best practices for supporting students with disabilities remotely?

This edWebinar will be of interest to kindergarten through high school teachers, librarians, and school and district leaders. Held on March 23, 2020, its archive is online and available for listening and viewing. SETDA (the State Educational Technology Directors Association) compiled resources on eLearning for state education agencies and school districts at no cost, with a special section on accessibility. When you visit SETDA’s website to view the webinar, be sure to have a look at its Parent Resources page, too. Find out more here.

Sexual Health Education for Young People with Disabilities

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At a Glance: Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexia

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Key Definitions in Part B of IDEA | Defining and Understanding Special Education

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Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-Based Practices

Two training modules are available from the IRIS Center on evidence-based practices for educating children with autism spectrum disorder.