Functional skills are skills a student needs to live independently. An important goal of special education is for our students to gain as much independence and autonomy as possible, whether their disability is emotional, intellectual, physical, or a combination of two or more (multiple) disabilities. Skills are defined as functional if the outcome supports the student’s …

There are many reasons why pausing during a conversation can be useful. For example: · We pause to highlight grammatical structures such as to mark the end of a sentence or to shift to a new idea. · We pause for social reasons, such as to build anticipation, to clarify that we have expectations, to …

Retelling a story is an important skill that supports later reading comprehension. Allowing your child multiple opportunities to be able to retell a familiar story will help to continue to build upon these skills. This can be after they return from school for the day or at bedtime after reading their favorite book. Here is a fun …

What is PECS? The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a way for people with limited or no verbal communication skills to communicate using pictures.  The person with limited or no verbal communication skills communicates with another person by giving the person a picture or a desired item in exchange for the desired item. Why use …

When you think of “special needs toys and games,” you may envision expensive gadgets and specially designed equipment. And you can certainly find such high-priced items provided by boutique specialty companies. The reality is that there is absolutely no need for parents of special needs children to purchase products labeled “special needs.” Plain old Walmart, …

Modeling plays an important role in learning. It focuses on imitation rather than directly correcting or instructing the child. When teaching a new skill, it is always important to show the action before you expect the child to do it. Modeling can be done by anyone that has mastered the skill such as other children, …

Meet “Jose.” He is a wizard at coding. His resume features two degrees in computer science, both with honors. An obvious choice for a tech company to scoop up, right? Until recently, no. Before Jose came across a large tech firm that had begun experimenting with alternative approaches to acquiring tech talent, he was unemployed …

Today, it is not enough for employers to say they embrace diversity. Leaders must be transparent communicators around hiring practices, how they set up an accessible workplace, and how they not just provide accommodations for neurodiverse workers (and workers with disabilities), but how they provide support and empowerment for the one in five neurodiverse employees …

In the workplace, conversation matters. So not having certain conversation, or leaving important components off the table, especially when it comes to inclusion, has consequences for employees. More than ever, companies are working to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This a great thing for the workforce and for society. But it has …

Women with autism tend to present differently than men, a fact which has often led to misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis. As a result, women who have autism and don’t receive a diagnosis tend to judge themselves harshly for finding life difficult. Any woman who has reached the point of wondering whether or not she has autism …