Workshops on TTACOnline –

Disability Characteristics

  • Overview of Autism

This webshop provides a general overview of the characteristics of autism and references to screening and assessment tools that can be used to determine if autism is present.

  • Can be found under Disability Characteristics>Autism
  • Asperger's Syndrome Overview

This webshop provides an overview of Asperger's Syndrome, including a brief history, prevalence data, diagnostic information, and learner characteristics.

  • Can be found under Disability Characteristics>Autism
  • Characteristics of Exceptional Learners

The primary emphasis of this workshop is for the paraprofessional to understand a student's disability and the impact the disability has on the students' educational performance.

  • Can be found under Disability Characteristics>All Disabilities

Behavior

  • Autism and Situations Associated with Problems

Learn good, basic strategies to support students with autism (in fact Many students with and without labels) so that you are not faced with "problem" behaviors.

  • Can be found under Behavior>Autism
  • Supporting Positive Behaviors in the Classroom

This workshop provides information on creating a positive environment for student achievement. MANAGING CLASSROOMS - discusses the importance of setting up the classroom for effective learning. OBSERVING AND RECORDING DATA - provides the paraprofessional information on how to observe, collect, and record data. POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS - provides the paraprofessional with information on positive behavioral supports.

  • Can be found under Behavior>All Disabilities

Communication

  • A Few Good Words: Using Core Vocabulary To Support Nonverbal Students

Serving students who are nonverbal is a challenge. It is necessary to provide these students with ways to communicate so that they can answer academic questions and participate in the social communication of the schools.

Use of core vocabulary can help make this happen. Core vocabulary is defined as a small set of unchanging words that are used across contexts. Core vocabulary is a fundamental concept and is a way of designing low and high tech materials that maximize and enhance student communication and language learning while minimizing the work load of supplying these materials.

  • Can be found under Communication/Language>All Disabilities
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication – Introduction

This webshop introduces the basics of communicating and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

  • Can be found under Communication/Language>Autism

Instructional Strategies

  • An Overview of Approaches for Teaching Children with Autism

Autism is now commonly accepted to be a spectrum disorder with “classic” autism at one end and Asperger syndrome at the other. Just as there is not one description of autism that fits everyone on the spectrum, there is not one teaching strategy that is best for all individuals.. This webshop provide an overview of different approaches that can be used to teach individuals with autism.

  • Can be found under Curriculum/Instructional Methods>Autism
  • From Chaos to Order: Organizational Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This webshop will introduce educators to the characteristics of executive function, describe the characteristics of executive dysfunction and provide educators with strategies to help individuals with executive dysfunction specifically with autism spectrum disorders to be more successful at managing their time, space, materials and work.

  • Can be found under Curriculum/Instructional Methods>Autism
  • Writing with Symbols

An introductory webshop about the powerful writing tool Writng with Symbols 2000. This word processor illustrates words as they are typed which supports students as they learn to write.

  • Can be found under Assistive Technology>Autism
  • Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Adapt and Create E-Books

This webshop gives instructions on developing an E-Book to promote literacy using Microsoft PowerPoint. The instructions are supplemented with graphics, audio, and movie clips.

  • Can be found under Assistive Technology>All Disabilities
  • Making Adaptations in Microsoft WORD to Promote Literacy

Microsoft WORD is a software program that most classrooms have available on their computers. Did you know that there are many simple adaptations that you can make in WORD that can compensate for a student’s mild disability in accomplishing literacy skills? This contains six webshops that will illustrate ways to use features in WORD to make visual changes, access spelling and grammar, set up AutoCorrect, locate templates, create three different Forms, and access AutoSummarize. Examples and step-by-step directions will be given so that teachers can try these out with their students in the classroom. Try these solutions before buying expensive special education software that require specialized training sessions.

  • Can be found under Curriculum/Instructional Methods>Mild/Moderate Disabilities
  • Using graphic organizers to help students access SOL content

How to use more graphic organizers and less text to increase the content knowledge acquisition of students who are at lower reading levels, have auditory processing difficulties, or have related characteristics that place them at risk for school failure.

  • Can be found under Curriculum/Instructional Methods>All Disabilities
  • Supporting the Instructional Process

This workshop provides information on how to use a lesson plan and adapting instruction.USING A LESSON PLAN - provides information on how a paraprofessional can support the instructional process. INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES - There are a variety of research-based instructional practices that have proven effective for students. ADAPTING CURRICULUM - discusses the differences and similarties of the terms accommodations and modifications.

  • Can be found under Curriculum/Instructional Methods>All Disabilities
  • Overview of Special Education Programs

The primary emphasis of this workshop is an overview and history of special education programs. The workshop also stresses important legislation, differentiating between roles and responsibilities of the paraprofessional and educator, and the importance of understanding families and diversity of communities.

  • Can be found under Curriculum/Instructional Methods>All Disabilities

Teaming

  • Collaboration and Communication

This workshop provides on collaboration and communication in the schools. COLLABORATION - discusses how to effectively collaborate with peers and school teams. COMMUNICATION - focuses on improving communication among team members.

  • Can be found under Collaborative/Team Building>All Disabilities