Perry Flynn (Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at UNC-G, Consultant to NC DPI for Speech/Language Pathology, and ASHA’s VP for Planning) has excellent resources on his webpage, including blogs, assessment and intervention modules, HI resources, helpful links, and so much more! Check it out here.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – 21st Century Skills. Check out resources here.

LiveBinder – Early Communication Development for Students with Significant Disabilities – offers support in three main areas: assessment, building communicative intent, and intervention. Check it out here.

NC DPI Instructional Resources – explore the links on the left for resources, rubrics, assessment materials, etc.  Click here.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support – improving social, emotional, and academic outcomes for all students. Explore here.

NC DPI Extended Content Standards – for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Click here.

Library Resources

1. Normal development and sequence of communication/language skills    

• Including important milestones from birth to five years
• ASHA – https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart/  

• ASHA – https://www.asha.org/slp/schools/prof-consult/norms/

  2. Use of visual supports in the classroom  – visual toolkit from Autism Speaks (link below)

  3. Behavior management (PBIS)

• Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS)- a set of ideas and tools implemented in schools aiming to improve student behavior  

• National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (2010).  Functional behavioral assessment: Implementation checklist. Retrieved from:  

  https://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/sites/autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/Functional-Behavior-Assessment-Complete10-2010.pdf 

• Sam, A., & AFIRM Team. (2015). Functional Behavior Assessment. Chapel Hill, NC: National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder, FPG Child Development Center, University of North Carolina. Retrieved from https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/functional-behavior-assessment 

• The IRIS Center. (2009).  Functional behavioral assessment: Identifying the reasons for problem behavior and developing a behavior plan. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/fba/cresource/q1/p01/#content 
• Center on PBIS Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (2023).  Practice Guides: Tier 3 brief functional behavioral assessment (FBA). Retrieved from https://www.pbis.org/resource/tier-3-brief-functional-behavior-assessment-fba-guide                                                                                                                                           4. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) 
•  MTSS- a system that helps educators provide help for students with various needs through academic and behavioral strategies. MTSS derives from Response to Intervention (Rtl) and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).  

• PBIS – MTSS – https://www.pbisrewards.com/blog/what-is-mtss/  

   5. Teaching functional skills (Activities of Daily Living)  

• Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM). AFIRM Modules. Retrieved from https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/afirm-modules  
• Modules Addressing Special Education and Teacher Education (MAST)  https://mast.ecu.edu/Students%20with%20Significant%20Intellectual%20Disabilities/Prompting%20Systems/index.html  

• Modules Addressing Special Education and Teacher Education (MAST)  https://mast.ecu.edu/Students%20with%20Significant%20Intellectual%20Disabilities/Systematic%20Instruction%20Plans/index.html 

• Roberts, C. Supporting special education teachers. Systematic instruction.  Retrieved from http://www.supportingspedteachers.org/systematic-instruction.html 
• CEEDAR Center. (2023). Evidence-based practices for students with severe disabilities. Retrieved from https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/cems/severe-disabilities/ 

6. Augmentative and Alternative Communication 

• Project  Core – http://www.project-core.com/  
• Communication Matrix – https://www.communicationmatrix.org/  
• Live Binder – https://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=761249  
• PrAACtical AAC – https://praacticalaac.org/

7. Universal Design for Learning  

• Dynamic Learning Maps Professional Development (MLDP) Universal design for learning. Retrieved from https://www.dlmpd.com/dlm-fundamental-modules/ 
• The IRIS Center. (2009). Universal design for learning: Creating a learning environment that challenges and engages all students. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/udl/#content 
• University of Florida, CEEDAR Center. Universal design for learning.  Retrieved from https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/cems/udl/ 
• Modules Addressing Special Education and Teacher Education (MAST).  Universal design for learning or students in the adapted curriculum. Retrieved from https://mast.ecu.edu/Universal%20Design%20for%20Learning/Students%20in%20the%20Adapted%20Curriculum/index.html 
• https://www.learningdesigned.org/resource/udl-and-students-significant-cognitive-disabilities 

8. Strategies for inclusion  

• These resources are for including students with severe disabilities  
• CEEDAR Center, University of Florida (2023). Evidence Based Practices for Students with Severe Disabilities.  Retrieved from https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/cems/severe-disabilities/ 
• The IRIS Center and The TIES Center (2022). Inclusion of students with significant cognitive disabilities: Supports in the general education classroom.  Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/scd/#content 
• The TIES Center (2023). Time, Instructional, Engagement & Support Center. Retrieved from https://tiescenter.org/ 

• Literacy – https://fcrr.org/student-center-activities    

• https://improvingliteracy.org/ 

9. Classroom set-up/TEACCH methodology

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNXKLSj0slk 

10. Meeting the sensory needs of the children in your classroom

• (different sensory activities catered to individual needs of children)
• Sensory Diet – https://www.theottoolbox.com/how-to-create-sensory-diet/

11.  Providing structure (Visual support) 

• Visual Supports Tool Kit from Autism Speaks – https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/2018-08/Visual%20Supports%20Tool%20Kit.pdf

12. Reinforcement strategies/techniques  

• Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM) (2015). Reinforcement.  Differential Reinforcement. Retrieved from https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/afirm-modules 

13. Creating communication rich educational environments 

• Project Core. Professional development modules.  Retrieved from  http://www.project-core.com/professional-development-modules/ 
• CEEDAR Center, University of Florida (2018). Preparing teachers to facilitate communication skills in students with severe disabilities.  Retrieved from  https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Preparing-Teachers-to-Facilitate-Communication-Skills-in-Students-With-Severe-Disabilities.pdf 
• Live Binder – https://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=761249  
  

14. Autism (AFIRM Modules) 

• AFIRM- Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules: designed to help with planning for, using, and monitoring an EBP (Evidence-Based Practice) with learners with autism from birth to 22 years.  
• https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/afirm-modules 
• Autism Navigator with video glossary: https://autismnavigator.com/asd-video-glossary/  
• Center on Secondary Education for students with Autism – https://csesa.fpg.unc.edu/  
• National Standards Project, Phase 2 (EBP) – https://nationalautismcenter.org/national-standards/phase-2-2015/  
• More on EBP – https://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/evidence-based-practices