Strategies for identifying specific learning needs and articulating accommodation requests to educators. Equips students with communication skills to advocate for necessary environmental, academic, and social supports.
In the capstone lesson, students synthesize their scheduling, organization, and data-tracking efforts to prepare a professional presentation for their next IEP meeting. They practice leading the conversation about their own future.
Students take charge of their own progress by learning to track data against their IEP goals. They develop a 'Data Day' routine for self-reflection and objective performance monitoring.
Students tackle the administrative side of education, from permission slips to agenda management. They develop a personal 'compliance system' to stay organized and responsible for their own paperwork.
Students finalize their settings and create a portable 'User Badge.' They practice self-advocacy skills to explain their technical needs to teachers across different classrooms and devices.
Students combine their chosen speed, voice, and visual settings into a final configuration. They test this 'Master Mix' on a nonfiction article and reflect on their ability to focus and understand.
Students investigate visual aids like word-by-word highlighting and masking. They compare reading with 'visual noise' versus a 'spotlight' to find settings that reduce distraction and improve tracking.
Students explore digital voice options including pitch, accent, and gender. They learn to identify which voices help them stay focused and which feel most natural for long-form reading.
Students test different words-per-minute settings to find their 'Goldilocks' zone. They participate in a Speed Racer challenge to understand how speed impacts their auditory processing and memory.
Students learn the art of coordinating conflicting schedules, focusing on the overlap between general education classes and mandated support services. They practice professional communication to resolve these conflicts.
Students demonstrate their independence by setting up their own reading station and using TTS tools without assistance.
Students learn to solve common technical issues like muted sound or unplugged headphones using a simple checklist.
Students learn how to highlight specific words or sentences to be read aloud, moving from single words to full paragraphs.
Learners practice the specific motor skills required to start, stop, and pause the audio while managing volume responsibly.
Students explore the concept of a 'digital reading buddy' and identify the TTS icon or shortcut on their devices.
Students act as project managers to deconstruct the annual IEP/504 cycle, identifying critical deadlines and mapping out their own educational timelines.
A lesson designed to empower students in grades 3-5 to understand their unique learning needs and advocate for themselves by creating a 'User Manual' for their brains.
A comprehensive lesson for college students on their rights under the ADA, the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and strategies for effective self-advocacy in higher education settings.
A comprehensive self-advocacy curriculum designed for young adults to navigate school, home, community, and the workplace with confidence. Focuses on personal identity (pronouns), legal rights (ADA/IDEA), and practical communication strategies.
A comprehensive 3-hour lesson designed for students with autism to understand the importance of social skills across various life stages, culminating in practical scripts for recess success.
This lesson empowers middle school students to identify their unique learning needs and provides them with concrete scripts and strategies to advocate for themselves in academic settings. Students will move from identifying challenges to creating a professional learning profile they can share with teachers.
A 1:1 lesson for 4th-grade IDMI students focusing on identifying signs of overstimulation and practicing verbal and visual communication to request breaks or sensory support.
A set of resources designed to help high school students master self-advocacy and communication skills essential for post-secondary success. Includes a student-facing self-assessment and a teacher-facing progress rubric.
A comprehensive lesson for high school students with autism on navigating verbal communication in social, emotional, and community contexts. Focuses on 'Social Navigator' strategies for self-expression and interaction.
A comprehensive transition support package for 8th-grade students with autism moving to high school. It includes a personalized social story field guide, instructional slides for group or individual discussion, and a teacher/parent facilitation guide focusing on environmental navigation and social nuances.
A comprehensive social story and supporting tools designed for an academically advanced 2nd grader to manage non-preferred tasks, transitions, and big emotions using verbal communication and solution-seeking strategies instead of screaming or eloping.
Consolidates skills through role-play and creates a personalized 'Voice Power' action plan for future use.
Teaches concrete scripts and methods for requesting assistance when tasks or situations become too difficult.
Helps the student identify physical and emotional 'warning lights' that indicate vulnerability or being overwhelmed.
Focuses on identifying when a break or stop is needed and learning various ways to communicate that boundary clearly and calmly.
A 45-minute session designed for middle and high school students to develop self-advocacy skills, focusing on identifying needs and communicating them effectively to teachers and staff.
A set of resources centered around a 'Mission Control' theme to help 5th-grade students with ADHD and anxiety manage academic overwhelm. Includes a student reference card and an implementation guide for teachers.
A collection of resources to help teachers and students navigate the technical aspects of virtual learning, with a focus on accessibility features like closed captioning.
A comprehensive 90-minute training session for individuals with disabilities to identify frustration triggers, build a toolkit of healthy coping mechanisms, and master self-advocacy skills. The lesson uses a 'Navigator' theme to help learners chart a course through difficult emotions toward confidence and resilience.
A social skills lesson for high school students with lower cognitive functioning, focusing on the DEAR MAN model to help them advocate for their needs in conversation.
In this lesson, students explore the concepts of disability discrimination and accessibility, analyzing how physical, digital, and social barriers impact individuals and the health of a democracy. Students will learn to distinguish between discriminatory practices and legitimate professional boundaries.
A collection of essential communication icons and tools designed for home-based instruction and daily routines.
A lesson focused on self-advocacy strategies for high school life skills students when encountering unexpected behaviors from others. It introduces three primary responses: asking to stop, moving away, and telling a trusted adult.
A collection of visual supports and communication cards designed for home-based kindergarten programs, focusing on basic communication, routine management, and early academic concepts.
A comprehensive guide and set of activities designed to help educators and SLPs support novice AAC users in navigating TouchChat with WordPower across various functional contexts.
