Tuesday, October 20, 2026
8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Workshop Summary:
This full-day workshop equips educators, related service providers, and administrators with practical, school-based strategies for supporting students with autism across academic, behavioral, communication, social, and sensory domains. Participants will examine how autism shows up throughout the school day and how common school practices can unintentionally create barriers to learning and regulation. The focus is on realistic, evidence-informed supports that improve access, engagement, and independence while reducing challenging behaviors. Emphasis is placed on understanding behavior as communication, designing supportive environments, and aligning strategies across classrooms, therapies, and settings. Through real-world examples and collaborative problem-solving, attendees will leave with a clearer lens, shared language, and actionable tools they can implement immediately.
Professional Development Credits:
IACET CEUs: 0.65
ACVREP CEs: 6.5
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will be able to identify common educational, behavioral, communication, social, and sensory barriers experienced by students with autism across the school day.
Participants will apply practical, evidence-informed strategies to increase access, engagement, and regulation in classroom and school-based settings.
Participants will strengthen collaboration across roles by using a shared framework to proactively support students with autism and reduce reactive or crisis-driven responses.
Presenter(s)
Registration Options:
| Description | Workshop Fee | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Conference Registration: (Workshop included at no additional cost with 3-day conference registration) | $0 | |
| Tuesday-Only Workshop Registration | $375 | Workshop Only Registration |
Learn more About this Workshop
Presenter-provided Abstract:
Students with autism navigate a school day filled with academic demands, social expectations, sensory input, and behavioral pressures that are often designed without their learning profiles in mind. When support systems are misaligned, even well-intentioned practices can create barriers to access, engagement, and regulation. This full-day session is designed for educators, related service providers, administrators, and school teams seeking practical, school-based approaches that move students from frustration to meaningful participation.
Participants will explore how autism impacts learning, communication, behavior, sensory processing, and social interaction—and how these differences present across classrooms, transitions, unstructured times, and therapeutic settings. The session emphasizes understanding behavior as communication and recognizing when student responses reflect unmet needs rather than noncompliance. Attendees will examine common school practices that inadvertently escalate challenges and learn how to replace them with proactive, supportive strategies.
This training focuses on realistic, evidence-informed approaches that can be implemented across educational environments. Topics include instructional supports that increase access to curriculum, communication strategies that promote independence, sensory-informed practices that improve regulation, and social supports that foster participation without forcing compliance. Special attention is given to aligning strategies across staff roles so that students experience consistency throughout the school day.
Through case examples, guided reflection, and collaborative problem-solving, participants will practice applying concepts to real-world situations. The session also highlights the importance of shared language and interdisciplinary collaboration among teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals, and administrators. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, this training provides a clear framework for identifying barriers, selecting appropriate supports, and monitoring effectiveness over time.
By the end of the day, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of autism in school contexts, a toolbox of practical strategies, and increased confidence in their ability to support students in ways that are respectful, effective, and sustainable. The ultimate goal is to move beyond managing behavior toward creating environments where students with autism can learn, communicate, and engage successfully across the entire school day.