Session description
Participants will consider the use of visuals and behavioral supports through a neurodiversity affirming lens for learners with varied learning and support needs. Evidence-based resources, including flexible visual schedules, social narratives that resist expectations for neurotypical social norms, choice boards that tap into learner interests and passions, contingency maps that provide options for reaching a goal, and checklists that break tasks down into manageable chunks will be shared, emphasizing strategies to support neurodiverse learners. Beyond learning about strategies, participants will be coached to create customized resources for their own learners using commonly available technology such as Google Slides, Microsoft Word, LessonPIx, Book Creator along with new and emerging Artifical Intelligence tools. As a result, educators will be empowered to provide resources to their learners that support sensory and emotional regulation, develop appropriate boundaries, communicate needs and preferences, and can pre-empt behaviors that interfere with classroom learning.
Outline
The poster session will provide participants the opportunity to examine visual supports and explore ways that they can create their own visuals using familiar technology tools including Google, PowerPoint, LessonPix, Book Creator and more. Newer tools including AI generated visuals that can decrease the time it takes to design supports and can be customized to their specific students will be showcased as well.
As a self-paced poster session, attendees can take their time examining the examples provided and will be provided coaching to use the technology tools and to design supports through a neurodiversity affirming lens.
There will be opportunities for question and answer, discussion between participants, and hands on exploration of tools and resources.