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Step into the world of inclusive education with "Autism Academy 360," the podcast designed for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about unlocking the full potential of individuals on the Autism spectrum. I'm Lisa, and alongside my fellow special education teacher, Abby, we bring you a wealth of knowledge and experience. As creators on Teachers Pay Teachers and advocates for Autism Acceptance, we dive deep into the intricacies of teaching and supporting Autistic students. Each episode ...
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, we dive into the key differences between breaks and rewards and how they can both play a critical role in managing classroom behaviors. For many students, especially those with autism, understanding when to use breaks and when to offer rewards can be a game-changer in maintaining a calm, productive learning en…
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In episode 42 of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Hollady shares 12 practical tips for teaching students with autism in a general education setting. The episode emphasizes the importance of reducing sensory overload, establishing structured routines, and offering visual supports. Teachers are encouraged to use clear language, give limited choices, and…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, we dive into preventative strategies to help teachers and parents manage behavior on the bus for kids with autism. We know how challenging transitions can be, especially during bus rides, so this episode is packed with practical tips to create a calmer, safer environment. From using visual schedules and teachi…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Holladay shares valuable insights on setting up a structured work area in inclusion classrooms. Drawing from her extensive experience in special education, Lisa explains the importance of creating an organized and accessible environment that meets the needs of both general education and special educa…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Hollady dives into the importance of creating a calm-down corner in classrooms for students who struggle with emotional regulation. Lisa shares 10 practical and easy-to-implement ideas to help students calm down, reset, and return to learning. From comfortable seating to mindfulness tools and persona…
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In this episode, Abby dives into responsive behavior strategies and how to repair relationships with students after behavioral incidents. She shares her top tip—always focus on mending the relationship after a behavior, no matter the severity. Abby outlines key steps for post-behavior conversations, including letting students share their side, nami…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, we dive into the essentials of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). We explain what FBAs and BIPs are, why they are crucial for understanding and addressing challenging behaviors in children with autism, and how these tools work together to create effective, individual…
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Episode summary: In this episode, we dive into managing disrespectful behaviors in the classroom and how educators can shift their mindset to better support students. Instead of viewing rude or challenging actions as personal attacks, we explore strategies to understand these behaviors as a form of communication. From fostering empathy and maintain…
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In this episode, we’re breaking down preference assessments—those handy tools that help figure out what really motivates students, especially those with special needs. We chat about different ways to discover what kids love, from simple interviews to observing their choices in real-time. By collecting this info, teachers can create a preference hie…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa Hollady discusses the powerful role visuals play in both our everyday lives and the classroom. From driving directions to restaurant menus, visuals help guide us through various tasks without overwhelming us. Lisa emphasizes how visuals can support students with Autism and benefit all learners by creating…
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In this episode, we chat about Behavior Skills Training (BST) and its critical role in equipping educational teams to effectively support students with autism. BST is broken down into four key components: Instruction, Modeling, Rehearsal, and Feedback. We start by explaining the significance of BST in developing and maintaining effective teaching s…
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Episode summary: In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa Hollady delves into the importance and implementation of visual supports in special education classrooms. Visual supports play a crucial role in enhancing communication, easing transitions, and creating a smoother daily routine for students. Lisa outlines the benefits of visual supports, …
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In this episode, we share five essential behavior tips to help teachers support students with autism at the start of the school year. The first tip is to pair yourself with positive reinforcement, a strategy discussed in depth in episode 9. Getting to know the child is the second tip, emphasizing the importance of conducting preference assessments,…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Hollady explores the importance of establishing effective classroom routines to support students with autism in the general education setting. Lisa discusses how routines can enhance independence, and time management skills, and provide a sense of structure. She offers practical tips for creating and…
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In this episode, we speak with Jenna, a mother whose son Connor has autism. Jenna shares her family's journey, the challenges they faced after Connor's diagnosis, and their experiences with the education system. Jenna discusses Connor's diagnosis, the initial challenges, and how they found support. She shares her interactions with the education sys…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, host Lisa Holladay delves into the importance and implementation of independent work systems (IWS) in special education classrooms. These structured systems, such as the three-drawer bin system and task boxes, are designed to help students with special needs become more self-reliant by providing visual cues an…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Abby takes on the topic of token boards, an effective tool for motivating and managing behavior in autistic students but also a controversial one. First, we define token boards and explain their basic concept. This is where confusion comes in, so we are going to talk about what they actually are. Then we addre…
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In this episode of the Autism Academy 360 Podcast, host Lisa Hollady delves into strategies for landing a job in special education, particularly in autism settings. The episode covers essential tips for acing interviews, such as preparing answers to common questions, highlighting your experience, and effectively communicating with families. Lisa em…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Abby discusses the essential topic of teaching self-regulation and coping skills to autistic students. We begin by defining self-regulation and discussing its significance in daily life. We delve into the common challenges autistic students face with self-regulation and examine how these difficulties can impac…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa discusses how to prepare for the Extended School Year (ESY) services for students on the autism spectrum. This episode provides strategies for special education teachers to help their students maintain and progress their skills during the summer. Lisa shares her personal experiences, emphasizing the impor…
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In this episode we are talking all about the concept of core vocabulary and its profound impact on communication in special education settings. This may be something new to you, or something you think is just for SLPs. We will talk about why core vocabulary is important in the classroom, not just the speech room. We will talk about how you can teac…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa tackles the challenge of managing reinforcers for students with unique interests by introducing the concept of reinforcement bins. She explains how organizing preferred reinforcers in labeled bins can save time and improve classroom efficiency. By storing these bins in a central location, educators can ea…
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In this podcast episode, we are talking about 4 things you can do this summer to change behaviors in the fall. First and foremost, establishing clear routines and expectations is essential. Abby will give you some exact steps to take other than just having clear rules so you can have a plan from day one. She’ll also talk about visuals and which one…
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Understanding Reinforcer Hierarchies: After conducting a preference assessment to identify student reinforcers, the next step is ranking these reinforcers to create a hierarchy. This hierarchy provides a quick reference to understand which reinforcers students prefer and to what extent. Importance of Reinforcer Hierarchies: Different reinforcers ar…
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In this episode we are going to talk about easy behavior trick that costs nothing, takes, minimal time, and anyone can do. Sound too good to be true? Promise its not. We are going to talk all about choice, why it is important and the right and wrong ways to offer choices. Episode Highlights: Kids want control- so give it to them! How to offer choic…
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In this episode, we are talking about the concept of errorless learning. Errorless learning is a teaching method used in special education to ensure students always choose the correct response without experiencing errors. The episode delves into why this method is beneficial for certain learners. Lisa discusses the advantages, how to fade this tech…
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In today's episode, we explore effective strategies for managing behaviors when prevention efforts fall short. We discuss five different strategies that you can use when behaviors happen, because we all know they will, These strategies will help you get your student back to baseline and keep everyone safe. By implementing these strategies, we aim t…
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In this episode, Lisa discusses 12 tips for first-year special education teachers. Starting your first year as a special education teacher can be daunting, especially when unfamiliar with the students, staff, and school environment. Join us as we share invaluable insights gained from 16 years of experience in self-contained special education classr…
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In this episode Abby explores strategies for differentiating for our Autistic learners. She discusses the importance of modification and accommodation, highlighting methods such as using task boxes for hands-on learning experiences, adapting worksheets, and using technology to meet diverse learner needs. She shares implementation tips and emphasize…
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In this episode, Lisa discusses common mistakes educators make when using visual schedules in autism classrooms. Visual schedules are essential tools for supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing structure, promoting independence, and enhancing predictability. However, several mistakes can diminish their effectiveness.…
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In this episode Abby talks about how to collect behavioral data- which isn’t always easy to do! We will talk about how data collection provides objective insights into behavior and supports the individualization of interventions. We discuss the types of data to collect and why the need for consistency is so important across the entire team. Additio…
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In this episode, Lisa goes in-depth about her favorite sensory tools to use for students on the Autism spectrum. She talks about the importance of ensuring that you are hitting all of the sensory needs of your students, including vestibular input, proprioceptive input, and oral seeking input. Take a listen to hear about all the different tools that…
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In this episode, Abby dives into the reasons why behavior happens. Behavior never happens out of the blue or in isolation, but for one of four reasons: attention, escape, sensory, or gaining access. In addition to talking about these she also provides some interventions you can do. Episode Highlights: Why figuring out the function is essential to s…
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In this episode of Autism Academy 360, Lisa explores ten effective transition supports tailored for students with Autism, acknowledging the challenges transitions pose for individuals who thrive on consistency and routine. From visual schedules and audio cues to transition objects and "check schedule" cards, Lisa discusses a toolkit for easing tran…
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In this episode, Abby dives into the crucial concept of pairing yourself with reinforcement for all students, but particularly Autistic students. She defines what pairing is and why it is the foundation of everything you do. She discusses some practical strategies for pairing that you can do in your classroom. She also gives some tips on ways to ma…
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In this episode, Lisa delves into the concept of social narratives, also known as Social Stories, originally coined by Carol Gray. Social narratives serve to help children with disabilities comprehend past or future events, aiding in scenarios ranging from daily routines to significant life changes. Lisa emphasizes the importance of tailoring narra…
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Episode summary: Dive into the latest episode where we explore the power of 'First-Then' boards for students with Autism. Discover how these visual supports, assist in navigating sequences of events and help with problem behavior. Learn effective strategies for pairing undesirable tasks with motivating reinforcers. The episode emphasizes how to imp…
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In this insightful episode, Lisa chats all about how to start using Token boards in your special education classroom. Lisa goes over helpful tips and tricks and some do's and dont's once you get started. This podcast episode is a compelling call to special education teachers to understand the value of token boards as a powerful tool in creating a s…
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In this episode, we are focusing on a transformative tool for special educators – contingency maps. Abby will guide you from the basics, exploring the ABCs of behavior (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence), to unraveling the purpose and benefits of contingency maps in special education settings. Discover the power of these visual aids in analyzing an…
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In this podcast episode, Lisa chats about ten different types of visual schedules that special education teachers can use. In this episode, Lisa goes over, object schedules, mini-schedules, picture schedules, written schedules, traveling schedules and MORE! Lisa talks about what they look like and how to set them up. She even talks about different …
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In this podcast episode, we delve into the fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), emphasizing its diverse nature. We discuss common characteristics like challenges in social communication, dispel myths, and discuss advocating for the acceptance of neurodiverse individuals. The episode also explores the impact of ASD on learning and offers …
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In this insightful episode, Lisa talks about the crucial role of visual schedules in supporting students with special needs, especially those on the Autism Spectrum, to understand and navigate their daily routines. She talks about the challenges of the misconception that visual schedules are unnecessary or time-consuming, highlighting their evidenc…
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In the latest podcast episode for special educators, we delved into the world of visual supports with a focus on mini schedules. We define what mini schedules are, highlighting their role in providing step-by-step guidance for specific tasks. We dive into the use of mini schedules in various educational settings, emphasizing their versatility acros…
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Step into the world of inclusive education with Autism Academy 360," the podcast designed for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about unlocking the full potential of individuals on the Autism spectrum. Lisa, and alongside fellow special education teacher, Abby, bring you a wealth of knowledge and experience. As creators on Teachers Pay Teac…
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continue reading
