MN Statewide ASD Newsletter
Fall 2025
The MN Low Incidence Project is here to support you!
Welcome to the first quarterly newsletter of the 2025-2026 school year! We are glad you are here to check out all of the ways we want to support you this school year!
This year our FREE quarterly webinars are back and are perfect for new and experienced teachers alike! We are teaming with the STAR Media Center to provide these 1-hour practical webinars that will help you improve your practices, support students, and feel like your classroom is on a great track for learning. Since the STAR Media Center ($800 value) is FREE For all MN Educators again this year, we are making sure our webinars align with the resources and materials available to you at a click of your mouse!
AND..... BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND..... Tuesday Tips and Tricks! This weekly newsletter is just getting underway with a new series Building Neuroaffirming Classrooms! You can sign up to receive this practical, easy to understand resource with ready-to-use tools here or by visiting the Tuesday Tips and Tricks section below.
Please remember to share this newsletter with your colleagues - we want to get this important information and resources out to all who need it here in Minnesota. As always, please feel free to reach out to me at tami.childs@brightworksmn.org with any questions you may have!
Have a safe and happy fall!!
Tami
- Free Resources
- Quarterly Featured Highlight
- Spotlight on Excellence
- Communication Corner
- MN ASD Upcoming Opportunities
- MDE Updates
- ASD RESOURCE REPOSITORY
The STAR Media Center is a completely FREE resource available to all Minnesota educators! It offers everything needed to create a structured and engaging classroom, with resources that support routines, play, language, and behavior. The STAR Media Center also includes an updated Themes First! — a collection of monthly, theme-based units packed with original songs, books, and activities that foster skill development and content generalization in a fun and accessible way. This year, Themes First! includes an expanded ELA and Math suite with engaging activities!
Each Themes First! unit provides a range of lessons, activities, and worksheets for both group and independent work at varying levels to meet diverse student needs.
Check out the Fall Festivals unit in Theme's First! Theme units include original songs, books, and activities that support students’ skill development and generalization with content that’s fun, accessible, and theme-based. These monthly units now include an expanded social studies suite, containing fun, theme-related activities that reinforce cultural engagement. Included in all Themes First! units are lessons, activities, and worksheets for group and independent work at a wide range of levels.
Themes First Walkthrough
Routine Essentials Walkthrough
You spoke, and we listened! We’re excited to announce a new series of four webinars designed specifically for Minnesota autism educators, hosted by the STAR Media Center. Each webinar topic was chosen based on feedback we’ve heard from all of you.
Below are the dates and topics. Webinars will be held virtually from 3:30–4:30 p.m. Be sure to sign up for Tuesday Tips & Tricks to receive reminders and updates on each session. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn practical strategies you can use right away—register today!
October 8th:
Strategies for Inclusion
January 8th :
How to Use Visuals Effectively
March 4th: Setting Up and Implementing Independent Work Systems
April 6th: Individualized Instruction
Meet Jessica Premo, a dedicated Special Education Teacher at Eden Prairie Public Schools, who has been making a difference in autism education for 19 years!
Jessica’s journey into special education began early. Growing up with a mom who was a special education paraprofessional, she often volunteered at summer school and discovered her passion for helping students with unique needs. During her college practicums and student teaching experiences in Eden Prairie and Minneapolis, she learned under incredible mentors like Michele Glynn. These opportunities helped her build strong connections with autistic students and their families—connections that continue to drive her work today.
In the classroom, Jessica is known for her creative use of Duration Maps and Penny Boards, tools that keep students engaged and motivated while teaching the concept of time. She celebrates all forms of communication, meeting students where they are each day and adjusting expectations to support growth and independence.
Her proudest moments come when parents share that their children feel happy and look forward to school. Many of Jessica’s students are non-speaking, and she is deeply honored by the trust families place in her and her team. “When students feel safe and happy at school, and their families see them gaining independence, it’s the best feeling,” she says. Jessica believes strongly in setting high expectations, noting that when given the chance, her students’ skills often exceed what others imagined possible.
We’re thrilled to announce a new feature in the newsletter: showcasing one of our incredible ASD educators! If you or someone you know would like to be highlighted, please complete the form below. We’ll review the submissions and select a Featured Teacher for the upcoming winter edition. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the amazing work happening in ASD classrooms across the state!
Welcome to the Communication Corner! My name is Leah Hicks, and I am an ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 10 years of experience in the educational setting. Here, you’ll find everything from tips and strategies to insights on embedding communication opportunities and facilitating meaningful interactions in your classroom or therapy room.
Presuming Competence: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to Communication
As special educators and speech-language pathologists, we know that communication is the bridge to connection, learning, and participation. Presuming competence means believing that every student—regardless of communication style—has meaningful thoughts, feelings, and a rich inner life. This perspective is especially vital when supporting students with complex communication needs, including those who are not yet speaking or who use alternative ways to communicate.
What might look like “lack of engagement” or “random button pressing” can be a form of self-regulation or a unique way of connecting. When we presume competence, we become detectives of meaning—listening closely, honoring all communication attempts, and creating low-demand environments where students feel safe to express themselves.
As educators, our role is not to “give a voice,” but to recognize and respect the voice that already exists. By modeling language, responding with curiosity, and centering student interests, we build trust and authentic communication opportunities.
👉 Click the handout to learn more about practical strategies to support engagement, self-regulation, and communication through presuming competence.
Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Presence of a Student with a Vision Impairment
When: October 6th and October 7th, 2025
Where: Sauk Rapids Government Center 250 Summit Ave North Sauk Rapids MN
Time: Sign-In begins at 8:30 am, session is 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Minnesota Executive Function Masterclass 2026-2027
The Minnesota Executive Function Masterclass is full for the 2025-2026 school year and we are accepting names on a waiting list for a potential 2026-2027 Executive Function Masterclass cohort!
If you are interested in applying for next school year, please add your name to this list and we will contact you to apply in the spring/summer of 2026.
Virtual Office Hours
Jen Guettler, MN ASD EBP Coach, is available Fridays from 7:30-8:00AM and 3:00-3:30 PM to help with any questions or situations you might have in your classroom. Sign up below to schedule a Zoom meeting!
Special Education Hosted Trainings and Webinars
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Special Education Division enlisted experts from across the nation for a series of remote presentations. We have recorded these sessions for your review and use. The insights and resources here are valuable for all educators. All recordings are closed captioned and include links to accessible slide shows and other materials.
Topics included in the webinar series that are fully accessible are:
- Alternative Delivery of Special Education Services (ADSIS) 101
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) 101
- Integrating PBIS and School Linked Behavioral Health Services
- Evidence Based Practices used by School Linked Behavioral Health (SLBH) Providers and Exemplar Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Schools
- Statewide Assessment General Supports and Accommodations
- Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS)
- Five Practically Good Ideas for Any Reality
- Returning to School During and After Crisis
- Check-in/Check-Out as a Tier 2 Support
- The Interconnected Systems Framework
- Systematic Screening in the COVID-19 Era
- Behavior Specific Praise: Implementing, Coaching, and Measuring the Impact of this Simple yet Specific Strategy
Autism Navigator online courses offer interactive slides with an unparalleled library of video clips. Their course collection covers topics from early identification of toddlers with autism at 18–24 months to evidence-based intervention strategies and supports for social communication, active engagement, and addressing challenging behavior.
Autism Center Grab and Go Resource Gallery of Interventions
MN Autism Resource Portal
MN Low Incidence Projects Autism Assessment Resources Guide ‐ 2021
Contact Us
Tami Childs, MN ASD Statewide Specialist
Jen Guettler, MN ASD EBP Coach
Gail Jankowski, MN Low Incidence Project Support
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