This newsletter is designed to provide all MN educators the necessary resources to increase their skills in teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Special education teachers, related service providers, administrators, and paraprofessionals alike are encouraged to subscribe to this monthly newsletter.
The MN Low Incidence Project is here to support you!

Welcome back! Hopefully everyone had a chance to relax and have fun this summer! We are excited to provide you with a monthly statewide newsletter designed to be a primary resource for educating students with autism in MN. Please feel free to provide us feedback on the content and additional resources you would like to see in this newsletter.

At Metro ECSU and Minnesota Department of Education, we understand that our MN students are culturally, economically, and linguistically diverse and have unique strengths and needs. Our resources are intended to assist educators in meeting individual needs of students. Additionally, we recognize and commit to the fight against the systemic injustices that continue to oppress marginalized populations. Click here to review MDE's Commitments to Equity.

We know that this is a particularly challenging beginning-of-the-school year- Let us know how we can support you!

Tami Childs, Statewide ASD Specialist

Metro ECSU

tami.childs@metroecsu.org

• Monthly Featured Highlight!
• MN ASD Upcoming Events
• MN ASD Current Opportunities
• MN ASD Updates
• ASD Teacher and Related Service Provider Resources
  
• New Teacher/Educator Support & Training (NEST)
  
• STAR/LINKS
• MDE News and Resources
• ASD RESOURCE REPOSITORY
• NEW: Executive Functioning Tip

Here in MN we a starting an initiative to learn more about executive function and the role we, as educators, can play in helping our students develop these skills!

Check out this 2 minute video by the keynote speaker for the upcoming Charting the Cs conference! For More information on Charting the C's coming up January 20-21, 2023 see the MN Upcoming Events Section in this newsletter.

DON'T MISS THIS FREE OPPORTUNITY!! The STAR Media Center/SOLS can transform your classroom instruction and lesson planning with just a few clicks of the mouse! Watch the DEMO today!

The STAR Online Learning System (including the STAR Media Center) is FREE To anyone in MN again this school year! The STAR Media center includes thematic monthly units packed full of engaging activities to support academic, communication, and social emotional learning; visuals and resources to successfully implement routines; and a visual classroom slide deck (REEL) for each content area in order to provide visual instruction and engaging digital content to your learners. Additionally, we have recorded a demonstration on how to easily get this up and running in your classroom with just a few clicks of the mouse!

Click here for more information about these tools

Click here to request your FREE account

Click below to watch a 30 minute demonstration on how to use the STAR Media Center in your classroom

Need help? Contact tami.childs@metroecsu.org

The SMART Center at the University of Washington is continuing a study that offers free training and consultation on a recess-based intervention for autistic elementary-aged children. Additionally, they are starting a study designed to train and support paraprofessionals in providing behavior support.

Click here for more information about these opportunities

The Statewide ASD Updates presentation is updated two times per year and available to all MN educators. This is the current state updates presentation from May 2022. Please feel free to share this presentation with your staff.

STATEWIDE ASD UPDATES 2022

Do you know what the top requested topic for more training is from MN ASD Educators?

Executive Functioning!

There is growing interest in learning how to teach executive functioning to help our students be more independent and successful. Due to this identified statewide need, a leadership team has been convened and efforts to determine appropriate and effective training and coaching have been initiated. More information on opportunities will be coming soon!

In the meantime, the upcoming Charting the Cs conference (to be held virtually in January), will focus on Executive Functioning! Check out more information about this opportunity in this newsletter's MN ASD Upcoming Events section.

Additionally, we have added an Executive Functioning Tips section to this newsletter where we will highlight EF strategies each month. Let us know if you have a great strategy you would like to share!

This repository will include all evidence based practice resources that have been shared in the newsletter to date. This is your go-to place to access the tools that ASD educators need! We will add to this as we continue to roll out excellent resources!

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The NEST is designed specifically for all of you teachers out there who are new to working with students with ASD. Feeling overwhelmed? We get it and want to help!

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Here are 5 things you can do to start your year off right:

1) Have a detailed schedule for your staff and students as well as a backup schedule in case of absences.

2) Set up your room so students can work without distractions and so they know what happens in each area.

3) Label your classroom so your students and staff know where everything is located.

4) Start to teach students common routines (i.e. arrival routine) and reinforce their increased independence in these routines.

5) Sign up for the STAR Media Center to get all the curriculum, visuals, and routines for an amazing school year! We have a coach who can help answer any questions you have! Contact jennifer.guettler@metroecsu.org

1. Learn about the learner from the learner

2. Teach to interests

3. Get them talking

4. Give choices

5. Consider handwriting alternatives

6. Help with organizing

7. Support transitions

8. Create a comfortable classroom

9. Take a break

10. Include

*From Paula Kluth (2010). “You’re Going to Love This Kid!”: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom.

Click on article below to read more about these ideas! Print and share with your paraprofessionals, general education teachers, related services providers, and/or administrators.

MN has a STAR/LINKS Resource webpage available to assist educators in implementing these programs. Check it out at https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/Projects/star/index.html

Additionally, there are opportunities for educators to receive training, coaching, and free resources for STAR/LINKS implementation. For more information, contact Tami Childs at tami.childs@metroecsu.org

Save the Date for the upcoming Metro Autism Community Resource Fair

Date and time: September 27, 2022 2-6 PM

Location: 2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Masonic Institute on the Developing Brain (MIDB)

At the Metro Autism Community Resource Fair, you will be connected to a wide variety of resources to help support children and adults with autism in the seven-county metro area. This event is open to the public and people of all ages and stages of their autism journey are welcome to attend.

To request an accommodation, contact ASD.DHS@state.mn.us by September 13, 2022.

Watch for additional resource fairs across Minnesota to be scheduled on the Events Calendar in 2023.

Permalink: http://mn.gov/autism/latest-news.jsp?id=1070-538385

November 2021

December 2021

January 2022

February 2022

March 2022

April 2022

Summer 2022

Tami Childs, MN ASD Statewide Specialist

Gail Jankowski, MN Low Incidence Project Support

Email: tami.childs@metroecsu.org
Website: https://www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/Projects/asd/index.html
Location: 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills, MN, USA
Phone: 612-638-1527
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/525786611465791

This repository will include all evidence based practice resources that are shared in the newsletter on a given month. This is your go-to place to access the tools that ASD educators need! We will add to this as we continue to roll out excellent resources!