Welcome to the TIES therapist onboarding resource! These resources are available to help standardize school-based therapist training throughout the state of OR while also allowing individual school districts and ESDs to remix each resource to suit the needs of their region. By doing so, we aim to ensure continuity of training and services throughout the state.

Understanding accessible formats requires some background knowledge of the barriers many learners with disabilities experience when reading or accessing information in print-based and certain digital-based materials.

"Text-based" refers to materials with static or fixed text and images, such as textbooks and supplemental text materials. Both print and digital materials can be text-based. For example, an electronic textbook that replicates a standard print textbook is considered a text-based material.

Books in standard print are common examples of text-based materials. To successfully use print, learners need functional skills related to sensory, physical, and cognitive abilities. Some learners may have visual disabilities that make it difficult to see the text and images on the page. Other learners may be unable to hold printed materials because of a physical disability. Still others may be unable to read or derive meaning from the printed text because of a learning disability.

Certain digital materials also have text and images. Specifically, text-based digital materials are not consistently designed for use with assistive technology (AT). Some learners use AT to read and navigate text and images in digital materials. Screen readers, text to speech, and switches are a few examples of AT devices and software that learners with a wide range of disabilities use. To prevent barriers for learners who use AT, see Vetting for Accessibility.

Because of the frequent barriers presented by text-based materials, some learners with disabilities need alternative forms, known as accessible formats. Examples of accessible formats include audio, braille, large print, tactile graphics, and digital text conforming with accessibility standards.

The term accessible format is defined in section 121 of the Copyright Act, known as the Chafee Amendment:

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.

This resource contains all of links and materials for the Accessibility in OER Webinar Five that is co-facilitated by CAST and ISKME.

This Module highlights classroom considerations that promote access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities (est. completion time: 1.5 hours).

This Module provides an overview of accommodations for students with disabilities (est. completion time: 1 hour).

The resources in this Module offer helpful tips on setting up the physical aspects of your classroom and will introduce types of equipment used by students with visual disabilities (est. completion time: 1 hour).

This Module presents information on legal requirements and accommodations for testing students with disabilities, in addition to highlighting considerations for interpreting performance data for this population (est. completion time: 2 hours).

The first in a two-part series, this Module discusses problem behavior in terms of the stages of the acting-out cycle and suggests ways to respond to students in the cycle's different phases (est. completion time: 1 hour). When you have completed this Module, be sure to learn more in part two.

The second in a two-part series, this Module describes interventions that can increase initial compliance to teacher requests as well as interventions that can be implemented to decrease disruptive and noncompliant behaviors.

Quick teaching tip: Strategy for Asperger's syndrome in the classroom.

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This Module offers an overview of assistive technology (AT) and explores ways to expand students' access to it in the classroom (est. completion time: 2 hours).

This Module, first in a two-part series, provides information on the early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as an overview of the difference between a medical diagnosis and an educational determination of ASD. Resources include notes on instructional considerations for teachers who have children and students with ASD in their classrooms, as well as things to keep in mind when working with the families of those children and students (est. completion time: 2 hours).

This Module, second in a two-part series, highlights strategies that have been shown to be effective in teaching appropriate behaviors and skills and decreasing inappropriate behaviors with children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It next explores several strategies that are particularly effective with young children, elementary and middle school students, and high school students (est. completion time: 3 hours).

This resource is intended to house videos with K-12 teachers on best practices in online teaching. The intended audience of these videos is teacher candidates who are collecting data for field or clinilcal experience. 

Michael Cantino from Northwest Regional Education Service District presents Creating Accessible Documents in the Microsoft and Google Suites.

Course Objectives in alignment with CA ECSE TPEs:Unit One: Understanding the Impact of a Child's Disability on the Family Unit1.8  Understand the unique care, development, and learning needs of infants and toddlers and how to support their growth, development, and learning within the early childhood special education setting.4.5 Identify​ ​each​ ​child's​ ​strengths, ​ ​preferences, ​ ​and​ ​interests​ ​in​ ​collaboration​ ​with families​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​the​ ​child​ ​in​ ​active​ ​learning​ ​within​ ​and​ ​across​ ​routines, activities, ​ ​and​ ​environments. 

Objectives: CA ECSE TPEs1.5 Communicate effectively & in a culturally & linguistically appropriate manner with families & other service providers to facilitate & strengthen ongoing partnerships & collaborations that can support young children’s learning goals & outcomes.2.2 Promote children’s access, learning & participation in a variety of environments using models of support​ ​that​ ​are​ ​strengths-​ ​based, ​​family-centered, ​ ​and​ ​culturally & linguistically​ ​responsive.6.7 Effectively​ ​articulate​ ​the​ ​rationale​ ​for​ ​instruction​ ​and​ ​intervention​ ​plans​ ​through culturally & linguistically appropriate verbal​ ​& ​written​ ​communications​ ​to and with​ ​family​ ​members, ​ ​other​ ​service​ ​providers, administration, ​ ​&​ ​other​ ​stakeholders.

CA ECSE TPEs: 1.11 Facilitate​ ​the​ ​continuation of young children’s learning progress​ ​across​ ​multiple​ ​contexts​ ​&​ ​transitions including a variety of​ ​environments​, 5.6 Use​ ​ongoing​ ​assessment​ ​data​ ​from​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​sources​ ​& ​settings​ to establish​ ​meaningful,​ ​individualized​ ​learning​ ​goals​ ​& ​intervention​ ​activities, 6.2 Develop​ ​& ​implement​ ​policies, ​structures, & ​practices​ ​that​ ​promote​ ​shared decision​ ​making​ ​w/​ ​service​ ​providers​ &​ ​families, 6.4 Develop​ ​&​ ​implement​ ​effective​ ​transitional​ ​plans​ ​to​ ​support​ ​the​ ​ongoing learning​ ​& ​development​ ​of​ ​children​ ​entering​ ​different​ ​learning​ ​settings​, 6.5 Promote​ ​efficient​ ​&​ ​coordinated​ ​service​ ​delivery​ ​for​ ​children​ ​& ​families​ ​by creating & supporting​ ​the​ ​conditions​ ​for​ ​service​ ​providers​​ ​&​ ​the family​ ​to​ ​work​ ​as​ ​a​ ​team, 6.8 Facilitate​ ​effective collaborative​ ​transitions between​ ​the​ ​stages of schooling & educational settings​.

This Module outlines Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR), a strategy for helping students to improve their reading comprehension skills. In CSR, students work together in small groups to apply comprehension strategies as they read text from a content area, such as social studies or science (est. completion time: 1 hour).