Best Practices and Resources

Classroom Organization & Environment

Classroom Organization, Schedules and Positive Behavior Supports- Not sure where to start with classroom organization? Check out this 1-hour self-paced course based on key practices from the Rubric of Effective Practices for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities.

Autism Toolkit- While often associated with autism, these strategies are powerful for all students with significant disabilities or complex access needs.
Classroom Schedule Template- Create your classroom schedule by laying down the must-haves first, then build everything else around them.
Visual Supports for Learning- Visual supports like pictures, symbols, objects, and cues, make learning more accessible and meaningful.
Using a Visual Schedule- Visual schedules help students know what’s expected and see a clear end. They can also be tailored to student needs, like showing active vs. passive or preferred vs. nonpreferred activities.
Routines and Activities- These visual supports provide information about common daytime activities, routines, and transitions to help children fully participate and engage.

Instructional Design & Curriculum

Designing and Supporting Instruction- This 1-hour self-pace course helps you to explore lessons, discover common supports, and review strategies for designing instruction that reaches diverse learners.

Vertical Alignment of State Standards:

These videos show you how to make the most of the vertical alignment and curriculum framework documents to support lesson planning and writing IEP goals and objectives.

Vertical Alignment Video

Birth/Pre-K - Grade 2 Vertical Alignment Documents
Mathematics (Prekindergarten through Algebra I)
Reading Language Arts (Kindergarten through English II)
Science (Prekindergarten through Biology)
Social Studies (Prekindergarten through U.S. History)

Curriculum Framework Video

The Curriculum Framework documents are located on the STAAR Alternate 2 resource page, approximately midway down the webpage.

Additional instructional supports and examples:

Communication Supports

Supporting Communication- This 1-hour self-paced course will help you to learn practical strategies, tools, and resources to help students express themselves and engage meaningfully in the classroom.
Connecting Communication and Instruction for Students with Complex Access Needs- This 6-hour self-pace course will help you learn why communication matters, how it connects to behavior, and strategies for teaching and supporting communication skills. Explore systems, response modes, and ways to embed communication into everyday instruction.

Printable Communication Boards:

IEPs, Goals/Objectives, & Data Collection

IEPs and Instruction-This 1-hour self-paced course explores IEPs, TEKS access points, and the value of student, family, and teacher collaboration in supporting instruction for students with disabilities.
A Step Toward IEP Quality and Rigor for Students with Complex Access Needs- This 6-hour self-paced course gives you practical tools to strengthen PLAAFPs, Goals/Objectives, and Progress Monitoring—three core components that drive student access, progress, and success.

***This course is also available in person at Region 20! Register HERE today!

Data Collection and Progress Monitoring

Paraprofessional Collaboration & Training

Teamwork and Transitions- This 1-hour self-pace course shows how having clear roles and responsibilities for teachers and paraprofessionals builds a strong team foundation
Working with Paraprofessionals - This video provides teachers with the essential strategies for successful collaboration with paraprofessionals in the classroom.
Working with Paraprofessionals- A resource for teachers of students with disabilities.
Working with Paraprofessionals Field User Guide
Classroom Manual- Watch this classroom manual video to help your teaching team stay organized with expectations, student details, and daily routines.

Adaptive Books, Assistive Technology, & Active Learning

Adaptive Books

Books modified with supports such as symbols, simplified text, or interactive features to make reading accessible and engaging for all learners.

Assistive Technology

Tools and devices that help students with disabilities access learning, communicate, and participate more independently.

Check out the Region 20 Assistive Technology page for resources, our AT lending library, and more!

Active Learning

Active Learning is a hands-on approach that supports students with multiple disabilities, especially those functioning at the 0–48 month developmental level, to actively engage, build independence, and participate meaningfully in their learning.

Active Learning Space

Where to Find More

Explore these trusted national organizations offering evidence-based tools, strategies, and guidance to support educators of students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex access needs.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)- A professional association dedicated to improving the success of children and youth with disabilities through advocacy, professional development, and evidence-based resources.

OCALI- The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence offers tools, training, and resources to support individuals with disabilities, focusing on autism, low-incidence disabilities, and transition.

IRIS Center- A national center that provides free, online modules and resources on evidence-based practices for supporting diverse learners, designed for teachers, administrators, and higher education faculty.

The Watson Institute- An educational organization offering resources, strategies, and supports for educators and families working with students with autism and other developmental disabilities.