The Links Curriculum (Linking Assessment and Instruction for Independence) is an evidence-based, comprehensive, web-based curriculum to teach upper elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students with autism and other developmental disabilities to be independent across school, community and vocational routines.
The Links Curriculum includes detailed lesson plans, visual support materials, data systems, and assessment. Links also features academic, small group, and independent work activities. Links is designed to promote student independence in natural environments. The Links online system utilizes a curriculum-based skill assessment and an observed routine assessment (ORA) to identify target areas for instruction. Links task-analyzed routines can be individualized to meet the needs of every student. The Links school, community and vocational lesson plans provide instructional staff with the tools necessary to teach both individual skills and independence in daily routines.
Our Links Curriculum web-based application allows educators and others to conduct global and targeted autism assessments. Educators can immediately review the results through a variety of easy-to-understand reports that detail the findings. The skill assessment provides a road map for teaching students the skills needed to be successful in more inclusive settings. The observed routine assessment identifies a student's level of independence, while taking into account individualized prompting needs for daily routines. This Links Curriculum takes a comprehensive approach to assessment and progress monitoring!
With the comprehensive Links Curriculum, instructors can develop and polish classroom routines that can be implemented with all students to teach and nurture critical skills. The Links Curriculum teaches functional routines by applying evidence-based strategies (including discrete trial training), and includes extensive lesson plans for both individual and group instruction.
Assessment data collected in the natural environment allows instructors to identify specific routine steps and skills that are problematic for a student.
Specific Links lesson plans are suggested and matched to a student's unique developmental needs.
Academic, small group, and independent work activities are aligned to curriculum and state standards to encourage a consistent approach to instruction throughout the day.
Links Curriculum encourages educators to implement a variety of instructional techniques, utilizing visual, verbal, and auditory prompts that increase a student's ability to engage more independently in school and community settings.
Instructors are able to track a student's progress related to independence within routines by monitoring the teacher cues and additional prompting needed by a student.
Student progress is also tracked through ongoing skill assessments and online reporting.
On an administrative level, Links Curriculum empowers staff to view data for students in their region to determine if performance goals have been met.