STAR CEC Central 2024
Session Spotlights
Attend one of the below sessions for a chance to win airfare, registration, and lodging to CEC 2025 in Baltimore, MD from March 12 - 15th. Visit us at Booth #505 during the conference for a chance to win an Amazon Fire Tablet.
Thursday, March 14th 10:30am - 11:30am Room 212BThe STAR Program: Building a Sustainable Autism Program
This session will provide an overview of the essential elements needed to provide effective, defensible, and sustainable evidence-based programs. Come learn from several case-study districts who have worked with STAR Autism Support to build capacity and develop replicable structures to support the needs of their students with Autism and other developmental delays.
Thursday, March 14th 11:45am - 12:45pm Room 218
Advocacy and Allyship: Positive Learning Environments for Students with Autism
How can educators be effective advocates for the students they serve? How can we strive for meaningful inclusion in schools? Participants will learn practices for building positive and inclusive learning environments for students with autism, and presenters will share resources and strategies for effective and equitable collaboration with caregivers.
Participants will be able to: 1. Understand the importance of engaging in continued learning opportunities to explore how our own biases affect our teaching practices, and how our language matters when describing students with autism and their behaviors. 2. Identify the building blocks needed for meaningful inclusion in schools, such as individualizing inclusion planning for each student, pre-teaching and practicing skills for inclusive settings, involving peer buddies, and collaborating with general educators and families. 3. Identify strategies for effective collaboration with caregivers, such as establishing shared goals and expertise, and engaging in culturally responsive practices (e.g., creating culturally relevant IEP goals).
Thursday, March 14th 1:00pm - 2:00pm Room 218Thriving in a Social World: Making Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Attainable and Meaningful for Students with Autism
This presentation highlights important social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as controlling impulses, identifying and interpreting emotions, and self-monitoring. Join us to review a case study of a district focused on making SEL attainable and meaningful for students with Autism through implementation of the SOLER program.
Friday, March 15th 10:30am - 11:30am Room 218Academic Instruction for Students with Significant Learning Challenges: Strategies and Tools
Standards-based academic instruction for students with significant learning challenges is critical to ensure an inclusive experience. Educators are challenged with creating content and aligning lessons. Come learn about easy-to-implement digital and printable academic tools STAR Autism Support offers that will create better outcomes for students and less staff burnout!
