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Inclusion means more than just "being" in the classroom.

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Before I thought my student was being manipulative and trying to get out of work. Now I think he is struggling to communicate his emotions and needs support in expressing his feelings and needs.

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Before I thought that CAPS was mainly used in the self contained setting. Now I think it can be used with students in the general education settings as well.

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Before I thought, STEPS was a fun professional development opportunity…. Now I think, I’m well on over my head. LEARNED A LOT…. 10/10 would recommend

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Before I thought that STUDENT hated me… now I think he is often disregulated/overstimulated and needs direct instruction in social skills and social communication.

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Before I thought that the student was closed off and didn’t want to make new friends.

Now I think that he needed to learn about his classmates so that he could relate to them.

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Before I thought a students outburst was for attention and to get out of work. Now I think having more breaks and strategies in place will help him regulate and get back on track.

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1. B I thought students with autism didn’t want to interact with others.
Now I think they may want connection but show it in different ways or need support to engage socially.

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Before I thought our peer mentors should/would be general ed students for COF — now I think and know that resource kids love to be peer mentors and have loved to be role models and involved in COF for their peers who struggle socially!

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Before….there’s a limited number of transition assessments available

After….HOLY MOLY!! 😲

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Before I thought taboo topics would be very difficult to approach in working with older students. Now I think that there are many more resources available to make approaching these topics less awkward and more tailored to a student's individual level.

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Before I thought… transition assessments were just a box to check on the IEP once our students turn 14 (as someone who works only in elementary/middle school).

Now I think… transition assessments are a critical component of a student with a disability’s educational journey and IEP. I now know that there are a plethora of transition assessments that are engaging and provide meaningful information to plan for their future.

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The concept of not teaching to the "average" student (because no one fits the average) was very challenging and useful in how I approach lessons and learning. Now I aim to include new strategies to reach the "edges".

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Before I thought professional development in Nebraska wasn't that interesting but this is something I can take back and use for years

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Before I thought...

It would be harder to add new things into our student's day when they were in the general education classroom with not much sped staff support.

Now I think...

For students mostly in the gen Ed classrooms during the day, we have to think outside the box to scaffold their support and still promote independence and their dignity

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Before I thought… that there aren’t many supports/services for students transitioning out of high school.

Now I think… that I can make a help support students through outreach in the community by hosting a community conversation and including stakeholders that want to help students with disabilities.

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BIT we need to teach the student more skills/ coping strategies, NIT we need to teach the staff skills/ coping strategies 🫶🏼

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Before I thought my student was only leaving the classroom because he was engaging in work avoidance but now I think he has other sensory and emotional needs that he’s trying to meet

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Before I thought transition assessments are rigid and a loophole

Now I think there are so many ways to make it specific to our students

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Before I thought being defiant was part of a game not part of Autism there are more resources available

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Before I thought I had a good level of tools to work with someone who has autism, but now I have a ridiculous amount of tools to work, not just with our target student but with so many others!

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Before I thought…our student was communicating a specific thing and now I think we need to gather more data to determine what they are trying to communicate-now I think we are able to look at a bigger picture and not get stuck in one belief

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Before I thought a full CAPS had to be completed - I often wanted to do a modified CAPS - I was grateful to be given “permission “ to look at them in a different way and that it can be completed during problem areas/times.

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Before I thought……our students underlying behaviors stemmed strictly from their autism characteristics.

Now I think/know…..their mental health has to be addressed before some of their behaviors can be addressed.