What is SSI?  Supplemental Security Income, or SSI for short, is a monthly payment issued to an individual with a disability to help cover the cost of living expenses.   SSI funds can be used to cover the costs of respite, transportation, care providers, rent, food, and...

I’m sharing an in-depth resource review of my most recent Renting lesson unit.  While my original Rent lesson unit covers the necessary basics, this new resource includes all your favorite things but dives a bit deeper into renting.  So, if you are looking for materials to teach...

The mindset that students with higher support needs (aka severe to profound, multi-needs, low functioning) don’t have the ability or interest to engage in vocational training is outdated.   

Working 9-5 is not everyone’s dream and meaningfully contributing to...

If you are placing students in community (or school based) jobs and are struggling to find just the right fit for some students with higher support needs, keep reading!  I’m sharing the approach we used in my former program to meaningfully connect students with community...

Whether you feel excitement about a new school year or dread, you have to be prepared or you will be eaten alive (not to sound dramatic, but we all know it’s true).  Knowing what you need to start the first day and week of school and having the time to create and perfect said...

If you are ready to switch up your student’s community vocational sites, want more vocational experience options for students to choose from, or just know your community has more to offer than just hotels and restaurants, then review the list below!

I’m sharing over 30...

Whether you teach high school, middle school, or elementary, when you long to teach transition (special education programming for 18-22 yr olds) you’ll search far and wide for that coveted position.  Since so many schools are interviewing candidates, now seems like the best time to...

Are you tired of ‘Dollar Over’ being your go-to functional math and independent living goal?  Because let’s be honest, how many people carry a $20 bill, $10 bill, $5 bill, and four $1 bills with them at all times?  

Are you also over ‘Will develop a...

By IDEA definition, ‘extended school year services means special education and related services that are provided to a child with a disability beyond the normal school year of the public agency; in accordance with the child’s IEP; and at no cost to the parents of the child.’

...

Let me clear something up right off the bat, I’m leaving teaching to stay home to care for my young daughter.  She is my top priority at this time in my life and it took me daily reflection over several months to become comfortable with my decision to leave my steady-paycheck-job to be...

When you think of safety skills you probably think of teaching students to wear oven mitts when using the oven, to not share their personal information with strangers, and to lock the door when they are home alone.

You probably embed safety skills into specific lessons (like kitchen...

Typically, my blog posts are written with educators in mind, educators who are in the classroom and looking for ways to be better teachers. This blog post is going to be a little different. 

Yes, this post is still for educators, but it is for educators who have an online presence. If...

I love routine.  I love having to think 1 time and just automate from there.  It frees up my brain and allows my students to know what to expect and when, which we all know is helpful on multiple levels.

Well, I’ve been expanding my ‘weekly’ resources (beyond...

Whether you are new to teaching special education or a 15 year veteran…

You teach at the middle school level or transition…

Your students are on track to attend college or a rehab day program…

Your families are highly involved or they trust the school to take the lead with...

If you live in Illinois and your student is in Special Education then you may have heard of PUNS at an IEP meeting or from fellow parents/family members.  With a funny name and less than stellar history, it probably left you either scratching your head or with a sour taste in your...

I love a really good transition assessment.  I love when parents/family members give quality feedback.  I love when staff share their ideas and insight about a student’s future.  But, I really love when students are open, honest, and (most importantly) realistic* about their...

What is ‘functional reading?’ According to me, it’s being able to read and understand enough to get what you want or need AND what you don’t want or don’t need. This includes weeding out the fluff stuff that doesn’t matter.  The fluff detracts you from...

You are sitting down to write a student’s IEP and you get to the Transition Plan section.  You plug in the same phrasing you use to every other student.

GASP!!!!

You would never do that!!!  You are a better educator than to copy + paste (even if it would save you a...

Every school year comes with a lot of excitement, overwhelm, and new support staff to train.  While we may have the best of intentions to provide hands-on training for the newest of staff, schedules may not always allow this.

Give your paraprofessionals the training they want and...

You know that starting off each school day with consistent structure, meaningful engaging activities, and skill-focused conversation will really set up your students for a great day. 

Well, I always wished I had a daily resource with fresh questions that were life skill related, but...