Professional Development Workshops
Have Sasha come visit your team! Professional development workshops are customized to support the needs of each facility. All trainings are interactive and engaging. We strive to provide strategies that are straightforward and practical. Audiences will leave with ready to implement strategies and interventions! Sasha Long, MA, BCBA has presented internationally at public, private, and therapeutic schools, school districts, adult service facilities, and clinics. Sasha’s presentations have consistently received overwhelming positive feedback from both teachers and administrators who gain valuable and real world applicable knowledge. Send us an email to learn more!
How can I get a workshop at my school?
This is by far the most frequently asked question we get from teachers and parents regarding our professional developments. There is a really simple answer: just ask. Refer Sasha to your administrator or principal. Every school district is looking to give their teachers training that they benefit from. Give your district a little direction and tell them that this is the workshop that you need. Many of Sasha’s session start out by teacher referral!
About Sasha
Sasha Long, BCBA, M.A., is the founder and president of The Autism Helper, Inc. She is a board certified behavior analyst and former special education teacher. Sasha shares strategies and best practices through her blog, podcast, membership, and online courses. Sasha travels internationally as a speaker and consultant providing individualized training and feedback to parents, educators, therapists and administrators in the world of autism. She is a former adjunct professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Sasha received her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Miami University and has a Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Upcoming Events
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Check out the different sessions we offer!
Consider a booking a professional development series. Secure your dates and select several sessions to occur throughout the school year. This setup is extremely effective at providing a range of content in a manageable way!
Full Day Sessions
Positive Behavior Change
This workshop will offer practical solutions to foster increases in positive, communicative behaviors and decreases in problem behaviors. This session will begin by exploring how to apply these strategies to everyday situations in an applicable and proactive way. This approach will focus on the changing outcomes of behaviors by looking at the entire context and approaching behavior change from a function based perspective. The key is not only teaching communication, but teaching the right type of communication in order to produce long lasting behavior change. However, we all know – there are those times when things do not go as planned. Learn how to tackle those high-stress situations where no option seems like the right one and all bets are off. This workshop highlights ready to use interventions and real-life scenarios. The concepts can be applied to a wide range of environments and settings.
The Executive Functions Masterclass
This workshop teaches the importance of building Executive Functioning Skills and how to build these skills within a range of learners. This course walks you through the entire process from assessment and goal identification to instructional strategies and data collections. Start off with diving into what Executive Functions are, how they develop, and the critical role they play in all of our lives. Then explore how to utilize a range of informal assessments to write actionable goals. This workshop will teach participants how to develop a comprehensive multi-tiered plan to build Executive Functions in a proactive and effective way. This workshop is appropriate for all grade levels and all skill levels (special education and general education).
The Roadmap to Reading
The Roadmap to Reading gives an overview of how to provide effective and individualized reading instruction to struggling or reluctant readers. This workshops covers assessment, planning and setup, implementation, data, and staff training. The Roadmap to Reading is based on the Science of Reading’s foundational 5 components of reading. These components are taught through the 3-Part Framework of Direct Instruction, Fluency Instruction, and Guided Reading Groups. This workshop reviews how to schedule, setup, and run each center. We go in-depth into best practices and evidence based strategies for this multi-tiered approach.
Show Me the Data: Your Guide to Data Driven Classroom
Offered as a one or two day workshop.
The key to successful data collection is to make it easy and doable! No matter how great your data system is – if it’s too complicated you won’t use it. In this session, learn how to make your data system work for you. We will discuss ways to take data that are efficient, time saving, and useful for both academic and behavior data. In this session, we will review using rubrics, rate of responding, frequency count, and tracking prompt levels to take data on both basic and more complex skills. Learn how to create specific and individualized data sheets in a fast and simple way. Once you have all this data, you need to know what to do with. Making data based decisions is critical in determining if progress has been made. Learn how to use your academic data to drive your instructional decisions and plan supplemental activities, write additional goals, or strengthen foundational skills. Utilize behavioral data to create function based interventions, determine the success of behavior plans, and increase functional skills. Organization is the major component to a successful data system. We will discuss methods of organizing your data so you can access it readily. Staff training is also essential. Learn how to work with your staff so data is taken consistently across all areas of your classroom!
Adapting Academics
Learn how to create curriculum that is engaging, appropriate, and at your child’s level. In this presentation we will go through a variety of instructional techniques, program goals, and material suggestions for language arts and math instruction. This workshop is incorporates ideas for foundational through elementary level learners.
Seven Steps for Setting Up a Stellar Special Education Classroom
It’s a daunting tasks setting up an autism classroom or appropriately integrating students with autism into the general education setting. Students with autism are all so different and have a vast array of needs. Many of these learners need to be taught individually. It can seem impossible to effectively teach a group of such different students when so many of us our understaffed. In this session learn how to organize, setup, and structure your classroom. We will discuss everything from creating an efficient classroom schedule, the physical structure, using visuals, creating a data system, and beginning your curricular planning.
Creating a Communication-Rich Environment for Your Preschoolers to Improve Literacy and Independence
In this full day workshop, we will explore methods to increase vocabulary, literacy skills, independence, and communication skills in your preschool students! The day begins with an in-depth look at the importance of building vocabulary for all preschoolers. Increased vocabulary will lead to more advanced reading skills in early elementary and overall school achievement. In this session, we will review the importance of building vocabulary and ways to identify vocabulary deficits. We will explore a range specific strategies for increasing word knowledge and use at a variety of levels for delayed learners.
Next we will examine how appropriate and purposeful use of visuals helps build executive functioning skills with our younger learners. Many students with special needs struggle with receptive language. This delay in language development can cause issues with many executive functioning skills. In this session, learn how to utilize visuals to improve organization, planning, following directions, problem solving, and cognitive flexibility with preschool students. We will explore specific strategies and examples of how to create visuals, teach appropriate use, and utilize on a daily basis.
Keynote, Breakout, & Half Day Sessions:
Can’t Do or Won’t Do? Solving Classroom Challenges Using Positive Reinforcement & Executive Functioning Skill Building
The goal for all general education and special education students is to be learning, engaged, and independent. Begin this process by identifying each learning and behavioral challenge as a Can’t Do or Won’t Do. Is the work or work process beyond your child’s skill level or is the motivation to complete the task not there? Explore learning obstacles by improving executive functioning skills. Learn how to identify executive functioning strengths and weaknesses. Match student strengths with activities they can excel at while simultaneously directly teaching skill deficits. For students who demonstrate the skills need but struggle with the motivation, add a proactive element to your behavior management system by implementing positive reinforcement to increase positive behaviors within your class. Learn best practices related to reinforcement and why it may not be working right now in your classroom. This session is jam packed with ready to use strategies for general education and special education classrooms.
Behavior Contingency Maps
We live in a rule-driven world yet so often our children and adults lack the understanding of these guidelines. Behavior Contingency Maps show a visual representation of everyday rules. These maps illustrate the consequences that result from both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. These maps are an ABA based intervention and help identify the ABC pattern of behavior (antecedent, behavior, consequence) and will give your student or child a concrete way of understanding that “if, then” relationship – “If you do this, this will happen.” Using visuals is essential so that students with low receptive language can understand common rules and contingencies. In this session, audience members will explore the purpose & use of Behavior Contingency Maps as well as create their own customized behavior map. Learners will leave ready to implement this strategy immediately in an effective and positive way!
Adapted Books: a Literacy Based Solution for Engaging IEP Instruction
Learn how to target a wide range of literacy goals for early childhood students using interactive and hands-on adapted books. An adapted book is any book that has been modified in some way that makes it more accessible. Adding moveable pieces, simplified text, and visually based comprehension activities to your existing favorite books can help increase student engagement. In this session, we will explore ways to create your own adapted books that build both foundational language skills and more advanced literacy concepts. Adapted Books can be used to build basic literacy and language skills such as matching, sequencing, sorting, following directions, categorizing, using prepositions, and more. Take it the next level by building advanced skills such as making inferences, using context clues, and identifying emotions. Learn how to utilize these books in small group instruction efficiently and effectively!
Fluency Instruction – Make it Functional! Make it Fast!
Fluency is accuracy plus speed and is a must-have when it comes to making the skills we teach functional in the real world. Learn how to implement fluency instruction in your classroom with this interactive workshop. This presentation covers instructional strategies for both lower level learners and more advanced academic and functional skill sets.
Data Collection: Making it Easy and Useful
The key to successful data collection is to make it easy and doable! No matter how great your data system is – if it’s too complicated you won’t use it. In this session, learn how to make your data system work for you. Learn how to create specific and individualized data sheets in a fast and simple way. We will discuss ways to take data that are efficient, time saving, and useful. Once you have all this data, you need to know what to do with. Making data based decisions is critical in determining if progress has been made. Organization is the major component to a successful data system. We will discuss methods of organizing your data so you can access it readily. Staff training is also essential. Learn how to work with your staff so data is taken consistently across all areas of your classroom!
Using Academic Data to Make Curricular Decisions
Learn how to use your academic data to drive your instructional decisions. Explore a variety of ways to effectively and efficiently take data that is useful. In this session, we will review using rubrics, rate of responding, frequency count, and tracking prompt levels to take data on both basic and more complex academic skills. After collecting the data, then you need to use it! Learn how to utilize your data to plan supplemental activities, write additional goals, or strengthen foundational skills.
10 Dos and Don'ts of Classroom Schedules
Schedules are an essential component to any effective classroom. Schedules let us know when transitions will occur, the order of activities, and alerts us to changes. For children with autism who may struggle with receptive language processing, schedules are even more important. Effective use of schedules can increase functional independence and decrease negative behaviors and anxiety. However, there are some common pitfalls we fall into when it comes to appropriate schedule use. Learn my 10 dos and don’ts for classroom schedules and make the most out of this must-have strategy!
Behavior Change – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
This keynote presentation is perfect for a varied audience. Teachers, parents, clinicians, and other support staff will benefit from this proactive and real-world based perspective on behavior change. In this workshop, we will investigate how to increase positive behaviors, decrease negative behaviors, and how to handle emergency situations where nothing goes as planned!
Functional Literacy
Literacy is a key component to being a functionally independent adult. We live in a text rich world and our students with autism need to know how to navigate through it successfully. As a teacher it’s often a struggle to balance academic and functional instruction. In this session, learn how to make your literacy curriculum real world applicable and engaging for your students!
This session will examine literacy instruction for all types of students. We will examine instructional planning, activity ideas, and specific interventions. Students with autism benefit from structured tasks, the use of visuals, multiple exemplars, discrimination training, and routine based instruction. Learn how you can incorporate these strategies into your functional literacy instruction.
Additional Keynote and Breakout Session Options:
10 Tips for Collaboration
10 Tips for Effective Collaboration: Strategies for BCBAs Consulting with Parents and Teachers
In the world of consulting, developing an effective and conceptually systematic behavior plan is only half the battle. Having staff or parents accurately and consistently implement the plan will determine program success. Time, resources, and staff participation are big obstacles facing effective consultations. In this session, learn 10 actionable strategies for developing collaborative consultative relationships that lead to better follow through on behavioral programs. These strategies are not only real world based but also aligned to the BACB’s ethical guidelines. Each tip is supported by a specific guideline.
Unlocking the Secrets of Executive Functions
Unlocking the Secrets of Executive Functions
The key to building the positive behaviors needed to meet common classroom expectations are executive functions. Executive Functions are the cognitive processes required for goal directed behavior. In this keynote or break out session, learn what executive functions are and how essential they are to our students’ progress. Then unlock the 4 secrets for building these skills.
Reinforcement, Bribery, or Negotiation
Reinforcement, Bribery, or Negotiation – the Tools that can Make or Break Your Behavior Plans
A key component to all behavior management strategies is the effective use of reinforcement. In this keynote or breakout session, participants will learn how to correctly utilize reinforcement. We breakdown how making simple changes to the way you are approaching challenging behaviors can make a huge impact in teaching positive, prosocial, communicative behaviors. Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of the difference between reinforcement and bribery as well as the knowledge of how to ensure their behavior plans are set up correctly.
The 3 Biggest Mistakes in Behavior Plans & How to Fix Them
The 3 Biggest Mistakes in Behavior Plans & How to Fix Them
Positive behavior change involves focusing on the WHY behind a behavior, teaching the missing skills, and is not manipulative or aversive. The results of real behavior change are long lasting, generalize to new settings, and socially significant for the individual. However when moving towards this goal there can be significant challenges. Several common missteps in creating behavior plans can lead us astray from our goal of positive behavior change. In this keynote or break out session, learn the three most common mistakes that impact the success of behavior change. These mistakes include throwing the kitchen sink at the behavior, not including a replacement behavior, and lack of consistency with staff. Then explore strategies to combat these missteps and ensure that your behavior plan is on track for success.
The Literacy Mindset
The Literacy Mindset & the 3 Keys to Teaching Reading to Learners with Special Needs
“Literacy is the continual process of constructing meaning through listening, speaking, reading, writing, and interacting with people and the environment.” – Kent Intermediate School District, K-12 Literacy Coach. In this keynote or break out session, learn the 3 keys to teaching reading to students with special needs. Embracing the big picture goal, organization, and a comprehensive approach are essential to efficiently and effectively building reading skills for a range of struggling learners. Participants will walk away with actionable strategies for planning and creating opportunities for literacy instruction.
The 3 Reasons Staff Training Can Make or Break the Success of Your Classroom
The 3 Reasons Staff Training Can Make or Break the Success of Your Classroom
In the role of a special education teacher you are also placed with the responsibility of being a manager to your team. That responsibility can be challenging and overwhelming. Often teachers have very little training on this. In this breakout session, learn why staff training is so essential to the success of your classroom. We explore how this gives your students more instructional time, behavior plans are implemented more consistently, and more reliable prompt fading leads to more student independence. Participants will learn actionable strategies to create time for staff training and then utilize that time efficiently to build a team approach.
All About Small Group Instruction
All About Small Group Instruction
Small Group Instruction is essential for providing individualized instruction within a classroom of learners with diverse needs. In this session, learn the evidence based strategies on how to provide small group instruction in an effective, efficient, and functional way. This session provides an overview on considerations for grouping students, how to schedule groups, and what back end organization is vital to keep groups running smoothly. Then, attendees will learn the specific steps to utilize while running groups. These antecedent based interventions will help prevent problem behavior during the work session, allow for consistent data collection, and maximize learning opportunities.
Make the Environment a Tool, Not an Obstacle
Make the Environment a Tool, Not an Obstacle
The way the learning environment is set up is one of the most valuable tools you have. This can drastically impact the success of academic instruction and lead to decreases in negative behavior and anxiety as well as increases in student independence. In this session, learn how to take a proactive approach and build your toolbox of strategies. These antecedent interventions will help you create an optimal learning environment based on student needs. We will also explore how to support teams in utilizing these strategies with efficacy.
Occupational Therapy Sessions by Katie McKenna
Overview of Sensory Processing
Overview of Sensory Processing
Sensory processing impacts everyone and is an essential foundation for learning. In this session, participants will learn about the eight sensory systems and why they are important. Participants will learn how to identify different ways individuals may respond to sensory input and how that impacts behavior and participation in daily activities. Finally, specific sensory strategies and tools that can be used to support students of all ages and sensory profiles will be explored.
Movement and Learning
Movement and Learning
In this session, participants will learn about the connection between movement and the brain, as well as the impact of movement on academic and functional performance. Participants will learn how to incorporate movement activities and tools into the school day, such as flexible seating, brain breaks, yoga and so much more. Finally, participants will learn how to adapt and modify movement activities to facilitate independence for all students.
Interoception 101
Interoception 101
Interoception is the eighth sensory system, which involves internal sensations such as hunger, thirst, need for the bathroom, body temperature, heart rate and muscle tension. In this session, participants will explore interoception more in depth. Learn how interoception impacts emotions, self regulation, and social interaction skills. Finally, participants will identify specific activities and strategies to build interoceptive awareness in all students.