Alternate Route Educational Products

20 years in special education, teaching all ages and levels. Most of my experience has been with students who have severe cognitive disabilities. I also have some experience working with higher functioning students with learning and behavior disabilities, as well as being the mother of 3 children who have participated in the gifted programs in public schools.

If is student is having trouble learning a skill, there is always another way to teach it. I use a lot of visuals such as images and symbols, as many special needs students are visual learners. I encourage the students to associate the images with the spoken and written words by pairing them consistently. I work closely with speech and language pathologists and behavior analysts.

I had one of the memorable moments recently when one of my students with autism suddenly "got" the link between the symbols and the words they represent on a social story we had been reviewing. That's why I'm a teacher. Those little miracles in everyday learning are reward enough to hook anyone on teaching!

BA in psychology, MA in special education, MA in media services

Currently retired, but volunteering with community special needs groups.