trndyteachersped

Hello all! I have been a teacher for 3.5 years. I found my passion for working with students with disabilities while working as a 1:1 aide for a student with Autism Spectrum disorder for over 5 years. I began as a 3 hour aide in a special education preschool classroom, and eventually worked my way through various special education programs in Southern California, including: RSP, SDC, SH, NSH, Rocket Preschool, and currently, I am now teaching a Program for Autism Learning Success (PALS). My current classroom services only non-verbal students on the severe end of the Autism Spectrum, and various other secondary disabilities.

My current program, the Program for Autism Learning Success (aka, PALS), is a highly structured and organized environment that works to promote student independence, functional communication skills, and peer/community socialization. Students are prepared and encouraged to be independent in my classroom. I am very passionate about EBP's, especially visual supports, which you will find all throughout my classroom. Not only are visuals used to promote clear expectations, communication, appropriate behavior, independence, priming, social skills and academic skills, but are also used to tackle challenging behaviors that might arise.

Im still a bit new to this whole teaching thing... but working on it! : )

I have my Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from California Baptist University. I also have my Master's degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Upon completing my Masters degree, I received my Autism Authorization from the University of Massachusetts.

Just like my students, I, too, need to use constant visual supports such as check lists, timers/alarms, visual schedules, etc. Oh, and I enjoy sensory breaks, too!