Teaching Techniques

"I Remember..."

A Scrapbook Template

Topic: Aging, Teaching Techniques
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: Family Members
Age Group: Adult, Senior
Levels of Disability: All

People with disabilities often deal with the loss of a special person in their lives. This simple yet effective user guide teaches you to create an "I Remember…" scrapbook template to help individuals cope with loss.

"Where in the World is..."

USA Teaching Map

Topic: Teaching Techniques
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: School Age, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

This USA Teaching Map is a fun way to teach about the geography of the United States! This easy to create tool can teach capital cities, cardinal directions, and trip planning.

Accuracy, Fluency, Competency, Oh My!

How to Progressively Teach Consumers to Skill Acquisition

Topic: Staff Training, Teaching Techniques
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation, Video
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Skill acquisition is the ability to learn a measurable task through progressive teaching and experience. This curriculum will guide you through 3 levels to help people attain this skill: accuracy, fluency, and competency. You will learn to use teaching strategies such as EMOE, prompting support options, task analysis, essential skills, and supports and modifications.

Acting 101

For People with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Leisure and Crafts, Having a Home (Goal 6)
Format: Manual
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate, Severe

"Acting 101" is a comprehensive, easy-to-follow curriculum that will help your group get "outside of themselves," become part of a creative group effort that will boost self esteem, social skills and self awareness!

Adaptive Design & Lifestyle Solutions Newsletter

Issue 5; Volume 3; May 2011

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques, Healthy Lifestyles, Self-Advocacy
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

The spring newsletter is filled with easy gardening activities. In this edition, get tips for modifying horticulture activities for different abilities and learn about the dream garden created at a YAI residence.

Answer Me This!

Teaching Communication, Social, & Everyday Living Skills

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Teaching Techniques, Having a Home (Goal 6)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Severe, Profound (low functioning)

This "Jeopardy"-style game will make learning and practicing communication and social skills a good time for all! Game play involves answering simple questions or performing simple tasks. Many question cards have hints on how to adapt the questions for different cognitive abilities. Pictures are supplied and can be used as multi-sensory tools to aid in comprehension and engagement.

Baking: Making Homemade Cookies

A part of YAI's "How-To" Video series

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Leisure and Crafts
Format: Lesson Plan, Video
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Are you looking for activity ideas that are user-friendly for staff and also creative, appropriate, and functional for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? YAI's "How To" series of activity "recipes" promote social interaction and cognitive development. A video demonstration is included.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Thematic Teaching

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, Transition, Senior
Levels of Disability: All

This lesson plan is in the PINK, where breast cancer awareness is explored using the symbol of the pink ribbon. Participants learn about breast health and community connection through activities and participation in the community's Breast Cancer Walk. Get in gear, and get pink!

Bruschetta

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Clark Bars

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Community Preparation Training for Individuals who Function in the Lower Range of Autism

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Community Inclusion
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Read about how the Training for Individual Vocational Opportunities (TIVO) group was born and how it has helped its four members integrate into the community through social interactions, functional skills, and communication aids.

Cooking: Making a Personal Pizza

A part of YAI's "How-To" Video series

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Leisure and Crafts
Format: Lesson Plan, Video
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Are you looking for activity ideas that are user-friendly for staff and also creative, appropriate, and functional for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? YAI's "How To" series of activity "recipes" promote social interaction and cognitive development. In "Making

Creating a Community Donation Program from Special Educator, Katie Martin

Expert Tips & Challenges

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Tips and Challenges
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Participating in community volunteer work provides individuals with intellectual disabilities with a better understanding of the community, enhanced personal and social integration skills, and increased self-esteem. Katie Martin describes the key elements for organizing an in-house volunteer crafting center, including how to obtain funding for supplies, organizing the team, finding places to donate to and delivering the goods!

Critical Challenges Facing Professionals

A Conversation with Dr. Sonya Carr

Topic: Teaching Techniques
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

What are the critical challenges facing professionals working in the ID/DD field today?

Fresh Fruit Salad with Dip

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Greek Salad

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Grooming For Success

A Lesson Plan from "Ready...Set...Work!"

Topic: Supported Employment, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

This unit on Grooming for Success will teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities how to prepare their hair, beard, nails and makeup for a great first impression and continued professional look.

Group Teaching Strategies

Setting Up Your Group When Working with People Who Have Severe or Profound Intellectual Disabilities

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Putting people first (Goal 1)
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Severe, Profound (low functioning)

The guidelines in this presentation provide information for setting up a group for effective learning. Tips include choosing the number of group members, the composition of the group, the time and location of learning for best effect.

Heart Health

Thematic Teaching

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Through the color red and the theme of heart health, learners will explore their own health through all aspects of the program week. Activities include creating red flower arrangements, red crafts, special cooking, movement, educational and community activities.

Helping Consumers Cope with Hypersensitivity to the Environment

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Challenging Behaviors, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

A chime that brings a smile to one person can be an overwhelming noise to a person with hypersensitivity to the environment, a condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The good news is that children and adults with SPD can be helped through Sensory Integration therapy. This YAI Newsletter will give you effective strategies for use in the therapy room that can also be applied to the program team.

Horticulture: Basic Plant Care and Propagation

A part of YAI's "How-To" Video series

Topic: Teaching Techniques
Format: Web-based Tutorial
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Are you looking for activity ideas that are user-friendly for staff and also creative, appropriate, and functional for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? YAI's "How To" series of activity "recipes" promote social interaction and cognitive development. In "Basic Plant Care and Propagation," step-by-step instructions explain the basics of plant care and the development of new plants.

How Do You Motivate Consumers to Do Something They May Not Want to Do?

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Teaching Techniques
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Every program experiences challenges when it comes to motivating the people in their program. Read how a simple project like organizing a closet can result in a boost to self-esteem and become a motivator.

How to be Fire Safe

Written and Created by Seeds Educational Services, Inc.

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

People with developmental disabilities may not be able to take life saving action in a timely manner in the event of a fire. Seeds Educational Services, Inc. (Seeds) has created a fire safety curriculum designed to meet the learning needs of people with cognitive disabilities.

How to Use a Metrocard Machine

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Using a Metro-card Machine can be tricky! Here is an innovative way to teach the skill of purchasing these cards so that your participants can remember it. Using this tool will empower the people you work with to be

Hygiene

A Lesson Plan from "Ready...Set...Work!"

Topic: Healthy Lifestyles, Teaching Techniques, Supported Employment, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

This teaching unit contains lesson plans, guides, and games ideas for teaching the components of hygiene, to help people with ID look approachable and pleasing to others while on the job.

Out & About

Traveling Safely Both in the Program and When Accessing the Community

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Safety (Goal 5)
Format: Manual, Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

This comprehensive curriculum covers travel safety in the program, neighborhood and larger community. The 12 sessions include orientation to the program environment, indoor and outdoor community facilities, pedestrian safety as well as bus and subway travel. Pre and post tests help assess skills to target and readiness for greater independence.

Problem/Challenging Behaviors

A Conversation with Dave Hingsburger

Topic: Challenging Behaviors, Teaching Techniques
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: All
Age Group: Adolescent, Adult, School Age, Young Adult
Levels of Disability: All

David Hingsburger speaks about how to support people with challenging behaviors, and how to build skills using reinforcement.

Pudding Parfait

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Pumpkin Pudding

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Pumpkin Spiced Whoopie Pies

From our "Simply Cooking" collection

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Individuals of all capabilities can participate in meaningful food preparation. Using pictorial recipes, group participants learn about ingredients and tools used in preparing simple recipes and engage in tasks such as mixing, measuring, spreading and slicing. Recipes selected maximize opportunities

Recycling Cans

Counting Board

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Community Inclusion
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Severe, Profound (low functioning)

This teaching tool for recycling cans is both easy to create and use. Included is a checklist of tips for teaching recycling symbols, counting and packaging cans and more.

Relaxation Group from The Best of YAI

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Healthy Lifestyles, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Safety (Goal 5)
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

People with IDD often have not learned how to de-stress. Find out how the residents at YAI's Foothill ICF are learning to relax.

Running an Effective Current Events Group

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Are you looking for new ways to bring current events into the lives of the people you work with? This lesson plan provides ideas for creating a news worthy activity. Tips include how to choose news articles, how to relate information to the lives of participants and how to use photos and questions to generate discussion.

Self-Check Tool for Bead Activities

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Leisure and Crafts
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: All

This easy-to-make tool is useful for all beading activities. It allows the people you work with to independently check their work. Use this as a jumping-off point for creating other self-check tools!

Self-Management

Relaxation Techniques

Topic: Self-Advocacy, Teaching Techniques, Counseling, Supporting Safety (Goal 5)
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

Often people with IDD have not learned how to relax when dealing with sadness, anxiety, anger and other emotions that cause stress. This training program teaches several relaxation techniques.

Shop Til' You Drop!

The Money Awareness Game

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Community Inclusion, Having a Home (Goal 6)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

This game is a wonderful teaching tool for learning money awareness and shopping skills. Learn how to identify coins/bills, investigate the relationship between money and making purchases, and make change in different combinations

Social Skills at Work Game

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Supported Employment, Being Active and Productive in Society (Goal 7)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

The Social Skills at Work Game is an engaging teaching tool that makes social skills practice fun and promotes learning through laughter and debate.

Social/Sexual Issues in the Field of ID/DD

A Conversation with David Hingsburger

Topic: Relationships and Sexuality, Teaching Techniques
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

We spoke with David Hingsburger about various social/sexual issues.

Teaching Social Skills

How to Get a Group Laughing, Moving, and Thinking in New Ways Using Theater of the Oppressed - A Facilitator's Manual

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships (Goal 2)
Format: Manual
Population: All
Age Group: Young Adult, Adult, Senior
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

Are you looking for fun and empowering ideas for teaching social skills?
This beginner's facilitator's guide will bring easy acting exercises and games to your program that promote laughter, listening, creative thinking and cooperation. Many of the exercises use nonverbal communication, movement and multi-sensory experiences to teach and to learn.

The "Community +" Game

A Community Training Game

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships (Goal 2)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: Young Adult, Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

Community + is a fun and educational game that addresses community resources, communication, weather, health, hygiene, and more! Download the instructions and materials list and you'll be on your way to creating this exciting game for your program!

The Basics of American Sign Language (ASL) Modified for Little Hands

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Children with Special Needs, Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships (Goal 2)
Format: Manual
Population: Hearing Impaired
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

A comprehensive workshop on Basic American Sign Language that has been modified for use with small children who may have intact hearing but have communication difficulties.

The Beverage Choice Board

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Self-Advocacy
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: School Age, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult
Levels of Disability: Severe, Profound (low functioning)

This beverage choice board is a tool you will want to use daily to help the adults you work with make independent drink choices. Easy-to-follow instructions so you can create this board for your group!

The Clerical Training Workbook

Topic: Supported Employment, Teaching Techniques, Being Active and Productive in Society (Goal 7)
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Use this excellent training tool to help consumers learn about and complete clerical tasks. The workbook can be customized for specific job sites or tasks. This is a great concrete, visual teaching tool!

The Community Training Game

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships (Goal 2)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: Young Adult, Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate, Severe

The Community Training Game is a fun and interesting way to teach the skills necessary for successful use of the community. Through play, learners can become familiar with program volunteer sites, rights and responsibilities and community awareness skills.

The Democratic Distributor

Topic: Teaching Techniques
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

The Democratic Distributor makes "being fair" simple. Never worry again about how to assign chores, job tasks, or even seats. Download these simple instructions and uses and start distributing fairly!

The Folding Board

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Having a Home (Goal 6)
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Help the people you work with avoid that unappealing rumpled look and build skills for organization and care of clothing. Almost no supplies are required to teach this helpful folding skill! All you need is a sturdy piece of cardboard

The Money Skills Board

Topic: Teaching Techniques
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

This attractive tool teaches multiple skills all through visual boards. Teach currency identification, money value and what different values can purchase. Download easy to follow instructions now!

The Pedestrian Light Signal

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Safety (Goal 5)
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, School Age
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

The Pedestrian Light Signal is a creative tool for practicing safe street crossing without leaving the building! Detailed instructions will help you to build a light with picture signals matching your local pedestrian street light.

The Pocket Shopper

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Community Inclusion, Having a Home (Goal 6)
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: Young Adult, Adult, Transition, Senior
Levels of Disability: Moderate, Severe, Profound (low functioning)

The Pocket Shopper is a picture and sign language system that will help people with limited verbal skills or hearing impairments to become more independent shoppers. Follow the step-by-step instructions to put together this functional and fun to use teaching tool.

The Relationship Project

Topic: Relationships and Sexuality, Teaching Techniques, Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships (Goal 2)
Format: Manual
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) might have difficulty in forming intimate relationships. This innovative five part series teaches the required essential skills.

The Safe People Folder

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Safety (Goal 5)
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate, Severe

The Safe People Folder helps staff teach the difficult concepts of "strangers" and "safe" people through a game-like visual tool. Sample pictures of community workers are included along with step-by-step instructions for this easy-to-make teaching resource.

The Savvy Shopper

A Money and Shopping Skills Curriculum

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Having a Home (Goal 6)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

"The Savvy Shopper" is a collection of resources to use in teaching both money and shopping skills to individuals who function in the severe to mild range of intellectual disability. Using activities and games, participants learn to identify and add currency, prepare a budget, identify types of stores and merchandise for sale, and make simple purchases.

The Travel Safety Bus

Using My MetroCard

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: School Age, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult
Levels of Disability: Moderate, Severe

Use this creative "bus" to teach people the correct way to insert a Metrocard on a public bus. This tool also incorporates counting out quarters for a bus trip if not using a Metrocard.

Thematic Teaching

Introduction to "Creating a Theme-Based Training Curriculum"

Topic: Putting people first (Goal 1), Teaching Techniques
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

This template for thematic teaching will assist you in developing clear and creative curriculum materials. Moving from brainstorming to fully formed activity plans, this template gives staff the tools for successful and meaningful programming!

Tips for Creating a Token Economy

Topic: Challenging Behaviors, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: Handout/Review Sheet
Population: All
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Are you looking for ideas to support positive behaviors through a token economy? Download this handy tool loaded with tips for building a successful system for school-age children

Travel Safety Challenge

Topic: Community Inclusion, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Safety (Goal 5)
Format: Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: School Age, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, Senior
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning)

Go ahead, take the challenge! The Travel Safety Challenge is an exciting way to teach the skills necessary to navigate the community safely. This teaching tool can be easily modified to meet the specific needs of your program.

Using the Bathroom

A Multi-Sensory Teaching Tool

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Healthy Lifestyles, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: Young Adult, Adult, Transition
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate, Severe

This multi-sensory teaching tool addresses the issues of privacy and hygiene in Relation to using the bathroom. It provides staff with excellent photos, relevant questions, and discussion topics.

Victor's Picture Chart

Helping Him Remember

Topic: Aging, Teaching Techniques, Supporting Good Health (Goal 4)
Format: Teaching Tool
Population: All
Age Group: Senior, Adult
Levels of Disability: All

This picture system is a simple but effective way to help someone with memory loss remember and practice expected behaviors.

What Should I Wear Today?

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Self-Advocacy, Being Active and Productive in Society (Goal 7)
Format: Teaching Tool, Game/Activity
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Do the adults you work with have difficulty choosing clothing that meets weather needs? What Should I Wear Today? is a tool that teaches the learner to dress for the weather forecast. With this easy-to-make book, the learner