Free Online Trainings and Downloads

Compiled By: Melissa Dubie, M.S.

Teachers are expected to continue updating their skills in curricula, new trends, and strategies. As a result, continuing education is imperative to sharpen one’s skills which leads to better instruction and student outcomes. It’s never been more convenient than now to learn online at one’s own pace individually or in a group. Below is a list of many websites with online learning available through modules, podcasts, and step-by-step instruction. The topics vary across academic, behavior, and evidence-based practice skills. Many websites provide certificates for professional development which can be used for updating licenses. Mingled in this list are websites with free downloads to support the teachers daily.

• Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu
  The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC) created online modules for each of the 27 evidence-based practices identified originally in the 2014 NPDC review and later updated in 2020. Each module guides the learner through how to use the practice by focusing on the three specific steps of planning, using, and monitoring. The materials provide step-by-step application, downloads, video demonstration, assessments of one’s skills, and a certificate for completing each module.
• Autism Internet Modules (AIM) by OCALI https://autisminternetmodules.org
  The AIM modules are designed to support, instruct, work with, or live with someone with autism. Each module utilizes case studies, instructional videos, discussion questions, and activities. The modules are categorized for teaching individuals at home, in the classroom, in the community, and at work. All 50 self-paced modules are created by experts and practitioners and grounded in evidence-based strategies.
• Autism Little Learners https://autismlittlelearners.com
  Tara is a Speech Language Pathologist who has been specializing in autism for over 20 years. She has developed this website of resources, materials, and podcasts on the topics of communication, social narratives, toilet training, and self-regulation. Some of her materials are in Spanish. Tara is on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest too.
• Autism Teaching Strategies: Social Skills Activities for Children with Autism by Joel Shaul https://autismteachingstrategies.com
  Joel specializes in mental health services and autism. He has illustrated the children’s books: The Conversation Train and The Green Zone Conversation Book. The website provides many free resources that are practical and easy to use related to communication, interaction, and emotions.
• Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (CSESA) https://csesa.fpg.unc.edu
  CSESA was a research and development project funded by the U.S. Department of Education from 2012-2018 that focused on developing, adapting, and studying a comprehensive school and community-based program for high school students on the autism spectrum. The website continues to provide free articles, handouts, research summaries, professional development tools, and other materials designed to support caregivers, professionals, and individuals on the autism spectrum.
• Do2Learn https://do2learn.com
  Do2Learn have free resources to download in the areas of communication skills, social behavior, social skills toolbox, emotional color wheel, social emotional skills and job tips for student. There are many freebies in academics and behavior management too.
• Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org
  Edutopia was founded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation. The foundation provides free sources of information that are not only inspirational but also practical strategies for learning and teaching anyone in PreK -12th grade. The popular topics range from classroom management, differentiated instruction, new teachers, teacher wellness, student engagement, and topics A-Z.
• IRIS Center https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu
  The IRIS Center has over forty online learning options from 1 – 3 hours of time. The topics range from addressing challenging behaviors, accommodations, overview of ASD, behavior principles, classroom diversity, behavior management, differentiated instruction, executive functions, and developing high quality IEPs. Participants must register for the modules to receive the download access.
• Jill Kuzma’s SLP Social & Emotional Skills Sharing Site https://jillkuzma.wordpress.com
  Jill is a Speech-Language Pathologist who works with autistic elementary students who often also have attention deficit and executive function challenges and receptive/expressive language needs. On the website, lesson plans are provided to instruct the skills along with visuals to download. The topics include friendships, cooperative group games, perspective taking, conversation skills, and emotional awareness in grades Pre-K – 12th.
• Lives in the Balance by Dr. Ross Greene https://livesinthebalance.org
  Dr. Ross Greene is the author of The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost and Found, and Raising Human Beings. Dr. Greene has created Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) to address outdated and counterproductive disciplinary practices that are punitive and exclusionary with students. On the Lives in the Balance website, there are many free video lectures of Dr. Greene talking to educators and family members on learning the basics of CPS that include three steps: 1. changing your lenses; 2. identifying skills and unsolved problems (e.g., Assessment of Skills and Unsolved Problems, ASUP); and 3. solve problems collaboratively and proactively.
• Organization for Autism Research (OAR) https://researchautism.org
  OAR is an organization founded and led by parents and grandparents of autistic children who share their leadership, life experiences, and heart. Their mission is to apply science to address the social and educational concerns of autistic people, parents, autism professionals, and caregivers. Their website provides educators guidebooks on safety, autism, kits for kids, friendship tips, classroom strategies, safe dating, and grant information.
• Paula Kluth https://paulakluth.com
  Paula promotes inclusive schooling and explores positive ways of supporting students with autism and other disabilities. Most of her work involves collaboration with schools to create environments, lessons, and experiences that are inclusive, respectful, and accessible for all learners. Her website includes a blog, books, products, and readings.
• PBIS World https://www.pbisworld.com
  PBIS World was created by a school social worker and two elementary counselors. The intent of the website is to enable and empower teachers and staff to implement Tier 1 and 2 strategies on their own. There are over 200 pages of interventions with active links to download to use right away.
• Pinterest, Indiana Resource Center for Autism compiled by Amy Gaffney, M.A., CCC-SLP
  Amy has posted ideas in many different categories for educators and families of all ages including visual supports, literacy tasks, writing and fine motor, life skills, brain breaks, sensory, data collection, social narratives and vocational tasks. Plus, utilizing structured teaching skills of visual schedules, work systems, and task examples.
• Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) https://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers/resources/role-play-videos
  Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson has written four curriculum books which have been proven to be effective with research. The PEERS® social skills programs are for preschoolers, adolescents, school-based students, and young adults. The goal is to teach, develop and maintain friendships. Use this link to access the role play videos to use to teach as examples of the wrong way to do the skill followed by the correct way to implement the social skill taught in each lesson. The videos are free online.
• Revelations in Education by Dr. Lori Desautel https://revelationsineducation.com
  Dr. Desautel has posted videos, podcasts, and many printables which are intended to support instructional practices and behavior management protocols, while creating procedures that are engaging and informative. Some of the topics include emotional regulation, ADHD and the brain, nervous system related to behavior, Maslow’s hierarchy, sensory regulatory practices and aligning the nervous system.
• • Tar Heel Reader https://tarheelreader.org
  Tar Heel Reader is a free collection of easy to read and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces such as touch screens, IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 – 3 switches. Also, there is an option to use the app Flickr and/or upload your own pictures to have the student’s write their own books.

Dissemination of this list does not reflect official endorsement of any organization.