Learning Bites
| Title | Description | Keywords | Format | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What Autism Awareness and Acceptance Should Be About | According to Governor Whitmer’s proclamation, it is Autism Acceptance month. Governor Whitmer was quoted in The County Press, “During Autism Acceptance Month, we encourage all Michiganders to learn more about autism, recognize the different strengths individuals with autism have to offer, and support our family, friends, and neighbors with autism. In Michigan, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to chase their dreams and lead rewarding, productive lives.” | START Connecting | Article | |
| Behavioral Response Scripts Whose Line Is It | Did you know that approximately 2/3 of the content on the nine major streaming platforms is scripted programming? Yet many of us still enjoy a good unscripted program, like House Hunters or Real Housewives. Why do we like unscripted TV? Is it because of the voyeuristic nature of watching a couple decide which home to buy or to escape our day-to-day reality and see how the “other half” lives? Maybe! Unscripted shows have a time and place, but not at school... | START Connecting | Article | |
| Partnerships We Can Do More Together | Partnerships are essential in driving meaningful, systems-level change for autistic and neurodivergent students in Michigan. By bringing together diverse perspectives and resources, partnerships foster collaboration and innovation in a way that allows us to leverage each other’s strengths and achieve goals... | START Connecting | Article | |
| Writing Your Story with Peer to Peer Resources | Are you ready to join over 600 buildings statewide with a Peer to Peer program, or enhance your existing program with fresh activities? Either way, START has excellent resources to explore! Before you begin, keep this STARTism in mind: START Somewhere and START Now. Each Peer to Peer program has their own unique story that has been written and edited over time, but they all began by taking their first step. | START Connecting | Article | |
| Taking Steps to Develop a Coaching Structure Learning from One Districts Experience | The START Regional Collaborative Networks (RCN) have priorities they work on each year through our partnership. One priority is to establish a Coaching Structure. This structure involves recruiting and training building coaches, as well as offering ongoing professional learning and support to help coaches work closely with building teams and classroom staff... | START Connecting | Article | |
| A Spotlight on Family Resources | Families play an important role in helping children with autism throughout their lives. They often advocate for their child’s needs, such as accessing needed services, academic help, and social opportunities, while also guiding them to self-advocate and learn to have their own voice. When parents and caregivers have credible information and resources, they can better support their child in and out of school and make sure they get the help they need (Szlamka et al., 2024)... | START Connecting | Article | |
| Maximizing Engagement in Grade-Level Math for All Students | Research shows that when students are held to high expectations, they make greater progress in learning. In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Education recognized: "Inclusive educational practices rely on learning environments that are intentionally designed to hold high expectations for the success of each student through meaningful access to the general education curriculum and grade-level state academic standards.” | START Connecting | Article | |
| Visual Supports in Practice | As the school year progresses and planning for the next year begins, inclusive classrooms remain active spaces where students learn, communicate, and grow in ways that reflect their individual strengths. Visual supports create clear expectations, support communication modalities, and give students tools to participate more independently in daily routines and classroom activities. | START Connecting | Article | |
| Autistic Flourishing and Wellbeing | Flourishing belongs to all of us and is part of our shared human experience. Yet when we talk about wellbeing and a life well lived, the stories and strengths of autistic people have often been missing from those conversations. The emerging autism wellbeing movement is helping to shift this narrative by grounding our understanding of wellbeing in lived experience and recognizing that flourishing looks different for each person (Wright and Curran, 2025). | START Connecting | Article | |
| A Self-Advocates Perspective on Autism Identity and the Power of Words | START believes in the power of authentic voices and centering lived experiences to drive meaningful change. This article reflects the perspective of Katie Oswald, an autistic self-advocate, nonprofit leader, and champion for neurodiversity, on how language and society’s role shape identity, dignity, and inclusion. | START Connecting | Article | |
| ABA Supporting Students Tiered Approach | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science of behavior change supported by decades of research. Numerous evidenced-based interventions have been derived from the principles of ABA and used to support learners both with and without IEPs, across the school day. In this article, we will highlight ways that ABA practices may support behavior change through: 1) Tier I (universal) support for all learners in a school, and 2) Tier II (targeted) and Tier III (intensive) behavior change strategies for specific learner needs. | START Connecting | Article | |
| Welcome Back Whats New at START for 2026-2027 | Welcome to a new school year! Whether you are settling into a new routine or already well underway, we are excited to reconnect with you. This year brings a variety of training opportunities, new and updated resources, changes to the Effective Practices Leadership Initiative (EPLI), and an expanded website. Here’s a look at what’s new and what’s coming up! | START Connecting | Article | |
| Girls with Autism: Resource List |
This resource list provides a wide variety of information that demonstrates the landscape of research and unique lived experiences of girls and women with autism. This is meant to highlight areas of strength, encourage better supports, and promote greater awareness of autism in girls. |
Girls, Masking | Document | |
| Autistic Students and Stalking-Like Behavior Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about stalking-like behavior in autistic students, including contributing factors, areas for teaching, and recommendations for support. | Healthy Relationships, Boundaries, Rejection, Social Skills, Safety | Document | |
| Connection, Communication, & Collaboration Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about strengthening family-school partnerships through connection, communication, and collaboration. | Family Engagement, Family-School Partnerships, Communication, Collaboration, Relationships | Document | |
| Consent Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about consent, types of consent, personal boundaries, and considerations for teaching consent to autistic individuals. | Consent, Boundaries, Sexual Health, Self-Advocacy, Safety | Document | |
| Disclosure Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about disability disclosure and considerations related to disclosure in education, employment, and relationships. | Disability Disclosure, Self-Advocacy, Accommodations, Employment, Postsecondary Education | Document | |
| iQuest Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about the iQuest, a customizable tool for identifying and practicing skills that support independence at home and school. | Independence, Self-Advocacy, Self-Determination, Goal Setting, Family-School Collaboration | Document | |
| Mental Health in Autistic Youth Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about mental health in autistic youth, with a focus on anxiety, depression, and strategies for support. | Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Emotional Regulation, Coping Strategies | Document | |
| Sexual Health and Online Safety Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about sexual health, online safety, and legal considerations for autistic individuals. | Online Safety, Sexual Health, Internet Safety, Legal Considerations, Boundaries | Document |
Page last modified July 1, 2026