START Resources
| Title | Description | Keywords | Format | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool Life Skills (PLS): Teaching Foundational Behaviors for School Success |
This START Connecting article explores Preschool Life Skills (PLS), which is a research-based, supplemental curriculum that provides a set of tools to help teach important social and life skills for school success. The PLS program includes a set of lessons developed by Dr. Gregory Hanley and colleagues to increase skills in making requests, following directions, tolerating delay, and developing friendships |
PLS, START Connecting | Article | |
| Prevent Teach Reinforce Respond (PTRR) |
Prevent Teach Reinforce Respond (PTRR) organizes behavior support around four areas: preventing barriers to successful engagement, teaching skills, reinforcing skills and behaviors that support success, and responding in ways that maintain safety, support regulation, and promote participation and engagement. |
PTRR, Behavior | Document, Website | |
| Promoting Inclusion and Belonging | Information and resources about meaningful inclusion, belonging, inclusive education, and practices that support inclusive schools and communities. | Inclusion, Belonging, Inclusive Education, School Community, Peer Relationships | Topic Page, Website | |
| Promoting Inclusion and Belonging Everyday | Inclusion is a word that can evoke various images and meanings to each one of us. Meaningful inclusion is demonstrated when people with disabilities are involved in natural, everyday activities and given opportunities to be involved in ways similar to their peers who do not have a disability... | START Connecting | Article | |
| Pyramid Model | This month, we are spotlighting the Pyramid Model and its importance in early childhood programming. If you are new to the model or want to learn more, we are offering a two-hour introductory training on May 8, 2026. To pique your interest, we are sharing a brief overview of the Pyramid Model and their resources. | START Connecting | Article | |
| Regional Collaborative Networks Creating Stronger Communities to Support Students | When the START Project launched in 2001, we wondered how a small team of START staff could address the needs of students with autism in a large, diverse state. As we connected with ISDs and districts across the state, we immediately knew that our best hope of supporting students with autism... | START Connecting | Article | |
| Response to Federal Autism Reports |
We are sharing this statement to reinforce the importance of clear, evidence-based communication about autism. Recent public discussions have included information that may not align with established scientific consensus, making it essential to reaffirm our shared commitment to accuracy. The START Project has consistently prioritized evidence-based practice informed by rigorous research and grounded in respect for the autistic community. |
Vaccines, Acetaminophen | START Informed | |
| Revealing the Double Empathy Problem | At age 2, my son’s first words didn’t seem to “stick.” He wasn’t imitating speech sounds, and his response to his name became less reliable. During the preschool years, his teachers noted his solitary play, difficulty sitting for circle time, and sensitivity to the feel of sunscreen and certain types of clothing... | START Connecting | Article | |
| Scaling Up a Peer-Mediated Program Statewide: Lessons Learned Through Peer to Peer | This article describes Michigan's efforts to scale up Peer to Peer programming statewide. | Peer to Peer | Research Article | |
| School-Age Resources and Tools | Resources and tools for supporting school-age autistic students, including instructional practices, data collection, literacy, and classroom supports. | School Age, Classroom Supports, Teaching Strategies, Instruction, Evidence-Based Practices | Topic Page, Website | |
| Secondary Peer to Peer Program Fidelity Checklist | The Secondary Peer to Peer Program Fidelity Checklist provides step-by-step instructions for the development of peer support programs in secondary settings along with links to resources to help build and enhance peer supports to improve outcomes for all students. | Peer to Peer, Outcomes, Fidelity | Document | |
| Secondary Transition | Information and resources for individualized transition planning, including self-determination, self-advocacy, inclusion, employment, postsecondary education, and preparation for adulthood. | Secondary Transition, Adulthood, Employment, Postsecondary Education, Self-Determination | Topic Page, Website | |
| Self-Advocates | Information and resources for autistic self-advocates related to self-advocacy, independence, education, employment, relationships, and adulthood. | Self-Advocacy, Self-Determination, Independence, Autistic Perspectives, Resources for Self-Advocates | Topic Page, Website | |
| 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 | |
| Sexual Health Education Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about sexual health education for autistic individuals, including safety, self-advocacy, consent, relationships, and family-school collaboration. | Sexual Health, Consent, Healthy Relationships, Self-Advocacy, Personal Safety | Document | |
| Sexuality, Health, Advocacy, Relationships, Empowerment | Information and resources related to sexuality, sexual health, advocacy, relationships, safety, and empowerment for autistic individuals. | Sexual Health, Healthy Relationships, Advocacy, Safety, Empowerment | Topic Page, Website | |
| Start Engaging with Families Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about START's approach to family engagement, including the importance of family-school collaboration and START's core values for family engagement. | Family Engagement, Family-School Partnerships, Collaboration, Communication, Student Outcomes | Document | |
| Strengthening Practices Observation Tool (SPOT) |
The Strengthening Practices Observation Tool (SPOT) helps teams observe, discuss, and strengthen evidence-based practices in early learning settings. The tool identifies the extent to which key indicators of high-quality practices are established and consistently implemented in the classroom. |
Early Childhood, Implementation | Document, Website | |
| 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 | |
| Teaching Autistic Students About Healthy Relationships Info Sheet | An Info Sheet about teaching healthy relationships to autistic students, including communication, boundaries, consent, friendships, and relationship safety. | Healthy Relationships, Consent, Boundaries, Friendships, Relationship Safety | Document |