START Trainings and Training Series
Who are START trainings for?
If you are committed to improving outcomes for students, you belong here. START’s trainings are for educators, families, community partners, and anyone else who supports students at home, in schools, and throughout the community, because meaningful change happens when we learn together. Through learning grounded in curiosity, openness, and evidence-based practices, participants build a shared understanding that helps create meaningful opportunities and improve outcomes for all students.
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All START trainings and training series are listed in Eastern Time (ET).
Understanding Autistic Communication
- November 19, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Inclusive Academic Engagement
- Topic: Clarity by Design: Visual Strategies for Accessible Curriculum
- December 1, 2026
- 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. OR 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Peer to Peer for Families
- December 2, 2026
- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Fee $0
This training is co-sponsored by START and Michigan Alliance for Families.
Providing Behavior Support in the Early Childhood Classroom
- December 4, 2026
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Administrators, Ancillary Staff, Consultants, Paraeducators/Classroom Aides
Peers Matter: Fostering Social Communication and Friendship for Students Who Use or Would Benefit from AAC
- December 8, 2026
- 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Special and General Educators, Service Providers such as Speech-Language Pathologists, Paraeducators, Autism Consultants, Instructional Coaches, and Educational Leaders and Administration who work with students with autism and/or intellectual disability who have limited speech
Instructional Strategies & Academic Engagement (ISAE) Series
- Training Series
- December 15, 2026; January 28, 2027; February 11, 2027; and March 10, 2027
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $40
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Creating a Neuro-Affirming Environment: Strategies for Educators Series
- Training Series
- January 8, 2027 and January 15, 2027
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $20
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, Paraeducators, School Counselors, Consultants, and Families
Behavior Escalation and Scripts Series
- Training Series
- January 12, 2027 and January 19, 2027
- 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
- This training is co-sponsored by START and the MiMTSS Technical Assistance Center.
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers, Administrators, Paraprofessionals, Behavior Specialists and Interventionists, Coaches, and Ancillary Service Providers
Inclusive Academic Engagement
- Topic: In the Moment: Responsive for Real-Time Differentiation
- January 12, 2027
- 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. OR 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $0
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, School Counselors, Consultants
Learning in Groups in the Early Childhood Classroom
- January 22, 2027
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Virtual (Zoom)
- Registration Fee: $10
Intended Audience: Early Childhood Teachers, Administrators, Ancillary Staff, Consultants, Paraeducators/Classroom Aides
Comprehensive Communication Supports and Strategies Series
- Training Series
- February 1, 2027 and February 9, 2027
- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Virtual via Zoom
- Registration Fee: $20
- This training series is co-sponsored by START and Alt+Shift.
Intended Audience: General and Special Education Teachers and Administrators, Ancillary/Support Staff, Paraeducators, School Counselors, Consultants, Families
Comprehensive Communication Supports and Strategies Series Registration
Training: A professional development opportunity designed to improve the knowledge and/or skills of attendees in a particular topic or practice.
Training Series: A collection of multiple trainings that focus on the same topic or theme. A training series can be offered as (1) a sequence of trainings that build upon each other or (2) independent trainings or webinars on the same theme.
- Module: An organized collection of content presented together as a cohesive training/learning unit, usually on a particular topic in a training series.
Effective Practices Leadership Initiative (EPLI):
- Bootcamp: A collection of modules on a related topic or theme, designed to prepare participants to become EPLI Trainers of START Content. Bootcamps may include asynchronous coursework.
- Advanced Training: A rigorous professional learning opportunity designed to support Current EPLI Trainers in deepening their knowledge of specific START content and strengthening their ability to effectively deliver that content within their local contexts. Advanced Trainings may include prerequisite work and/or asynchronous coursework.
Virtual Training Formats:
- Zoom Meeting: Designed for interactive and collaborative discussion. This platform allows all registered participants to unmute, turn on their cameras, communicate through chat, and share screens. Capacity is a maximum of 300 participants.
- Zoom Webinar: Designed as a controlled broadcast where only presenters can share screens, audio, and video. Registered attendees cannot use their cameras, communicate primarily through Q&A, and can only unmute if they use the "Raise Hand" feature and a presenter unmutes them. Capacity is a maximum of 500 participants.