Neurodivergent Affirming Support for Students with Extensive Support Needs (New!)

Students with extensive support needs often have complex learning profiles that include differences in communication, sensory processing, regulation, and cognitive development. When these differences are not well understood, student behavior can be misinterpreted or difficult for teams to interpret, making it challenging to identify the supports students need to successfully participate in school. This training introduces a neurodivergent-affirming framework for supporting Extensive Support Needs (ESN) students by examining how communication, predictability, meaningful engagement, and supportive instructional design influence behavior and participation. Participants will explore practical strategies for interpreting behavior, strengthening proactive supports, and designing classroom environments that increase access, autonomy, and engagement for students with complex learning profiles.

Intended Audience

Special Education Teachers

Service Providers

Administrators

Paraprofessionals

Any specialists who would like to gain a fundamental understanding of dyslexia and how it impacts student performance

Participants Will

Recognize how complex learning profiles influence behavior, communication, and engagement for students with ESN

Identify environmental and instructional barriers that impact regulation and participation

Implement proactive supports that increase communication access, predictability, and meaningful engagement

Apply neurodivergent-affirming strategies that support autonomy, regulation, and learning in ESN classrooms

Presenter

Jandy Pastore, M.A., BCBA, Education Specialist and Behavior Analyst

Date

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Registration

Neurodivergent Affirming Support for Students with Extensive Support Needs Registration