InspirED Virtual Learning Series

Video: InspirED Promotional Video

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The 2020-2021 school year has proven to be different in many ways—from teaching and learning remotely to learning how to connect and engage in new ways and ensuring ALL students have access to the information and resources they need during this unique time.

In September 2020, OCALI, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education’s Office for Exceptional Children, launched the InspirED Virtual Learning Series to support educators, education professionals, families, caregivers, and others during this pandemic and in new, remote learning environments.

Who It's For

Our vision for this virtual learning series is to fill a need and help educators, administrators, and families find the information and resources they need to support learning and successful outcomes for their students or children during a very unique time of learning.

Educators who support students with disabilities in their continued/newer role as remote learning instructors.

Administrators and other school leaders as they guide and support educators.

Families in their new role as at-home instructors.

How it Works

The learning series consists of “Zoomcast” sessions or recorded, facilitated conversations that are approximately 30 minutes each. All content is focused on increasing successful engagement of diverse learners in a remote/virtual instructional environment, linking the users with appropriate resources and tools.

Learners have the ability to earn a professional development certificate by completing a survey at the end of each learning session.

Check Out Previous Sessions

View InspirED sessions that have already aired, access supplementary materials specific to each topic, and earn professional development credit.

Establishing Meaningful Interactions to Build Communication in Young Children

All behavior is a form of communication. Explore three strategies to build stronger interactions, relationships, and communication with young children and learn how to apply them daily.

The Untapped Riches of Universal Design for Learning and Explicit Instruction: Capitalize on this Gold Mine

Explore ideas for how to use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and explicit instruction frameworks to ensure that all students learn and become expert learners.

Telepsychology: Tips and Tools for Online Assessments

Discover strategies for assessing learners who are deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) or blind/visually (B/VI) impaired in online or hybrid environments, including the basics of telepsychology, and more.

Accessible Solutions for Online Learning: Considerations for Learners who are B/VI

Understand why accessibility is important for learners who are blind/visually impaired and discover tips and tricks for considering a student’s accessibility needs when engaged in remote learning activities.

Want More?

If you have participated in one of our InspirED Zoomcasts, we know that you are interested in expanding your knowledge and capacity through online learning. So, we want to be sure that you know about OCALICONLINE, the nation’s premier autism and disabilities conference.

While we usually bring thousands of people together in Columbus, Ohio each year, this year, we’re doing it all virtually! Registration is open now! We invite you to join us November 16-19! Head over to www.ocalicon.org to learn more!

Below we've included some resources from the Special Education Leaders Fellowship that address remote learning and are available to help school leaders on the return to school.

Learning modules on MTSS and making PD engaging at a distance;
Re-entry toolkits on engaging related service providers, student-centered staffing, IEP progress monitoring, and collaborative planning; and
Distance learning webinars to help educators use distance learning tools effectively and efficiently.

Made possible through a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education’s Office for Exceptional Children and OCALI