Learn with the MTA and Earn PDPs

Format: Asynchronous course from july 7 to July 18. Must participate in activities each week.

Understanding Neurodiversity: Strategies for Inclusion and Advocacy is a comprehensive training program designed to foster a deep understanding of neurodiversity and equip participants with practical strategies for promoting inclusivity and advocating for the rights of neurodiverse individuals. This training will delve into the diverse spectrum of neurodiverse conditions, their impact on various environments, and the significance of creating accommodating spaces that celebrate differences. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain valuable insights and tools to create an inclusive and supportive environment for neurodiverse individuals in their communities, workplaces, and educational institutions.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Asynchronous course from July 8 to August 12. Must participate in activities each week.

This interactive course equips educators with strategies to manage challenging behaviors, support students in crisis, and foster a thriving learning environment. By exploring the “why” behind behavior, participants will learn to address root causes and implement proactive solutions. Designed through a Special Education lens, this course focuses on supporting students with disabilities, including those with IEPs and BIPs. Educators will gain tools to manage tier 1 and tier 2 behaviors in both self-contained and inclusive classrooms. Key takeaways include :De-escalation techniques for students with behavioral and emotional challenges. Proactive strategies to prevent escalation. Customizing behavior plans for students with diverse needs. Tools for fostering a calm, supportive classroom environment. Participants will receive a comprehensive behavior management toolkit, including visual aids, tracking templates, and intervention guides. Ideal for teachers, special educators, and paraprofessionals, this course provides practical strategies for immediate implementation, helping create a positive and structured learning space.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Zoom meetings on July 9 (12pm-4pm), 10 (9am-1pm), 16(9am-1pm) and 17 (12pm-4pm). Completion of final assessment.

Think about that student(s) in your classroom that have caused you to pause and reflect on what might help them to become more successful in their learning environment. Have you wondered what would make a difference?In this workshop, we will delve into the worlds of individuals who face challenges in the educational setting due to behavioral issues, trauma, anxiety, or learning challenges.  Understanding these students is complex. While many educators have a working knowledge of these issues, in this workshop we will delve deeper and develop a true understanding of how it “feels” to experience these challenges as well as looking at effective strategies that are beneficial in supporting these unique individuals in school settings. Participants will leave with research-based interventions that are easily woven into current practice and curriculum in classrooms, small groups and with individuals that will create a peaceful and productive learning environment.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Asynchronous course from July 13 to August 17. Must participate in activities each week.

This course will focus on how to best support students with dyslexia and provide participants with an instructional toolbox of resources that can be incorporated in the classroom and alternative settings. Throughout this course, an overview of the historical roots of special education will be reviewed, as well as instructional strategies and repertoires to effectively build oral reading fluency skills. Additionally, written language strategies that are research-based and orthographic rules/generalizations to increase encoding skill development will be examined to support students with dyslexia. An extensive review of instructional methods, specialized reading programs, and multisensory strategies derived from research that have proven to be successful will be reviewed in depth. Further exploration with respect to approaches that are personalized and tailored to meet the needs of students with learning difficulties will be analyzed. All approaches and strategies will be examined through a scope and sequence that is supported by evidence-based research within the field of special education.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.

Format: Asynchronous Course from July 14 to July 30. Must participate in activities each week. 

You must secure a copy of the book in advance of the class to participate. MTA does not provide copies of the book for this course. This book study explores how design—both in education and beyond—can either include or exclude, shaping the experiences of diverse learners. Using Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design by Kat Holmes as our required anchor text, participants will examine how traditional teaching methods may unintentionally create barriers and how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles can foster more inclusive, student-centered classrooms.Through asynchronous discussions and reflections using  Google Classroom, educators will analyze key concepts from Mismatch, engage in critical conversations about accessibility and equity, and apply these ideas to their own teaching practices.  Participants will complete daily reading assignments, participate in discussion boards and complete the culminating final project to demonstrate key take-aways and ideas for implementing the course’s learning into the classroom creating learning environments where all students thrive. By the end of the course, educators will leave with a deeper understanding of inclusive design, a toolkit of practical strategies, and a renewed commitment to fostering learning spaces that embrace all students. The final project may be a reflection essay/blog/journal, video, interactive slideshow or a UDL Classroom Makeover - Implementation Plan where you reimagine your classroom or lesson structure using UDL and human-centered design principles to increase accessibility and engagement.

This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.