DNEA Resource Guides

Bookclub – We’re Not Broken

We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia is about the author’s journey with autism and how society views individuals with autism.

Autism & Epilepsy

There are common genetic factors associated with both autism and epilepsy. This guide provides information around autism and epilepsy and outlines steps for how to support someone who is having a seizure.

The DNEA Supporting Social Skills guide highlights many effective practices to support autistic youth who want to engage more with their peers:

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences in childhood, such as witnessing violence in the home, experiencing neglect, or having a family member with a mental illness.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that can help youth manage anxiety by changing the way they think and behave.
Download the Resource Guide (English)
Versión en español de esta guía de recursos (Spanish)

 An autism evaluation typically includes a discussion about challenges faced by the person and their family. This guide will provide professionals with strategies to discuss these issues in a more sensitive, non-judgmental fashion. 

Prompting is an evidence-based practice that involves providing a child support when they are learning a new skill or behavior. There are two categories of instructional prompts: response prompts and stimulus prompts. Response prompts are delivered by an adult.

Prompting is an evidence-based practice that involves providing a child support when they are learning a new skill or behavior. There are two categories of instructional prompts: response prompts and stimulus prompts. Stimulus prompts are changes that are made to materials.

Social narratives are short stories that use concrete text, photos, or drawings to explain situations or skills that may be confusing to the individual.

Parent/Caregiver training programs describe a wide range of interventions, including care coordination, psychoeducation, language or social development treatments, and strategies designed to address maladaptive behaviors.

Choice boards use pictures and/or words to show a person their options

Visual schedules represent upcoming activities through the use of sequenced objects, photos, pictures, and/or text. They are a visual support that create structure and establish expectations.

Environmental labels promote independence by clarifying what happens in a particular space or what is contained or located in a space 

 Visual boundaries use materials such as tape or furniture to create structure, predictability, and expectations in different areas of a person’s environment.

Visual task analyses promote independence by using pictures and words to break down complex tasks into more manageable steps 

Visual timers help make the abstract concept of time more concrete by showing the passage of time visually. They use pictures, colors, symbols, or numbers to show how much time is left in an activity. 

Plain language is a style of accessible communication. This means people can understand it the first time they read or hear it. This guide talks about what plain language is, why it is important, and shares examples of accessible communication.

This guide shares basic tips that anyone can use to make their writing more accessible.