*Updated version coming May 1, 2024! If you register now you'll also get access to the newer version when it launches. But feel free to wait for the update.

Goal Writing
For Autistic Students

In this course, Autistic SLP Rachel Dorsey teaches you how to set your therapy on the right track with strengths-based goals and a neurodiversity-affirming approach. This comprehensive guide will allow you to tackle goal setting with confidence and enthusiasm so that you can make a greater impact on your Autistic students’ lives. This course is 10.5 contact hours, including over 7 recorded hours and approximately 3.5 hours of guided self-paced work to truly hone your goal writing skills. 

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FAQs
Meet the Instructors
Course Objectives
Testimonials

Continuing Education
from Learn Play Thrive

When you set the right goals,
your clients will flourish

MODULE 1: Goal Writing in the Schools (21 minutes)

We’ll tackle the things you need to know about goals, accommodations, modifications, and Common Core Standards for disabled students. And we’ll tackle real life issues every school based therapist faces, like getting a new student on your caseload the day before their IEP.

Right from the start, we’ll help you apply the course concepts to the messy, less-than-ideal, real life situations you face as a school therapist. Because those students deserve the best possible goals too.

MODULE 2: The Neurodiversity Paradigm (51 minutes)

Whether you’re new to neurodiversity or a seasoned advocate, in this module you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your Autistic students so that you can truly connect and write goals that help them become their most authentic selves.

Informed by the framework developed by The Foundations for Divergent Minds as well as research, clinical experience, and personal experience as an Autistic SLP, Rachel teaches deeply on the Autistic experience, guiding you to move beyond common misconceptions towards a deeper connection to your neurodivergent students’ experiences and needs.

MODULE 3: Traditional vs. Strengths-Based Goals (54 minutes)

The medical model teaches us to write deficits-driven goals that wreak havoc on the mental health of Autistic students. But there’s a better way!

In this module, we tackle why and how the old model harms neurodivergent learners, and how strengths-based goal writing can help our clients to truly thrive.

You’ll get easy-to-follow goal writing formulas and handouts that you will practice using throughout this course and take with you into the real world.

MODULES 4 - 11: Case Studies (5 hours 13 minutes of recorded content)

With Rachel as your guide, you’ll apply the course concepts to eight diverse true-to-life case studies to identify a student’s strengths, their challenges, the need for accommodations or modifications, and the targeted skills for your goals.

About the Case Studies

These case studies range in age from preschool through high school, so you can work through the real-life constraints we all know far too well: IEPs for students you’ve never met, incomplete information, a team with a deficits-based lens, and so much more. Even if you don’t work in a school setting, you’ll find much of this content relevant to your own goal writing process. 

What to Expect (Approximately 3.5 hours of guided independent work)

During each case study, you’ll read through reports and try your hand at using Rachel’s process. Then she’ll guide you through her own clinical reasoning. By module 11, you’ll feel confident in tackling goal writing on your own using the course concepts, the processes you’ve practiced alongside Rachel, easy-to-use handouts, and your own newly minted neurodiversity-aligned reasoning.

Watch the free masterclass and get

one year access to the course

Fill out the form to watch the free masterclass, Strengths Based vs. Traditional Goal Writing! You’ll also get a one-time chance to enroll in the Goal Writing for Autistic Students full course with one year’s access (regular is six months).

Join our email list and watch the free masterclass.

Learn Play Thrive Home Page

This course is
comprehensive and
transformative

It’s time to ditch the old, worn-out IEP goals. In this course, through paradigm-shifting lectures and eight true-to-life case studies, you’ll learn a concrete process that will allow you to identify your clients’ true needs. You’ll walk away fully prepared to generate goals that will help your students thrive at school as their most authentic selves. And you’ll also have the language, reasoning, and research to get your team on board with you for a neurodiversity-affirming approach.

Investment

$389 for over 7 recorded hours packed full of actionable content and 10.5 continuing education contact hours. We also offer payment breakdown to 3 payments of $130. 

Access

This course is entirely self-paced. You’ll have access for 6 months to complete on your own time.

Continuing Education

This course is registered for 1.05 AOTA & 1.05 ASHA CEUs (10.5 contact hours).

FAQs

Information about completion requirements, accommodations, and more can be found in the FAQs.

View FAQs
I WANT IN!

Goal Writing for Autistic Students is
for you if…

You are an SLP or OT working with Autistic students in the schools or preschools

You want a concrete process to help you write truly strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming goals

You know your work will be more effective if your goals are truly aligned with your Autistic clients' strengths

  • You are an SLP or OT working with autistic students in the schools or preschools
  • You want a concrete process to help you write truly strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming goals
  • You know your work will be more effective if your goals are truly aligned with your autistic clients' strengths

You’re tired of bureaucratic barriers, like writing goals for students who you didn’t evaluate, and you want to be an effective goal writer no matter the circumstance

You are ready to learn first-hand from an Autistic SLP because you know that Autistic adults are the true experts on autism

  • You’re tired of bureaucratic barriers, like writing goals for students who you didn’t evaluate, and you want to be an effective goal writer no matter the circumstance
  • You are ready to learn first-hand from an Autistic SLP because you know that Autistic adults are the true experts on autism
This course was an excellent introduction to how traditional goals for autism are truly deficit-based and force the autistic child or client to become more like a neurotypical person, no matter what the expense to the autistic person might be. I love the use of modern research in the course that incorporates the views of autistic adults on what success means to them and what supports are actually helpful in therapy. In occupational therapy, we want our goals to be truly person-centered; the Learn Play Thrive courses are a great way to understand how to be person-centered and how to appreciate the autistic client as a whole in a way traditional practices never could. And, as our goals shape our intervention, this is a great place to start.
Taylor W.,
Taylor W.,CCC-SLP
This course doesn't just tell you what to do, it gives you the tools you need to actually implement the information. I highly recommend it to both neurotypical and neurodivergent clinicians.
Taylor W.,
Taylor W.,CCC-SLP
This course is a must-take course for any Speech-Language Pathologist working with autistic individuals. After taking Rachel's course, I feel confident in my abilities not only to write neurodiverse-affirmative goals, but also in advocating for my clients in my daily practice. Rachel's course serves to uplift autistic voices and impacts how we evaluate and implement appropriate educational goals for autistic students.
Jessica,
Jessica, SLP
I had been anxiously waiting for a course on ND affirming goal writing and this course did not disappoint! In fact, it far exceeded my expectations. Rachel is knowledgeable, insightful, professional and a phenomenal lecturer. I look forward to more wonderful content from her.
Maribel Serrano Holder,
Maribel Serrano Holder, CCC-SLP
This is truly the best course out there on this topic. It is well-organized, thought-provoking, engaging, and immediately applicable to my caseload. Rachel's approach to her autistic students, based in both personal and clinical experience, is empathetic, curious, practical, and full of belief in their strengths and potential. She covers a variety of obstacles that professionals are sure to encounter when writing goals, from a lack of information about students to conflicting parental expectations to students placed in non-neurodiversity-affirming settings. The course uses authentic materials and a gradual release model that leads participants to feel confident in their goal-writing abilities. I think anyone who works with or is considering working with autistic students could benefit from this course.
HP,
HP, SLP-CF
I can't recommend this course highly enough!
Mallory Skinner,
Mallory Skinner, SLP
This course is impactful, meaningful, and valuable. It prioritizes consent, affirmative care, and validating those you work with. It gives me hope for the future of speech-language pathology. With solid organization and relatable case studies (including that familiar experience where one tiny detail makes the situation more convoluted -- we've all been there!), this course offered a digestible -- yet satiable -- amount of knowledge. While I work in an outpatient setting and the framing of the course is built around services in the education system, the information was transferable to my clinic.  Since completing Goal Writing for Autistic Students, I have been strongly encouraging my colleagues and students to enroll
H.F.,
H.F., SLP
Ms. Dorsey clearly delineates how current goals minimize and hinder autistic students, and better yet, shows us how student-centered, neurodiversity-driven goal writing can empower autistic students in new ways. If you're unsure where to start in advocating for your students with the IEP team, this is an excellent start! The inclusion of Jess Miles' [OT perspective] was enlightening and valuable.
Ruchi Kapila,
Ruchi Kapila, MS, CCC-SLP
"This is one of the best trainings I have ever undertaken. I have been a speech therapist for the last 10 years and like many therapists, I continued to follow the recommendations for goal setting based on outdated university and workplace information. This training has enabled me to write the goals that will support my clients to be their authentic selves and truly thrive."
Rebecca
Rebecca
"I cannot recommend this course enough. I believe all providers and educators who work with autistic students have a responsibility to learn about the neurodiversity movement and how to support autistic students within the neurodiversity affirming paradigm. Let's stop harming students with deficit based report writing and deficit driven goals. We can do better. This course will help you understand how to build on strengths and write goals that set autistic students up with the supports and accommodations that they need to grow and learn authentically."
Emily M.,
Emily M., M.A., CCC-SLP
"As a neurotypical SLP working with Autistic students, this course has been incredibly powerful and effective. It has helped me understand more about my students and how I can be an agent of change. There is a lot of work to be done and this course provided me a great opportunity to continue to learn and grow as an SLP."
Christina Filia,
Christina Filia, M.S. CCC-SLP
"Rachel Dorsey's course is absolutely AMAZING!!! It's intensive, incredibly rich in case studies and beyond my expectations!!! So very appreciative for Rachel's insight, perspective and sharing! Thank you for giving me so much to think about, to want to learn more about and for guiding me to be a better clinician! Keep sharing, Rachel! We are all knowing better from you and you make us all strive to do better!"
Christine,
Christine, SLP
"I just want to say THANK YOU for such an excellent course. It has completely shifted how I view our field as it pertains to working with autistic students. This course goes beyond just goal writing and is one of the first times in my career I have felt I have gleaned something meaningful since graduate school from a CEU course."
KF,
KF, M.S., CCC-SLP
This was the course I have needed for years. I have always believed that speech therapy should help the child be more confident, happy and successful. Traditional social skills training has never felt quite right to me. This course was completely in line with my values and I am excited to have guidance in providing therapy which is more respectful of my students as unique humans.
Laura
Laura
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I WANT IN!

Meet your
Instructors

INSTRUCTOR

Rachel Dorsey

M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist (she/her)
GUEST INSTRUCTOR

Jess Miles

MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist

Please note: disclosure statements are contained in the Bio page for each speaker. Click on "READ BIO" above to review the disclosures.

Writing strengths-based goals will foster your
students' self-determination.

– Rachel Dorsey, Autistic SLP

Full Course Objectives

Analyze Autistic students’ Individualized Education Plans, evaluation reports, and progress reports using at least six qualities unique to Autistic students

Analyze pre-existing goals using the seven metrics of traditional goals to determine why and when traditional goals should be modified to align with strengths-based goal writing

Apply the six client consideration themes to determine client-specific strengths and areas of needed support

  • Analyze Autistic students’ Individualized Education Plans, evaluation reports, and progress reports using at least six qualities unique to Autistic students.
  • Analyze pre-existing goals using the seven metrics of traditional goals to determine why and when traditional goals should be modified to align with strengths-based goal writing.
  • Apply the six client consideration themes to determine client-specific strengths and areas of needed support.

Apply the five main themes of goal writing to generate targeted skills for Autistic clients

Apply the four steps of the goal writing facilitation process to create client-specific, demonstrable, and measurable goals that incorporate a client’s accommodations and modifications per their Individualized Education Plan

  • Apply the five main themes of goal writing to generate targeted skills for Autistic clients.
  • Apply the four steps of the goal writing facilitation process to create client-specific, demonstrable, and measurable goals that incorporate a client’s accommodations and modifications per their Individualized Education Plan
I WANT IN!

Frequently Asked Questions

This course is developed for occupational therapists and speech therapists who write goals for autistic students in the preschool or school setting. While the case studies span from preschool through high school and focus on the school IEP context, early intervention or clinic providers may still find the course concepts useful and relevant to their settings. This course does not focus on handwriting goals for OTs, but will help you branch out into other areas. This is not a course designed for parents. This course is targeted at the intermediate level.

The concepts in this course are useful for any population. The case studies span from preschool through high school.

This course includes video lectures, slides, and handouts. In each of the case studies, you’ll have the opportunity to practice applying the skills and processes learned in the course. 

This course is registered for 1.05 AOTA CEUs and 1.05 ASHA CEUs.

Yes! The course is self-paced and you have six months to complete it on your own time.

Yes! If 3 or more people from your company plan to enroll email me the names of everyone enrolling at admin@learnplaythrive.com and I’ll provide a coupon code. It’s 15% for 3 registrants, 20% off for 4 or more, and 30% off for 7 or more.

We offer full scholarships to therapists from under-resourced countries.

In order to get a certificate of completion, you must watch all of the video modules, complete the activities within the modules, and pass a quiz at the end of the course with 80% accuracy. Multiple attempts at the quiz are allowed. Only learners who complete the course and the quiz will receive a certificate.

You will have 6 months access to the course.

Full refunds are provided within 30 days of purchase if no more than 3 modules have been completed. Email meg@learnplaythrive.com to request a refund. Since this is a self-paced course, there is no option to cancel once the 30 day / 3 module limit has been exceeded. If for any reason the course is canceled by the provider before your registration period has expired, you will receive a full refund.

All videos used in this presentation have closed captions. If you need additional accommodation, please email admin@learnplaythrive.com prior to your training date. Accommodations will be made to support all learners in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act. 

You can send an email to admin@learnplaythrive.com

Our courses are hosted on Thinkific. You will need one of the two latest versions of a supported browser to access the course. (Note: Internet Explorer is not supported).

Desktop:

  1. Chrome

  2. Firefox

  3. Safari

  4. Microsoft Edge

Mobile:

  1. iOS Safari

  2. Chrome

  3. Samsung Internet

In order to ensure that Thinkific runs well, you will need:

  1. The most recent version of one of the web browsers listed above

  2. Javascript enabled

  3. PDF plugin

  4. Graphic and audio output capability

  5. Broadband internet connection with a minimum speed of 5Mbps (recommended)

  6. TLS 1.2 supported by your web browser

This information was adapted from: https://support.thinkific.com/hc/en-us/articles/360030354954-System-Requirements-and-Supported-Browsers

Goal Writing for Autistic Students is Truly Transformative

Group Discounts

We are happy to offer a discount for your group! Email your list of participants to admin@learnplaythrive.com to receive a coupon code.

• 3 participants: 15% off
• 4+ participants: 20% off
• 7+ participants: 30% off
• 50+ participants: please inquire

Process Handouts

Goal writing can be tough. But in this course, we've got you covered. You'll learn a concrete process, practice using it in complex and diverse case studies, and get simple-to-use yet transformative handouts to support you in bringing this process to your real goal-writing work.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

We think you’ll love it. But take 30 days to complete up to three modules. If it’s not what you’d hoped, you get your money back.

Free Masterclass

Fill out the form to watch the free masterclass! You’ll also get a one-time chance to enroll in the full course with one year’s access (regular is six months).

Join our email list and watch the free masterclass:

Confidence & Clarity

Maybe you've heard that social skills goals are problematic, but everyone wants you to write them. Or perhaps you know that eye contact is uncomfortable for your Autistic students, but your team uses Whole Body Listening. Or maybe you're just sick of being the handwriting teacher. What do you do!? Rachel has you covered. After working through eight real, messy, complicated case studies, you'll gain the confidence and clarity to approach your work differently than ever before.

Continuing Education Credit

Receive 10.5 contact hours of continuing education credit through a self-paced online course that you can revisit again and again to feel totally confident in your ability to synthesize and apply the new strategies.

Writing the same, boring goals keeps you locked into the same uninspired therapy practice.

But with Goal Writing for Autistic Students, you will learn to confidently write strengths-based goals that help your autistic students truly thrive

Neuroclastic endorsement
I WANT IN!

This course will be available for ASHA CEUs from September 30th, 2021 until September 29th, 2026 at which point Learn Play Thrive will apply for re-registration.
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.
The recorded materials in this course were last updated on 9/20/2021.