Significant Support Needs

Students with significant support needs are highly diverse learners with extensive needs in the areas of cognition and/or learning, communication, movement and social/emotional abilities. The individual may also have concurrent health, sensory, physical and/or behavioral disabilities.

Students with significant support needs require:

• a wide variety of approaches and supports to demonstrate their knowledge and skills
  intensive instruction in literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills in order to acquire and generalize knowledge
• substantial adaptations (modifications and accommodations) and/or ongoing supports in order to access grade level curriculum
• access to assistive technology tools to communicate, learn and demonstrate their knowledge
• progress to be measured by observation, data collection, assessment, and work samples
• individualized levels of support across major life activities in home, school, and community.

Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEO)

This Standards and Instructional Support (SIS) subweb is dedicated to the Extended Evidence Outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards. The EEOs are written for students with significant cognitive support needs.

• Extended Evidence Outcomes (EEO)

The following training options are offered as professional development for implementation of the Colorado Academic Standards, including the Extended Evidence Outcomes (alternate academic achievement standards)/ Extended Readiness Competencies (content-based access skills) for students with significant cognitive disabilities:

• PowerPoint: Implementing the Colorado Academic Standards for Students with a Significant Cognitive Disability (For educators of a student who is working on alternate academic achievement standards, this training presents an overview of the new Colorado Academic Standards, including the Extended Evidence Outcomes and Extended Readiness Competencies. Examples for translating EEOs and ERCs into measureable goals and objectives are included)
• Webinar format: Implementing the Colorado Academic Standards for Students with a Significant Cognitive Disability
• Performance Skills (PDF)

Significant Support Needs Advisory Council

The SSN Advisory Council is comprised of teachers, administrators, and related service personnel, professors from Institutions of Higher Education and parents from throughout Colorado. This group advises the Colorado Department of Education on the statewide needs of this population and those who serve them. Their expertise is utilized for work groups to develop trainings and products to assist educational teams in meeting the needs of this very diverse population.

Quality Indicators

The Quality Indicators offer guidance to educators and administrators when developing, implementing and evaluating quality programs and services for students with the most significant needs. This guide identifies ten components to consider for effective programs: Inclusive Culture, Progress Monitoring, Instruction, Positive Behavior Support, Communication, Self Determination, Health and Safety, Transition, and Paraeducators. This guideline cannot be interpreted as policy or regulation, but as a tool designed to assist those who are educating students with significant support needs. Each quality indicator has a list of research/evidence based practices for providing a rich school experience with the goal of improving post school outcomes for all students.

• Quality Indicators for Assessing Individualized Services for Students (K-12) with Significant Support Needs (PDF)
• Quality Indicators for Assessing Individualized Services for Students (K-12) with Significant Support Needs, Pages 1-4 (DOC)
• Quality Indicators for Assessing Individualized Services for Students (K-12) with Significant Support Needs, Table, Pages 5-18 (DOC)
• Quality Indicators for Assessing Individualized Services for Students (K-12) with Significant Support Needs, Revised Nov. 2010 (PDF)

CONNECT Listserv

The CONNECT (Connect to Networking, News and Encouragement for Caring Teachers) listserv is a place for teachers and service providers working with students with significant support needs (e.g. physical disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, etc.) to find information, encouragement and networking opportunities.

We know that many times those working with students with significant needs may be isolated and lack the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues or find the expertise they need in a timely and safe setting. This is a place to ask questions, have discussion and share ideas with those in the field that are having the same experiences. To subscribe, send your contact information to Gina Quintana at quintana_g@cde.state.co.us.

Professional Development

Handouts from Previous Trainings:

"Making Inclusion Meaningful for Students with Significant Support Needs - Part 1"

• Inclusion for Students with Significant Support Needs PowerPoint (PDF)
• Supporting Handouts (PDF)
• Article - Making Inclusion a Reality for Students with Severe Disabilities (PDF)

"Making Inclusion Meaningful for Students with Significant Support Needs - Part 2"

• Elementary Presentation Handouts
  • Successful Inclusion for All Students, Elementary (PDF)
  • Meaningful Inclusion for Students with Significant Support Needs, Elementary (PDF)
  • Elementary Scenarios (PDF)
• Secondary Presentation Handouts
  • Successful Inclusion for All Students, Secondary (PDF)
  • Meaningful Inclusion for Students with Significant Support Needs, Secondary (PDF)
  • Secondary Scenarios (PDF)
• Articles
  • The Golden Rule of Providing Support in Inclusive Classrooms: Support Others as You Would Wish to be Supported (PDF)
  • Don't Lecture Me! (PDF)
  • 20 Ways to Adapt the Science Lab (PDF)
  • Rewriting History and Nine Other Ways to Adapt Textbooks (PDF)

Teacher’s Corner

• Helpful Websites

For more information about Significant Support Needs, contact:

Gina Quintana
Phone: (303) 866-6605