Push to Open: A Teacher s QuickGuide to Universal Design for Teaching Students on the Autism Spectrum in the General Education Classroom

Lisa Combs has 27 years of experience in the field of special education. Over the course of her career, she has taught students with a wide range of disabilities in both self contained and inclusive settings. Additionally, she has supervised regional special education programs, taught at the university level, and has provided consultation and training for school personnel, public and private agencies, and families. She has her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Special Education from Ball State University, and has done additional graduate work in Educational Supervision through the University of Dayton, and in Behavioral Interventions for Autism through the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. As the supervisor of The Miami Valley Regional Autism Coaching Team, she and her team have provided job embedded coaching in sensory, communication, behavior and instructional interventions for hundreds of educational teams. The autism coaching program she supervises has been recognized by the Ohio Department of Education’s Office for Exceptional Children as a model for building the capacity of educators to serve students with autism. Her career long objective has been to create exceptional outcomes for individuals with disabilities in learning and in life. She is a sought after speaker on diverse topics including differentiation of instruction, paraprofessional training, behavior supports, co-teaching, universal design for learning, and inclusive education for children with complex disabilities. Lisa enjoys public speaking and providing professional development to motivate change and inspire action towards more inclusive opportunities for all students.