About EmbraceAbilities:
EmbraceAbilities is a Special Education Resource Lead focused on supporting county offices of education and local education agencies in the continuous improvement of their services for students with extensive support needs.
As part of California's Statewide System of Support, EmbraceAbilities offers technical assistance through free professional development opportunities and resources.
Professional Development Opportunities:
Effective classroom support is both a science and an art. In this interactive virtual session, paraprofessionals will explore practical, evidence-based strategies for supporting students with extensive support needs while promoting independence, communication and meaningful participation.
Creating rigorous academic experiences for students with extensive support needs requires thoughtful planning and collaboration. This webinar explores three tools for planning rigorous instruction.
Date: September 22, 2026
Time: 3-3:45 p.m.
Join EmbraceAbilities and California Includes as we explore strategies for designing instruction that promotes access, participation and learning for all students, with a focus on students with extensive support needs.
This webinar explores a variety of evidence-based, research-based, and promising instructional practices for serving students with extensive support needs across all educational settings.
Virtual Event
Date: Oct, 21, 2026
Time: 3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Join EmbraceAbilities and California Includes in this engaging webinar reviewing instructional practices that support academic rigor and belonging for students with extensive support needs across educational settings.
Three virtual sessions are offered.
New Resource! Co-developed with the TIES Center
Review this clear and concise explanation and description of effective instructional practices for students with extensive support needs developed in collaboration wtih the TIES Center.
Resources
This resource rich document clearly describes and explains Evidence-Based, Research-Based, and Promising Practices for serving students with extensive support needs.
Developed in collaboration with the TIES Center, this resource is a valuable reference on effective instructional practices.
Stay focused on the standards with The Core Content Connector Database!
This planning tool that connects the California Common Core Standards, the Core Content Connector Standards and the performance expectations of the California Alternative Assessment (CAA) and produces an editable lesson plan template pre-populated with the standard and performance expectations.
Explicit-Instruction is Evidence-Based Practice
This resource clearly explains the essential elements of explicit-instruction in an easy to reference, one page document.
Supporting All Abilities:
Check out our video—animated by Hope Mothersbaugh—that highlights how we celebrate and support ALL abilities.
