Webinar: Proven Success Strategies for Children with Special Needs

Conscious Discipline’s foundation of connection and safety is essential for all children, but it can be especially beneficial for our children with special needs. To support children with special needs, it’s important that we notice, observe, and find creative, individualized strategies. As an added benefit, these individual strategies will benefit the entire classroom and the teacher as well.


To support children with special needs, it’s important that we notice, observe, and find creative, individualized strategies.


Watch as Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor Kim Jackson explains how breathing, routines in pictures, rituals, and transitions can be immensely helpful tools for children with special needs. Kim shares a variety of strategies, photo and video examples, and practical tips to help you provide the safety and support that every child needs to succeed.

Webinar Outline

  • 00:27 Introduction to supporting children with special needs
  • 00:45 S.T.A.R. breathing
  • 03:49 Teaching young children to breathe
  • 05:53 Video Clip: Isaiah S.T.A.R. breathing
  • 06:40 Video Clip: Isaiah teaching others to S.T.A.R. breathe
  • 08:02 Downloading calm with eye contact
  • 10:47 Video Clip: Dr. Becky Bailey working with a child who struggles with eye contact
  • 16:00 Importance of varied strategies
  • 17:12 Visual routines
  • 18:56 Photo Example: Activity specific task cards
  • 21:06 Photo Example: Daily schedule showing duration of each activity
  • 22:24 Success story of child with visual schedule
  • 25:51 Alternative seating
  • 26:27 Photo Example: Visual providing seating options for circle time
  • 28:31 Video Clip: Children using adaptive seating options
  • 30:37 Responding to children who want the same adaptations or strategies as others
  • 34:13 Video Clip: Child using another form of adaptive seating
  • 35:14 Rituals
  • 36:36 Video Clip: Welcome Back Ritual
  • 38:12 Celebrations
  • 40:02 Video Clip: A “just because” celebration
  • 42:25 Celebrating in the moment
  • 43:16 Giving children jobs and opportunities to be of service
  • 44:46 Video Clip: Visual reminder of jobs; Alex discusses his job
  • 46:09 Transitions
  • 49:13 How to make and use a visual transition warning
  • 53:21 The transition from home to school and school to home
  • 59:00 Conclusion

Resource Mentions

Helpful Next Steps