For children with significant cognitive disabilities, their first teachers are their families. Their homes are their first inclusive settings. It is where they first experience being valued members of a community. It is also where they have their first and ongoing experiences learning in inclusive environments. 

The walls of the school do not define where learning starts and stops. For all children, what and how families teach their children strongly influences what their children learn and their love of learning. When families support their children to communicate their thoughts and needs; make progress in reading, writing and math; participate in daily routines and schedules; and then track their progress in these areas, they pave the road for continued life-long learning. A family's belief and expectations that their child will learn and grow in all of these areas bolsters the learning that happens at school. 

The TIES Center and National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Parent Video Series: Supporting the Learning of Children with Significant Cognitive Disabilities at Home  supports families in understanding the important role that they have in teaching their children. The series offers ideas for how to support learning at home. 

Each video focuses on three key questions: Why is it important to focus on this with my child at home? How can I do this at home? What support can I ask for from my child’s school?  Watch these videos to learn ways that families can teach their children with significant cognitive disabilities at home and support conversations with their children’s teachers to link home- schools supports.

To be notified of future parent videos when they are published, please follow the TIES Center Facebook page or subscribe to the  TIES Center YouTube Channel

Helping Your Child with Writing at Home

This video describes practical ways to support students with significant cognitive disabilities as they grow in their writing skills. It also describes the types of supports a parent can ask for from a teacher or instructional team.

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with Writing at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/u_S-4FlP-kU

Helping Your Child by Checking Progress at Home

This video describes easy ways for parents to check on their child's progress in academics and behavior while learning at home.  It also suggests ways to talk to the school about a child's progress and to ask for suggestions on changing the learning supports provided at home.

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child by Checking Progress at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pw1MYKd58Rw

Helping Your Child with Routines at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with routines at home. 

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with Routines at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/nr53dGswN_w

Helping Your Child with Communication at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with communication at home. 

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with Communication at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dRgrr1wziPo

Helping Your Child with Math While at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with math at home.  

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with Math While at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/CNh8BV4d41s

Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Reading at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with Foundations of Reading at home.

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Reading at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-SZAzMryos

Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Communication at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with the foundations of communication at home.

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Communication at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/PNOPYBZSmwg

Helping Your Child with Academics

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with academics at home.

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with Academics: https://www.youtube.com/embed/TRukuAssPJg

Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Math While at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with the foundations of math while at home. 

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Math While at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgMIP-FLsVA

Helping Your Child with Reading at Home

In this video, we’ll discuss three key points to consider in order to help your child with reading at home.

Video from the Web version of this publication:

Helping Your Child with Reading at Home: https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPDGZwFZWNM