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Unstuck and On Target for the Neurodivergent Community Why use Unstuck? Unstuck is a set of tools that help neurodivergent youth, and their families and their teachers better understand, support, and build executive functions. Unstuck was developed with guidance from the neurodivergent community. Its first goal is to improve understanding and recognition of appropriate supports and accommodations for people with executive function differences. It teaches people to recognize and use their strengths and also to self-advocate for supports they may need. Why are Executive Functions Important? Executive Functions are a set of brain-based abilities that help people set and achieve goals, make plans, handle disappointment, and stay flexible in the face of unexpected events. They enable us manage lots of information at once, and to show what we know, or demonstrate our skills to others. Executive Functions drive social skills and are more important than IQ for predicting success at school and long term happiness, relationships, employment and health. How does Unstuck build on strengths? Unstuck embraces the idea that we can’t make assumptions about how people approach a problem or why they feel stuck and that people build with what they have, their strengths. In this way, Unstuck builds on each individual’s ability to decide their own goals. In addition, Unstuck provides a common language so that neurodivergent and neurotypical people can solve problems together. Is Unstuck trying to "fix" neurodivergent people? The purpose of Unstuck is to solve mismatches between a person's brain-based differences and their environment. Unstuck does this in two ways: accommodations and teaching new skills. Unstuck is an intervention that doesn’t tell people WHAT to do, but rather HOW to work towards their goals. Neurodivergent people are often labelled as “rigid,” when in fact they are either struggling with a different understanding of the situation or don’t know how to be flexible in that situation. Importantly, Unstuck also recognizes that inflexibility can be adaptive, help prevent overload, and offer protection. Ari Ne’eman, the founding director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network , helped us understand that “inflexibility provides order in the context of a world that is confusing and illogical for us.” Unstuck provides an algorithm for problem solving (Goal, Why, Plan, Do, Check) and ideas for how to flexibly respond to challenging situations. The participatory process: Including neurodivergent stakeholders From the beginning, Unstuck authors have developed the curriculum with the guidance of neurodivergent individuals. In its earliest forms, neurodivergent students were asked to evaluate each lesson and provide feedback. Each version of the curriculum has undergone detailed review by neurodivergent self-advocates. In his foreword to the Unstuck and On Target Curriculum (Elementary Edition), John Elder Robison said, “I was very surprised to realize that I could use ideas from Unstuck and On Target in my own life at age 53!” Recently, a neurodivergent student told us, “being stuck feels bad for everyone—so why are neurotypicals so rigid all the time? Shouldn’t THEY learn Unstuck ?” Having seen her 4th grade math teacher, she was right—the neurotypical person was the stuck person in the room! How does Unstuck advocate for accommodations and/or supports? At the heart of Unstuck is the idea that we accommodate and support FIRST to promote learning and participation for everyone. We encourage people, including neurodivergent people, to first think CAN’T YET rather than WON’T. This Can’t Yet not Won’t approach results in an empathic examination of what each individual is experiencing and seeks first to see what modifications can be made to make the task/environment more accessible. Unstuck curriculum is deeply-steeped in a disability rights approach that encourages universal design and the idea that often the challenge is the fit, not the task. ​ The high school curriculum, slated for publication in March 2023, focuses on a Self Advocacy Formula , which places neurodivergent individuals’ goals and right to obtain accommodations at its center. How does Unstuck build on strengths? Fix neurodivergent people Participatory process Accommodations

A Workbook to Make Unstuck and On Target! a Way of Life: Your Guide to Executive Functioning! A Workbook to Make Unstuck and On Target a Way of Life: Your Guide to Executive Functioning! ​ This resource was written as a companion for families and caregivers of children in Unstuck and On Target classes and helps explain how to make the most out of these lessons at home.

Unstuck and On Target! Elementary Curriculum Unstuck and On Target! Elementary Curriculum ​ Unstuck and On Target is an intervention available as a kit that includes all the elements needed to implement the intervention in a school or clinic. While this curriculum was created for use in these settings, community providers have also found Unstuck to be extremely helpful with their clients. The box includes the direct instruction curriculum, links to download parent and teacher handouts, game board, and posters. ​ COMING SOON: High school and middle school Unstuck curricula

Unstuck and On Target at the 2023 PCORI Annual Meeting Thank you for joining us! See below for more about the information presented in the symposium and use the menu at the top of the page to learn about everything Unstuck . Don't forget to enter your email at the bottom of the page to sign up for our mailing list so we can keep you updated about upcoming projects and resources. Symposium Slides Want to review the information presented at the conference? You can access our slides below. Parent Videos Check out our videos that provide information and practical strategies that parents can immediately use to support their neurodivergent child’s executive functions. Interventionist Training Learn about the Unstuck and On Target for Elementary online training

3 Ways to Compromise 3 Ways to Compromise ​ Download a poster showing three methods of compromising in any situation.

Play a flexibility game online! ​ Students roll the dice and click on the i on the space to draw a card. If someone lands on the same space, move forward one. Play a Flexibility Game Online!

e-Unstuck and On Target Program ​ The e-Unstuck and on Target Program is an interactive e-­learning course for parents to teach them to support executive functioning and behavior regulation in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The dynamic e-learning platform systematically intermixes didactic instruction with hands-on interactive exercises. ​ This self paced interactive e-learning course will: Empower parents to use Unstuck strategies promoting generalization Provide parents with an individualized set of insights and recommendations for their child, including things to share with other caregivers, teachers, and community members e-Unstuck and On Target Program

About Unstuck and On Target What is Unstuck? ​​​An executive function curriculum that uses proven cognitive-behavioral techniques to improve flexibility, emotion regulation, planning and organization. A set of fun activities that cue larger concepts, resulting in a shared language and approach for learning to be flexible, set goals and make plans. An adaptable set of lessons designed for use in schools by any school staff, but also used in clinic settings. Unstuck meets Tier 2 Intervention requirements for IEP's and 504's, but has been used in mainstream classrooms and in Tier 3 educational settings as well. A suite of resources that includes: Manual of 21 small group lessons Companion book for parents teachers, and therapists to support generalization of Unstuck Online training modules with CE credits for teachers Brief videos and an accessible online training platform for parents to learn the language and strategies of Unstuck. Who is Unstuck for and Does it Work? Unstuck is designed for 8- to 11- year-olds with average IQ who have challenges with flexibility, organization and planning. It was originally developed for children with autism who have strong cognitive and language skills. However, it targets executive function abilities that are essential for all children to thrive at home and at school, and research has shown that is effective for children with ADHD as well as autism. Research has documented that Unstuck helps children: Become more flexible problem solvers Improve classroom behaviors for following directions, making transitions, and avoiding meltdowns and negativity. How Can I Learn Unstuck? Use the small group curriculum manual : complete lesson plans with explicit, step by step directions. Parents, teachers and therapists can read Solving Executive Function Challenges to learn strategies to generalize Unstuck skills. Parents and teachers can watch these short videos in English and Spanish, which provide simple, practical ideas parent can use immediately. Parents can complete e-Unstuck on-line training.

Solving Executive Function Challenges Solving Executive Function Challenges ( A how-to book for parents and educators) ​ How can you help kids with autism be flexible, get organized, and work toward goals—not just in school but in everyday life? It's all about executive function, and this quick problem-solving guide helps you explicitly teach these critical skills to children with autism (Grades K-8).

Easy to Use Virtual Learning Supports: Nearpod Lessons for Elementary Educators During the pandemic, we created some lessons for Unstuck to be delivered online using the Nearpod Platform . You can access these lessons either as a teacher or a student by clicking on the links below. To effectively use the lesson, you must also be very familiar with the Unstuck curriculum . The twelve lessons below cover the key scripts and activities but are modified to be more engaging online. In addition, you will find videos with activities embedded--a real crowd pleaser that many teachers are using to enhance their in person lessons. Embedded in every lesson are the key concepts of: The importance of making a Plan B to be flexible Using coping strategies to stay on target (at a 1-3 where you can make plans e.g. be flexible) Flexibility and problem solving helps kids reach their goals--or at least get part of what they want (which is better than nothing) Lesson 1 Introduction to Rules, Each Other, Goals and Plans Lesson 2 Introduction to Goal, Why, Plan, Do Check (GWPDC) and the elements of a good PLAN Lesson 3 Introduction to the Feelings Target This lesson includes a Jamboard that you can copy for each student. Lesson 4 Flexibility is Fun! This lesson uses another Jamboard for students to look for flexible and rigid objects. Lesson 5 Using the Feelings Chain and learning Flexible is Faster. This lesson uses a Jamboard for students to see how using the feelings chain helps them reach THEIR GOALS. Lesson 6 Students learn that there is always a Plan B--from the Pink Panther (Think Before You Pink). Lesson 7 Compromise or How to Make a Plan B with Someone Else This lesson teaches a key concept. Download the COMPROMISE visual here . ​ Lesson 8 Using the Feelings Chain and learning Flexible is Faster. This lesson uses a Jamboard for students to see how using the feelings chain helps them reach THEIR GOALS. Lesson 9 This lesson is two big concepts: Big Deal/Little Deal and Choice/No Choice. Students think about how to TURN a big deal into little deal (with a PLAN of course), and learn that NO CHOICE situations are when health, safety, or the law are involved. Lesson 10 This lesson revisits Choice/No Choice (sometimes what you want is impossible, and that is disappointing) and adds in the idea that sometimes we need to Expect the Unexpected. But we can do that by...making a Plan! Lesson 11 Students learn more benefits of being flexible and review key concepts using this fun on line game. Lesson 12 Students wrap up by thinking about how distractions (Distractor Goals) get in the way of their Target Goals. Fun videos make the point that it's hard to stay focused on the Target Goal, but you can do it with a good Plan!

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