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UNSTUCK CURRICULUM UNSTUCK AND ON TARGET ​​For students with executive function challenges, problems with flexibility and goal-directed behavior can be major obstacles to success in school and in life. With the second edition of this popular curriculum, you’ll explicitly teach flexibility, problem-solving, coping, and goal setting through fun, field-tested lessons that work for learners with autism, ADHD, and other challenges that affect executive function. A school-based intervention for students ages 8–11, this evidence-based curriculum gives you 21 ready-to-use lessons that boost cognitive flexibility in everyday situations, from compromising with peers to coping with frustration. Unstuck and On Target! Benefits: Meets the needs of MTSS Tier 2 learners. This proven curriculum is one of the few tailored to the needs of Tier 2 students who need more focused instruction. Gives you explicit, step-by-step routines, activities, and scripts to help students improve executive function skills. Targets the flexibility and planning skills every student needs to learn effectively, reduce stress, get along with others, problem-solve, and more. It can be done in any classroom, by any teacher . Each ready-to-use lesson comes complete with clear instructions, materials lists, and tips for teachers. Makes learning fun with engaging games, role plays, stories, and lively class discussions. Reinforces new skills through 19 Home Practice handouts in English and Spanish (available for download online). Easy to Use Curriculum The new second edition book includes links to downloadable posters, game boards, and student activities and worksheets. ​ Now appropriate for learners with ADHD and other conditions linked to executive function challenges, as well as autism. Tested with teachers and streamlined for user-friendliness. Enhanced parent materials, including materials in Spanish. Tested with a diverse sample of children and refined to increase student engagement. Learn more about Unstuck and On Target! Gameboards & Posters Interventionist Training Resources Learn how to teach Unstuck with fun, interactive modules that use real world examples and help you personalize Unstuck for you and your classroom! Bringing Unstuck Home: Solving Executive Function Challenges: Simple ways to get kids with autism unstuck and on target 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 high-functioning children with autism (Grades K-8). Used on its own or in tandem with the popular Unstuck and On Target! classroom curriculum, this practical guide shows how to embed executive function instruction in dozens of everyday scenarios, from morning routines to getting homework done. Designed for therapists, teachers, and parents, these highly effective techniques give children the skills they need to navigate each day, reach their goals, and succeed inside and outside the classroom. Solving Challenges Help Parents: Understand executive function—why it’s important and why it’s challenging for children with autism Teach three skills critical to success: flexibility, goal setting, and organization Use consistent scripts and keywords to help children process your message Model desired behaviors —and fade your guidance as children generalize skills Provide simple, effective visual cues that keep kids unstuck and on target Keep it fun and positive, with tips on creative, playful ways to teach executive function skills PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Dozens of specific, easy-to-do examples; “Goal, Plan, Do, Check” scripts and worksheets that break down tasks into small, achievable chunks; keywords and phrases that help kids stay on target; reproducible visual aids; sample IEP goals. Help children with autism: Compromise with family and friends Turn “big deals” into “little deals” Move on to Plan B when Plan A doesn’t work Make plans and carry them out Solve problems independently Be a good friend Handle disappointments and unexpected events Avoid “whims” that get them off track Quick-reference magnet included! As a bonus, you’ll also get a 4 x 6 magnet printed with keywords and sample scripts from Unstuck and On Target! It’s a handy quick reference for the “Goal-Plan-Do-Check” process that helps students set and meet goals.

Unstuck and On Target Unstuck for Ages 11-15 now available ​ Learn how to provide Unstuck 8-11 to your students through an asynchronous online educator training. FREE 3.5 CEC cr edit! What is Unstuck ? ​​​Unstuck is a suite of tools for educators, families, and clinicians to build executive function skills. Resources include: Curricula for both elementary and middle school aged students Online implenter training modules Free videos Online parent training Free supplemental materials (YouTube Channel and posters) ​ The Unstuck currricula consist of small group lessons and simple, everyday strategies that build a common language. Children improve in their regulation of feelings, behavior, and thinking by improving their core executive function skills of flexibility, planning and organization. ​ Who is Unstuck for? Does it Work? Unstuck is for children who struggle with executive functioning. Unstuck is a language mediated intervention, although it contains extensive visual supports which can be adapted for use with many different types of children. Research shows that Unstuck helps children with autism or ADHD become more flexible problem solvers, with better abilities to follow directions, make transitions, and avoid meltdowns and negativity. It also helps reduce parent stress and creates calmer classrooms. Further research needs to be done on a broader group of people with executive function challenges. ​ ​ More Who can Implement Unstuck ? The Unstuck intervention (curriculum) can be delivered by school based personnel and/or community based clinicians such as: Teachers Speech and language therapists Counselors Social workers Psychologists Occupational therapists Paraeducators Tutors Parents can create an Unstuck home: Online Unstuck Parent Course Solving EF Challenges book Free Parent Videos and Tip Sheets ​ ​ ​ Para espanol haga clic aqui Unstuck from Early Childhood through Early Adulthood Ages 4-6 Ages 8-11 Ages 11-15 Ages 14-22 Unstuck song Story books Activities Fun games Experiments Planning fun activities Building power Understanding your strengths and challenges Self advocacy Curriculum In Development Curriculum and Online Training Available Learn More Curriculum and Online Training Coming Soon Video: The importance of the Unstuck philosophy In the video below, Julia Bascom speaks to the importance of the Unstuck philosophy: Understanding your strengths and things you need to work on so that you can seek accommodations and supports. ​ This video is not an endorsement by ASAN of Unstuck . Video court esy of www.unstuckontarget.com Watch more videos Parent/Caregiver Parent/Caregiver Parent/Caregiver Implementers Do you want to improve classroom management and build a common language of self regulation in your school? Are you working with a child who is stuck on an overwhelming feeling or situation? Do you have clients who are struggling to be flexible in social situations? Learn More Families Does your child struggle with changes in routine, working independently or overwhelming feelings? "Unstuck has been a lifesaver for our family" Learn More TESTIMONIALS Here's what parents say they learned... ​ "Unstuck has changed the way our family interacts. We now all use the scripts and we have a common language that we really try to use in both good and bad times. You know it's working when your child tells you that you stuck and you are!" Here's what kids say they learned... ​ “Being able to have multiple plans because if I don’t have multiple plans I get stuck. If I have multiple plans I can get a little of what I want, rather than not at all. In most situations that’s better." Here's what teachers say... ​ “This is exactly the type of intervention needed to support our academically higher but dysregulated kiddos with ASD and ADHD. I appreciate the structure the curriculum provides.” Here's what community providers say... ​ "Unstuck works for clients with all kinds of challenges, including anxiety, ADHD, and autism. More importantly, kids and families have fun and can do it!" ​ ​

Interventionist Training FREE Unstuck Elementary Educator Training ​ Do you want to learn about Unstuck or how to implement it with your students? We have created a training to help you do that! To get started, create an account with the Innovations Institute at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. Decide whether you'd like to earn CECs for this training and click the appropriate link below to create your account. ​ Yes, I'd love to earn CEC s! No thanks, I don't need CECs Click below to view portions of the training. Module 1: Introduction ​ Module 1 provides an overview of the training and previews the resources and activities that are available to you as you complete the training. Module 7: Watch Teachers Put Unstuck Into Action! ​ In the following slides from Module 7, you will see examples of the interactive slides, how we use the student case studies, and a teacher using Unstuck principles in their classroom.​ Do you work with high school-aged students? Keep an eye on this space for information about an online training for you: Unstuck and On Target for Students Ages 14-21. Coming Soon! Resources to Support Teaching Unstuck on YouTube Individualize and spice up your lessons with fun videos that the Unstuck community has found on YouTube. ​ There are individual playlists by topic or script, so you can find videos to support teaching Plan A/Plan B or the Feelings Target! ​ One cartoon series that we have found almost always brings smiles and an Unstuck "theme" (Stuck, Plan B, Feelings Target) is the Pink Panther. They can be used also as a wrap up or as a "prize" as they are generally short and well liked.

About the Authors Lauren Kenworthy Lauren Kenworthy, PhD, is Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry at the George Washington University School of Medicine, and Director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Health System. Dr. Kenworthy received her BA from Yale University and PhD from the University of Maryland. Her research interests are in describing the cognitive strengths and supporting the cognitive weaknesses seen in autism ADHD and other developmental disabilities. She is an author of more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, and of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), as well as the Unstuck and On-Target curricula. She has completed two trials of Unstuck and On-Target in schools for children with ADHD or ASD. Monica Werner Monica Adler Werner, LCPC, MA specializes in program development, executive function interventions in autism, and parent coaching and support. She currently works in private practice and has deep experience in schools developing programming for children with Autism. She is a co-author of Unstuck and On Target Curricula (Brookes, 2011, 2024), a curriculum to enhance cognitive flexibility and problem solving in students with Autism and ADHD, and Solving Executive Function Challenges: Simple Ways to Get Kids with Autism Unstuck and on Target . Monica has an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters degrees from Johns Hopkins and Palo Alto University. Lynn Cannon Lynn Cannon, M.Ed is a social learning specialist at The Ivymount School and The Maddux School. Ms. Cannon received her M.ED in Special Education from the University of Virginia. For over 15 years, she has worked as an educator, administrator and program director, serving students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Ms. Cannon is also a co-author of Solving Executive Challenges, a resource guide for teachers and parents, The Conversation Club, an instructional manual for teaching conversation skills to students with neurodevelopmental disabilities and the Ivymount Social Cognition Package, a comprehensive, online system for supporting social and emotional learning in K-8 students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Her research and teaching interests are in developing interventions and support materials for students with neurodevelopmental disabilities, therapists, educators and their families. Katie C. Alexander Katie C. Alexander, OTD, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and clinician-researcher. Dr. Alexander received her BS, post-professional masters and doctorate from the University of Kansas Medical Center. For over 15 years, she has specialized in community and school-based intervention for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and served as the founding program director for the Model Asperger Program at The Ivymount School. Her research and clinical interests are in developing research-and strengths-based interventions and supports that improve the daily lives of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Dr. Alexander also works to disseminate evidence-based practices and improve interprofessional collaboration. John F. Strang John F. Strang, PsyD, is a clinical neuropsychologist in the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Hospital. He is also an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine at George Washington University. Dr. Strang received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and his doctorate from George Washington University. His clinical and research efforts focus on autistic adolescents, including those who are gender diverse. Dr. Strang celebrates the many members of his own family who are on the autism spectrum and approaches his work from a neurodiversity-affirmative framework, which recognizes the strengths inherent in variations in thinking style. He has received two foundation grants to develop and test the Unstuck and On Target: Grades 6-8 curriculum. Laura Gutermuth Anthony Laura Gutermuth Anthony, PhD, Professor, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at the Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Anthony completed a dual degree PhD program in clinical and developmental psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1997. Since then, she has focused her most of her research and clinical work on children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and intervention development and implementation. She has also received funding for 11 federally-funded and 7 foundation research grants including several to study the Unstuck and On Target suite of interventions. Cara Pugliese Cara Pugliese, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine, and a clinical psychologist at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Hospital. Dr. Pugliese received her BA from the University of Richmond, and PhD from Virginia Tech. Her clinical and research work focuses on developing evidence-based strategies to support executive function in transition-age youth with autism, and how best to implement these practices in community settings. She has received 4 federally funded and 1 foundation-funded research grants to develop and test the Unstuck & On Target: High School curriculum (to be published), served as an investigator on five community-based pragmatic trials, and is the author of over 20 peer-reviewed publications.

Resources for the Neurodivergent Community 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 ​ These short videos provide: Quick easy tips for supporting children Parent-parent tips, wisdom and experiences Experts answering common parent questions Estos videos cortos proporcionan: Padres que comparten su sabiduría y experiencias. Expertos que responden preguntas comunes de los padres Find Downloadable Resources for: Handouts for teachers Visuals for Parents Infographics Posters

Administrator Resources Interventionist Training Preview! These self-paced modules will allow Unstuck implementors to earn CEU's! Click below to view portions of the training and stay tuned for more information on when the entire training will be available! Module 1 provides an overview of the training and previews the resources and activities that are available to you as you complete the training. ​ View all of Module 1 here . In the following slides from Module 7: Watch Teachers Put Unstuck Into Action, you will see examples of the interactive slides, how we use the student case studies, and a teacher using Unstuck principles in their classroom.​ ​ View slides from Module 7 here . Click here to download Unstuck Snapshot summarizing the approach and research base for this EF intervention.

Unstuck Events and News In an effort to create community, we are posted Unstuck related events on this page. Please know that posting does not constitute an endorsement, as we have no quality assurance mechanism. Online Conference Session: Teaching Executive Function Skills for Better Problem Solving, Self Advocacy, and Calmer Classrooms ​ Dates/Times: November 16 from 8:30-9:30 AM EST ​ Conference: OCALICONLINE 2023 ​ Participants of this session will learn how to create an executive function supportive classroom and directly teach EF's using consistent language taught through fun, engaging activities from Unstuck and On Target . To promote generalization in the child's support network, free resources for other adults (teachers, caregivers) will be reviewed. ​ Click here to learn more about the conference and to register

Research on Unstuck and On Target Peer reviewed papers Dickson, K.S., Galligan, M.L., Holt, T., Anthony, L.G., Kenworthy, L., & Brookman-Frazee, L. (in press). Incorporating Community Dickson, K.S., Galligan, M.L., Holt, T., Anthony, L.G., Kenworthy, L., & Brookman-Frazee, L. (in press). Incorporating Community Perspectives to Inform the Scaling-Out of an Evidence-Based Executive Functioning Intervention from Schools to Community Mental Health Settings. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Advanced Online ​ Kenworthy L, Childress D, Armour AC, Verbalis A, Zhang A, Troxel M, Handsman R, Kocher K, Myrick Y, Werner M, Alexander KC, Cannon L, Anthony LG. Leveraging technology to make parent training more accessible: Randomized trial of in-person versus online executive function training for parents of autistic children. Autism. 2022 Aug 2:13623613221111212. doi: 10.1177/13623613221111212. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35916246. ​ Rothschild LB, Ratto AB, Kenworthy L, Hardy KK, Verbalis A, Pugliese C, Strang JF, Safer-Lichtenstein J, Anthony BJ, Anthony LG, Guter MM, Haaga DAF. Parents matter: Parent acceptance of school-based executive functions interventions relates to improved child outcomes. J Clin Psychol. Jul;78(7):1388-1406. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23309. Epub 2022 Jan 8. PMID: 34997971; PMCID: PMC9203869. ​ Swain, D, Troxel, M, Anthony, LG, Kenworthy, L, Verbalis, A, Hardy, KK, Ratto, A, Myrick, Y, & Anthony, B (2021). School-based executive function interventions reduce caregiver strain. International Review of Research in Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irrdd.2021.08.001 ​ Dickson, KS, Kenworthy, L, Anthony, LG, & Brookman-Frazee, L Mental health therapist perspectives on the role of executive functioning in children’s mental health services. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 2022 Advanced Online Publication. doi: 10.1080/23794925.2021.2013142 ​ Kenworthy, L*, Anthony, LG*, Naiman, DQ, Cannon, L, Wills, MC, Werner, MA, Alexander, K, Strang, J, Bal, E, Sokoloff, JL, & Wallace, GL (2014). Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial of Executive Function Invention for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 55:374-83. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.12161 *Joint first authors ​ Ratto, AB, Anthony, BJ, Pugliese, C, Mendez, R, Safer-Lichtenstein, J, Dudley, KM, Kahn, NF, Kenworthy, L, Biel, M, Martucci, JL, & Anthony, LG (2017). Lessons learned: Engaging culturally diverse families in neurodevelopmental disorders intervention research. Autism, 21(5):622-34. DOI: 10.1177/1362361316650394. ​ Uddin, L.Q. Cognitive and behavioural flexibility: neural mechanisms and clinical considerations. Nat Rev Neurosci 22, 167–179 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-021-00428-w ​ Elias R, Murphy HG, Turner KA, White SW. Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of an Adapted Transdiagnostic Treatment for Children With Executive Function Deficits. J Cogn Psychother. 2019 Nov 1;33(4):343-356. doi: 10.1891/0889-8391.33.4.343. PMID: 32746396. ​ Weitlauf AS, McPheeters ML, Peters B, Sathe N, Travis R, Aiello R, Williamson E, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Krishnaswami S, Jerome R, Warren Z. Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Behavioral Interventions Update. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 137. (Prepared by the Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2012-00009-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 14-EHC036-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; August 2014. www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm. ​ Peer reviewed presentations Kenworthy, L., *Pugliese, C., Hardy, K.K., *Strang, J., *Ratto, A.B., *Safer-Lichtenstein, J. Biel, M., *Seese, S., *Kraper, C., *Wills, M. C., *Luong-Tran, C., Cannon., Sharber, A.C., Anthony, B., and Anthony, L.G. (2018 February). Evidence for Cross-Diagnosis Efficacy of School-Based Unstuck and On Target Executive Function Intervention in Low Income Communities. In L. Kenworthy (Chair), Bringing Neuropsychology to the People: Transforming Our Knowledge of Executive Function (EF) Phenotypes into Effective Community-Based Interventions for Children.Symposium conducted at the Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Washington, DC. ​ Hardy KK,*Pugliese C, *Strang JF, *Ratto A, *Seese S, *Safer-Lichtenstein J, Sharber AC, *Luong-Tran C, Cannon L, *Wills M, Biel M, Anthony B, Anthony L, Kenworthy L. (2018, February). Applying contingency-based behavioral management strategies to treat cognitive inflexibility in children with ADHD and ASD: Development and efficacy of a school-based intervention in low-income communities. In L Kenworthy (Chair) Bringing Neuropsychology to the People: Transforming our Knowledge of Executive Function (EF) Phenotypes into Effective Community-Based Interventions for Children. Oral symposium presented at the International Neuropsychological Society 2018 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. ​ *Ratto, A.B., Anthony, L.G., *Powers, M., Verbalis, A., *Seese, S., & Kenworthy, L. (2018, May). Effects of Dual-Language Exposure on Language and Executive Function in Children with ASD and ADHD. Presentation at an oral session at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands. ​ Anthony, L.G., Anthony, B., Verbalis, A., Naiman, D., *Ratto, A.B., *Seese, S., Safer-Lichtenstein, J., Skapek, M., *Powers, M., Troxel, M., Kenworthy, L. (2018, May). An Exploration of Possible Moderators in an Addressing Disparities Comparative Effectiveness Trial for Elementary Students with ASD or ADHD. In A. Gruber (Chair) Psychosocial and Demographic Moderators of Intervention Outcomes for Youth and Young Adults with ASD. Panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands. ​ Anthony, L.G., Verbalis, A., *Pugliese C, Hardy KK,*Strang JF, Anthony, B., *Ratto, A.B., *Seese, S., Safer-Lichtenstein, J., Armour, A.C., Troxel, M., Myrick, Y., Limon, D., Kenworthy, L. (2018, May). What Matters?: An Examination of Implementation Factors in the Effectiveness of Two Tier 2 School-based Interventions. In L. Kenworthy (Chair) Reaching Children Where They Are: The Promise and Challenge of School-Based Intervention for Autism.Panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, Rotterdam, Netherlands. ​ Kenworthy, L., Anthony, L.G., Hardy, K., Safer-Lichtenstein, J., Verbalis, A., Biel, M., Seese, S., Strang, J., Ratto, A., Pugliese, C., & Anthony, B. (May, 2017) Addressing Disparities Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Community-Based Executive Function Treatments in ASD & ADHD, International Meeting for Autism Research, San Francisco. ​ Kenworthy, L., Anthony, L.G., Myrick, Y. (November 2016) A Community-Based Executive Function Intervention for Low- Income Children with ADHD and ASD Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. ​ Kenworthy, L. Luong-Tran, C., Werner, M.A., Strang, J. F., Dudley, K., Sharber, A. C., Wallace, G. L., & Anthony, L. G. (2014). Longitudinal Outcomes of Unstuck and On Target Executive Function Intervention Trial in Children with ASD. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), Atlanta, Georgia. ​ Kenworthy, L., Luong-Tran, C., Dudley, K., Naiman, D. Q., Strang, J. F., Werner, M.A., Alexander, K. C., Cannon, L., & Anthony, L. G. (2014). Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial of Executive Function Invention for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Poster at the 42nd annual meeting of the International Neuropsychology Society, Seattle, Washington. ​

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