Beyond Time and Money: Teaching Mathematics to Students with Complex Access Needs

Math is important for students with significant cognitive disabilities because it permeates so many of our daily living activities. While learning math can be challenging for students without disabilities, it may be a particularly difficult subject for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This course will focus on strategies for teaching math and how specialized mathematics instruction can be embedded in the general education classroom.

The learning objectives for this training are:

• List several reasons why it is important to teach math to students with significant cognitive disabilities.
• Describe the cognitive development continuum of mathematics understanding.
• Describe strategies for teaching early mathematics knowledge and skills.
• Describe strategies for teaching higher-level mathematics such as geometry and algebra.
• Describe how specialized mathematics instruction can be embedded in the general education classroom.

Coaching Support Included

This training includes a coaching component delivered by experts at each regional education service center to help educators apply what they’ve learned with confidence and fidelity. Coaching provides personalized, job‑embedded support grounded in four research‑based practices proven to strengthen instruction: alliance-building, observation, modeling, and performance feedback.

Educators and coaches complete a three‑step coaching cycle—pre‑observation, observation, and performance feedback—to reinforce training content and improve implementation. Coaching is designed to fit flexibly into your existing schedule and enhance your work, not add to it.