What Works for Work
Free, Online Professional Learning

This module integrates Community Based Instruction with Simulation and Virtual Reality to enhance learning experiences. It provides strategies and tools for professionals to support youth to practice real-world skills in a safe, controlled environment, preparing them for community engagement and independent living.

Review the research on computer-assisted instruction and technology. Learn about apps and technology for reminders, visual schedules, and task completion.

Mnemonics are memory devices that can be very effective for learning and retaining work-related skills. Explore the many styles of mnemonics and discover how they can be matched to a person's preferred learning style and support needs.

In this module, you’ll explore what self-advocacy and self-determination mean and why they matter—especially for individuals with disabilities. You’ll learn how to support others in making choices, setting goals, solving problems, and speaking up for themselves. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, you’ll discover how to teach these skills, create opportunities to practice them, and provide the right supports to help every learner grow in confidence and independence.

Self-monitoring and self-management interventions provide strategies for individuals to become less dependent on 'in-person' assistance, such as aides or coaches. Such strategies help people develop skills to become aware of their own needs and level of performance. In this module you'll learn how to develop effective self-monitoring and self-management plans and review resources to support selected strategies.

This module also provides an overview of Reinforcement to help people learn new skills and successfully use them across a variety of settings.

Social skills are behaviors that facilitate communication and cooperation. Some social skills are general, while others are more context specific. Knowing and practicing the social norms that are expected in various environments and situations is an important component to success in the workplace and other community settings.

Task Analysis, Chaining, and Prompting are fundamental instructional strategies that are often used naturally and spontaneously to teach new skills and build independence. In this course you'll learn how to build effective coaching plans by intentionally selecting which strategies to use, being specific about how and when they will be implemented, and documenting results and progress.

By the end of this module, learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of video modeling, including its definition and purpose. They will be able to identify the four distinct types of video modeling and explain the essential steps for creating an effective video model. Additionally, learners will recognize best practices for implementing video modeling and apply these techniques in practical settings to enhance learning outcomes.

This module explores the use of visual supports—concrete tools such as pictures, symbols, checklists, and schedules—that assist individuals in maintaining attention, communicating, organizing their thoughts, and completing tasks independently. Participants will learn about the characteristics of effective visual supports, strategies for implementation across various environments (home, school, work, and community), and how to adapt supports to meet individual needs. Through real-world examples and best practices, this module provides practical guidance on using visual supports to foster learning, independence, and success in daily activities.