Teachers and Other Professionals
Dr. Lisa Marnell teaches professional development virtually online
Teachers and school professionals are in a position to cultivate safety in their Autistic students. This in turn enables children and teens to engage, learn, and thrive at school. But to cultivate safety, educators must understand and support Autistic tnervous system function.
Too often, misunderstanding Autistic students leads to unrealistic classroom expectations, ineffective teaching approaches, and strategies that do not support the student. Autistic students become distressed, learning shuts down, staff time is spent trying to manage situations that could become violent - and everyone is frustrated.
Kids Master Skills offers two course options for teachers and school professionals:
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“Insight to Autism for Teachers and School Professionals”
4 hours, available live virtual or pre-recorded -
“Sensory Processing in Autism: From Understanding to Engagement” 3 hours, available live virtual or pre-recorded
Both courses help teachers and school professionals understand Autistic students more accurately and respond in supportive ways.
A 4.5-Hour Course Focused on Neuroaffirming Autism Support
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Many Autistic students are being misunderstood in school because the adults around them have not been taught how their nervous systems affect learning, regulation, communication, and participation. When we miss what is really happening, teaching approaches do not align with student learning, students become distressed, staff spend valuable time creating plans that do not work, and safety concerns occur.
This course enables parents, teachers, and school professionals to understand Autistic students so they provide support that fits the child. You’ll learn how nervous system differences shape school functioning, how to identify what a student needs in order to learn, and how to adapt goals, accommodations, and teaching approaches in ways that are practical, respectful, and neuroaffirming.
A Sensory Course for Teachers
When sensory processing differences are not recognized or supported in school, many Autistic students are unable to access learning. Their distress may be misunderstood, and districts can lose valuable staff time and financial resources through repeated meetings, ineffective plans, meltdowns, escalation, safety risks for all, and lost instructional time.
In this professional development, school staff will learn to understand, interpret, and proactively address sensory differences in Autistic students so they can respond earlier and more accurately to student needs. This strengthens student access, learning, participation, and safety while supporting more efficient use of district staff time and resources.
This course will be available in August 2026
What People Say About
Dr. Lisa Marnell's Teaching?
Heather, London
The information you share is beyond appreciated. I have been looking everywhere for guidance.
Thank you so much!
Tina, Colorado
I have been an occupational therapist for two years, and I want to keep learning more. I love your videos, Dr. Lisa!
Thank you!
Jennifer, Toronto
I am learning so much from you . Your videos have helped me with my five-year old autistic son who has sensory processing disorder.
Who is Dr. Lisa Marnell?
Hello! I provide specialized Autism education primarily to school districts and schools, in both the United States and Canada. Whether working with OTs or teachers and paraprofessionals, my priority is to teach strategies to support nervous system regulation, which, in turn, cultivates emotional safety, quality of life, deeper and richer engagement in learning, and self-empowerment.
My goal is to incorporate meaning, joy, and agency into the lives of Autistic children. I believe Autism is not a disorder, but rather a different neurotype with its own unique strengths and challenges.
I am an occupational therapist by training with over 20 years of experience. I completed my doctorate at Boston University (BU) where I studied executive function in autism and worked on the faculty at BU for five years. I am also a DIR Floortime Therapist, certified in Sensory Integration through USC, and trained in SOS Feeding. I am diagnosed Autistic myself.
When I am not teaching, creating courses or working with kids, you will likely find me hiking with Luna, my precious husky rescue dog. I look forward to connecting with you!