Sleep is an essential element for optimal learning. Sleep difficulties negatively impact a student’s ability to learn at school and frequently result in an increase in behavioral problems. Therefore it is essential for educators to understand how to evaluate sleep problems, develop a sleep plan, and train parent to implement.

This session will review the latest sleep and circadian research pertaining to neurotypical and persons with disabilities, and how getting sufficient sleep impacts participation in learning and learning rate. The most commonly reported sleep challenges will be reviewed, with emphasis on how to conduct a sleep assessment to learn what areas need to be addressed (e.g., difficulties falling asleep, waking up during the night, short duration). Evidence-based strategies based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis will be discussed, with a focus on the appropriate strategies to address the specific skill deficit. Teachers, BCBAs, and related service providers will learn how to support families with children that struggle with these issues, and how to implement a plan to empower their learners’ families. The importance of implementing the sleep plan in an effective and consistent manner will be discussed.