First Author™ is a comprehensive writing curriculum that guides educators to teach beginning writing skills to students with special needs including autism. It helps prepare students for the alternate assessment (including DLM, STAAR, and NCSC). But most importantly, you will help your students see themselves as authors who have the potential to share and communicate with others. As a result of Don Johnston’s Professional Development training on First Author, educators will be able to:

• Understand the components of the First Author Writing Curriculum Kit,
• Create Student Profiles and baseline writing samples,
• Prepare students for alternate assessment,
• Use scripted lessons to introduce and develop students' writing skills,
• Use writing measures and scoring to track progre