The Planner Guide: An Organizational and Reference System for People with Social and Cognitive Challenges

Meet the Authors

Jane Burke, M.A., Special Education

Jane is a special education teacher with 35 years of experience. She has taught individuals of all ages and disabilities, and has been with post high school adults for the past 20 years. She has a strong philosophy regarding teaching adult expectations, self-awareness, and self-advocacy.

Jane, Bob, and Chantal

Bob Steinkamp, M.A., Ed.S.

Bob has been an educator for 36 years, including teaching, consulting, and supervising. He has worked with students with moderate cognitive impairments throughout his career. Bob's focus has been on giving his students the instruction and tools needed to prepare them for a productive and meaningful life. Currently, Bob teaches Special Education at the college level.

Chantal Charron, M.A., CCC-SLP

Chantal is a speech and language pathologist with 20 years of experience working with students of all ages and disabilities. Her professional area of expertise and interest is achievement of social understanding, social independence, and interdependence for individuals with ASD and other disabilities.

Population We Serve

We have worked with post high school age students from our county in Michigan. We draw from local district high schools, as well as from our intermediate district program. Students enter the program at age eighteen and can continue until age twenty-six, as allowed by state mandate. Students have entered our program with the following disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cognitively Impaired, Physically Impaired, Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, Emotionally Impaired, Health Impaired, Speech and Language Impaired, Learning Disability, and Severe Multiple Impairment.