For questions or to go on the waiting list for a future session contact Diane Wagner: dianew@LDAO.ca

Become a member now

OUTLINE

Unit 1: Partnership and Advocacy: Perspectives of Parents and Schools

Participants:

  • Will look at the meaning of advocacy in the context of effective partnerships with the school
  • Will examine their thoughts, feelings and beliefs regarding education and schools as these may influence their interaction with the school
  • Will consider how to understand the perspective of the school

Unit 2: Strategies and Models for Partnership and Advocacy

Participants:

  • Will become familiar with 4 models for planning advocacy efforts on behalf of a child
  • Will recognize the role of careful documentation and record-keeping
  • Will learn how to handle meetings and effectively use note-taking

Unit 3: Understanding How the Special Education System Works: The Education Act, IPRCs and IEPs

Participants:

  • Will learn how current legislation in the Education Act provides for students with special education needs
  • Will explore the legal context and processes of the IPRC and IEP
  • Will understand how to collaborate in development of an IEP
  • Will learn how to work on a ‘living IEP’ within the classroom environment

Unit 4: Understanding Psychological Assessment Reports

Participants:

  • Will understand the purpose of psychological assessments and the factors to be considered when recommending psychological testing
  • Will understand how core psychological concepts associated with learning disabilities and other disorders are assessed and interpreted
  • Will become comfortable in reading psychology reports and asking questions about reports

Unit 5: Understanding How Children Communicate Difficulty at School: Behaviour Problems as Communication

Participants:

  • Will understand that behaviour can act as a form of communication from the child
  • Will learn how to use a “team approach” to problem-solve and brainstorm possible reasons for inappropriate behaviour
  • Will understand how to use Behaviour Plans to prevent behaviour difficulties from escalating into disciple problems

Unit 6: Students with Special Education Needs and School Discipline Policies: Progressive Discipline, Mitigating Factors, Suspension and ExpulsionParticipants:

  • Will understand what the school means by progressive discipline
  • Will become familiar with rules and requirements around suspension
  • Will learn about other ways students can be kept out of school, including Expulsion

Unit 7: Negotiation and Resolving Conflicts: Informal and Formal Processes

Participants:

  • Will understand some of the reasons that disputes and conflicts arise
  • Will learn methods which will allow them to collaborate with educators to prevent conflicts where possible and to resolve them quickly when they arise
  • Will understand options for using formal dispute resolution processes
  • Will gain an overview of effective ways to work through conflict by using negotiating skills.

Become a member now

For questions or to go on the waiting list for a future session contact Diane Wagner: dianew@LDAO.ca