SLN Foundations Participants Share!

Thanks to the newly created Special Learning Needs Foundations groups that met at Lincoln Land College and at the Pui Tak Center for your participation and insight into how to best meet the needs of our adult education students! 

Please post below your application exercise using one strategy for student-centered teaching. Please share how your students benefited from this activity. Please also share any suggestions you have for other teachers as they plan to incorporate your idea. Check back to read other participants experiences. 

Illinois Assistive Technology Program

The Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) is the non-profit organization designated as the Statewide AT Program funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended. IATP’s lead agency is the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services.

IATP provides the following core programs:
Assistive Technology Demonstrations
Assistive Technology Device Loans
Assistaive Technology State Financing
Assistive Technology Reutilization

IATP also provides Information and Assistance, Training and Technical Assistance on a variety of AT topics, as well as, collaborates with state agencies and disability organizations statewide to improve and expand policies and practices to include greater access to and funding for AT.

For more information, visit their website at: https://www.iltech.org/

Special Learning Needs Training Opportunity - Please Share with Colleagues!

The newly created Foundations of Special Learning Needs focuses on informal assessments and instructional strategies to address special learning needs and effective instructional practices for all. It is a shortened training opportunity that can give basic knowledge of addressing special learning needs.

This hybrid training will meet once in-person for a half day and will contain two online training components with application exercises. Thanks to the two hosts for these sessions: Pui Tak and Lincoln Land. Participants can chose to attend at one location.

Dates:

Self-paced online – August 27, 2018 – October 12, 2018                                 

In-person Day: Friday, October 19, 2018 9:00am – 12:30pm  Pui Tak Center

Self-paced online – August 27, 2018 – October 5, 2018

In-person Day: Friday, October 12, 2018 9:00am – 12:30pm  Lincoln Land Community College 

The Foundations training, as well the Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists, are part of the ICCB Instructional Staff Professional Pathways for Special Learning Needs. Successful completion of the Foundations training will provide credit towards completion of the Institute. Foundations training can also be completed as a stand-alone module.

Visit the PD Portal for applications and for more information: 

http://www.excellenceinadulted.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Application-18-SLN-Foundations-Pui-Tak-Center.pdf

http://www.excellenceinadulted.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Application-18-SLN-Foundations-Lincoln-Land.pdf

Questions should be addressed to Sarah Goldammer at sgoldam@siue.edu

Forum for Excellence

The 2018 Forum for Excellence is two weeks away.  You will not want to miss this conference.

The complete program and registration are available at https://icsps.illinoisstate.edu/pd/forum-for-excellence/




Attendees may want to check out Special Learning Needs focused sessions: 

Teaching Science to All While Meeting the Needs of Special Learners

Monica Waller, Lewis and Clark Community College

Do you struggle to meet all the learning needs of the students in your classroom? In this presentation, participants will be shown how to take proven effective lessons and modify them to engage all learners and meet special learning needs by involving multiple modalities. Contextualized work applications and Illinois ABE/ASE Standards will be infused giving the greatest possible return on lesson investment.

Exploring Resources for Students with Autism

Nikki Michalak, Illinois Center for Specilized Professional Support

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represent a consistently growing population; it is, therefore, important to understand their needs and how to support them in their postsecondary academic endeavors. There are no clear statistics on college enrollment of students with ASD, but it is estimated that they comprise 0.7% to 1.9% of the college population with an 80% incompletion rate. It is anticipated that these numbers will continue to increase and will make the need for understanding individuals with ASD even more imperative. The Autism Training and Technical Assistance project was created to develop resources and materials focused on the transition needs of individuals with ASD from high school into postsecondary education and workforce. In this presentation, you will learn what a student with ASD might need in a college classroom or college setting and explore strategies to help students be successful.

The Psychology of Scarcity: Why Questionable Decisions May Make Perfect Sense

Sarah Goldammer, Southern Illinois Professional Development Center

Ever wonder whyindividuals we serve make decisions or choices that just don’t seem to make anysense? Hear about the latest research: Scarcity–The New Science of Having Less and How it Defines Our Lives.Learn what some of those common decisions or choices are, the economic and personal rationales that are often behind them, and how we can best support those we serve. Spend time considering alternate plans to best assist our students as they transition from the classroom to employment and self-sufficiency. Discussion will be facilitated and resources will be provided to assist all to reevaluate their adult education program structure in an effort to maximize opportunities for student success.

See you at the Forum!

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

In October, the nation celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.  This year’s theme is “America’s Workforce: Empowering All."

To help promote, the official  2018 NDEAM poster  is now  available  for downloading or to  order  in hard copy from the Office of Disability Employment Programs. 

Great Professional Development Event!

Professional Development Event

  

  

Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Transitioning Individuals with ASD to Postsecondary Education and Employment

  

August 29th from 10 AM to 3 PM Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal, IL. The Autism Training & Technical Assistance (ATTA) project at the Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Supportwill bring together a group of leading professionals with expertise in preparation and recruitment of individuals with autism for the workplace and their career and educational advancement. The day will also include a panel discussion from postsecondary education partners  to share their work specific to individuals with ASD in the college setting and its connection to employment. ATTA seeks to develop and present resources that assist individuals with ASD in their transition from secondary education to postsecondary education or employment. ATTA also seeks to provide training and support to important stakeholders as they work to provide an equitable experience for individuals with autism. The event will feature John Elder Robison. Our objectives are to: Build a community focused on issues related to the preparation and employment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Identify interventions to create an inclusive workplace. Develop next steps to advance evidence-based practices to equitably include individuals with autism in the workplace. The event will take place on August 29th from 10 AM to 3 PMat the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal, IL. Additional event details and registration information can be accessed here.