Illinois, this is the education conference you ve been waiting for!

Transcription

1 Illinois, this is the education conference you ve been waiting for! Are you: a parent of child with a disability seeking a more inclusive educational experience for your son or daughter? an advocate who wants to experience more inclusion in your own life or in the lives of others you support? a general education teacher needing more information and inspiration when it comes to differentiating instruction, supporting diverse learners in the inclusive classroom, and challenging all students appropriately? a special education teacher interested in new strategies for student support, collaboration, and advocacy? an administrator wanting to educate your staff on issues of disability, inclusion, equity, and support? an occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech and language therapist wanting to learn more about inclusion and related practices? a school psychologist, social worker, or counselor looking for ways to strengthen your school community and better serve students with disabilities and their peers? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, this conference is for you! We welcome educators, parents, grandparents, therapists, school and district leaders, selfadvocates, and concerned community members alike. Speakers include: (Please see reverse for full list of speakers and conference sessions.) Bill Henderson is a former principal of the award-winning William Henderson Inclusion Elementary School in Boston and author of The Blind Advantage: How Going Blind Made Me a Stronger Principal and How Including Children with Disabilities Made Our School Better for Everyone. Paula Kluth is a consultant, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. Norm Kunc is an advocate with Cerebral Palsy who is known around the world for his disability rights advocacy. Norm travels the world presenting sessions on topics like inclusive education, behavioral support, ability and opportunity, conflict management, school culture, and many more. Patrick Schwarz is a dynamic and engaging professor, author, motivational speaker and leader in Education (Inclusive Education, Special Education, General Education, Educational Leadership) and Human Services. He is a professor at National-Louis University in Chicago. Online registration open at

2 Thursday, May 9 8:00 a.m. Registration and Check-In 8:45 a.m. to Keynote Address: Norm Kunc 10:00 a.m. There s More to Life than Life Skills: The Vital Importance of Inclusive Communities If students and adults with disabilities are to become contributing members of their community, they need to be given the opportunity to learn the subtle complexities of social interaction by being among their peers. Segregated programs have attempted to replicate this learning by reducing it down to a series of separate life skills. Not surprisingly, these programs have been consistently unsuccessful at preparing individuals with disabilities to live in the community. In a fast-paced, entertaining, and provocative presentation, Norman explores the serious limitations of segregated programs. He argues that supporting individuals with disabilities in inclusive classrooms, social programs, employment and housing is the only way to provide individuals with the opportunity and the motivation to learn the range of skills needed to find meaningful work, build a social network, and live as independently as possible. Hell-Bent on Helping: Friendship, Benevolence & the Politics of Help Norm Kunc and Emma Van der Klift Addressing Adventuresome Behavior Patrick Schwarz Co-Teaching & Inclusion: 5 Tips from Successful Teams South Berwyn School District 100, Illinois From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks: 10 Ideas for Adapting Curriculum, Instruction, and Materials Sheila Danaher and staff from Audubon Elementary, Chicago to 1:00 pm 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Please join us for a complimentary buffet lunch, and use the opportunity to network and share with others. Talk to Me: Using Hostage Negotiation Strategies to Solve Classroom Management Problems Emma Van der Klift Best Practices for Paraeducators Patrick Schwarz When the School Says No : How Five Families Made Inclusion Happen Panel Presentation, moderated by Teri Ehrenhardt and Deb Fornoff Leading the Inclusive School: The Role of the Principal John Price and Marilyn McManus Sessions Three 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Supporting Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms: 10 Ideas for K-12 Classrooms the Autism Support Team at Rockford Public Schools, Illinois OTs in the Classroom Rachel Hirsch Joyful Learning: Using Active Learning to Reach, Teach & Inspire Paula Kluth Leading the Inclusive School: The Role of the Principal Q & A Session led by John Price and Marilyn McManus Registration fees: Professionals: $250 for two days; $140 for one day. Parents/self advocates: $175 for two days; $98 for one day. Online registration and payment is strongly encouraged. Please visit Purchase orders are accepted please complete the online registration process, and fax the PO to the number below. phone:

3 Friday, May 10 8:00 a.m. Registration and Check-In (If you are staying at the hotel, don t forget to check out of hotel by 11:00 a.m.) 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Keynote Address: William Henderson Achieving Successful Inclusion In this keynote presentation, Bill will share strategies that promote inclusion, focusing on culture, instruction, and staffing with collaboration. Dealing with Challenges Around Inclusion Bill Henderson The Beyond Access Model: Frameworks for Educating Students with Autism and Related Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms Michael McSheehan Some Assembly Required: Inclusive High School and Beyond Barry Wasik and Project CHOICES Leading Proactive High-Achieving Districts for ALL Students Kurt Schneider to 1:00 pm 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Lunch is again an opportunity to network and share with others. There is a restaurant in the hotel lobby, and many other dining options directly across the street at the Oak Brook Mall. Dwell in the Possibilities: Living a Full and Inclusive Life Bridget Brown and Nancy Brown Inclusion in the Reading Corner, at Centers, and During Playtime: Ideas for Early Childhood and Kindergarten Jennifer Naddeo AAC in the Inclusive Classroom: Membership, Participation, and Learning for Students with Complex Communication Needs Michael McSheehan Closing Keynote Address: Paula Kluth Don t We Already Do Inclusion? Improving Inclusive Schools for All This final keynote presentation will feature stories of success and encouragement for next steps in the inclusive journey. Come to our closing session to learn new ideas for making schools and communities more responsive to differences. **This one-hour presentation will end with our raffle drawing. Don t miss the energetic conclusion to our two-day celebration. Conference located at the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook Hotel. Special room rate of $129 per night is available, for check-in either Wednesday or Thursday, May 8 or 9, and checking out on Friday, May 10. Reservations must be made by Wednesday, April 24. Please call and mention the Illinois Inclusion Conference. Or use the easy link on our website, For accessible rooms or dietary restrictions for the catered lunch on Thursday, please tell the reservations operator or info@illinoisincludes.org 3

4 Full Workshop Descriptions, page 1 Thursday, May 9 Keynote Address 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. There s More to Life than Life Skills: The Vital Importance of Inclusive Communities Norm Kunc If students and adults with disabilities are to become contributing members of their community, they need to be given the opportunity to learn the subtle complexities of social interaction by being among their peers. Segregated programs have attempted to replicate this learning by reducing it down to a series of separate life skills. Not surprisingly, these programs have been consistently unsuccessful at preparing individuals with disabilities to live in the community. In a fast-paced, entertaining, and provocative presentation, Norman explores the serious limitations of segregated programs. He argues that supporting individuals with disabilities in inclusive classrooms, social programs, employment and housing is the only way to provide individuals with the opportunity and the motivation to learn the range of skills needed to find meaningful work, build a social network, and live as independently as possible. Hell-Bent on Helping: Friendship, Benevolence & the Politics of Help Norm Kunc and Emma Van der Klift Many of us have created friendship circles and buddy systems in an attempt to help students with disabilities feel more included in their neighborhood schools. In spite of genuine efforts and admirable intent, these supports have often perpetuated traditional attitudes of charity and benevolence. In this presentation, Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Klift examine the issues of friendship, help, respect, and benevolence. They suggest how teachers can support a student with a disability in their class without turning him/her into the poster child of the school. Addressing Adventuresome Behavior Patrick Schwarz Both a person-centered, authentic, functional approach to assess behavior and a problem-solving process will be applied to combine components of the very best user-proven behavioral support strategies. This approach will be illustrated and then applied to real-life classroom and learning situations identified by participants. Co-Teaching & Inclusion: 5 Tips from Successful Teams South Berwyn School District 100, Illinois In this session, a district administrator and several teachers will share their experiences using co-teaching as a tool for inclusive schooling. A variety of co-teaching structures will be shared and the team will summarize their missteps and successes. Five tips critical to co-teaching success will be shared. This presentation includes video clips from several different grade levels, classroom stories, and lessons learned from a building principal. From Tutor Scripts to Talking Sticks: 10 Ideas for Adapting Curriculum, Instruction, and Materials Sheila Danaher and staff from Audubon Elementary, Chicago Come and hear the innovative team at Audubon School in Chicago, IL talk about the variety of ways they support diverse learners and differentiate instruction. From changes in classroom environment to learning games to adapted assessments, you will take away something you can use immediately in your K-12 classroom. to 1:00 pm Complimentary buffet style lunch served. 4

5 Full Workshop Descriptions, page 2 Thursday, May 9 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. (continued) Talk to Me: Using Hostage Negotiation Strategies to Solve Classroom Management Problems Emma Van der Klift Hostage negotiators must quickly establish trust, build rapport, and foster collaboration in extreme crisis situations. The skills they use can be enormously helpful for administrators and teachers in creating a safe, collaborative classrooms and schools. In this presentation, Emma Van der Klift outlines some of the skills that hostage negotiators use and helps participants practice these skills so that they can be less reactive and more responsive when dealing with students and colleagues. Best Practices for Paraeducators Patrick Schwarz The focus of this workshop is for paraeducators to achieve greater independence and effectiveness in student learning. Areas include, promoting student dignity and respectful language, teaching skills and fading supervision, promoting participation and achieving goals, using student interests in learning and promoting problem-solving. This session is dynamic and hands-on with many meaningful applications that will contribute to commendable job performance! When the School Says No : How Five Families Made Inclusion Happen Panel Presentation, moderated by Teri Ehrenhardt and Deb Fornoff Come and hear parents of students with disabilities talk about the ways in which they have collaborated with teachers, schools, and districts to make inclusion happen for their sons and daughters. Some have used advocacy techniques, some have collaborated, some have moved, and some have had to use the legal system. Their stories are all different, but their results are the same. Come and hear how different parents took different paths to get to the same goal. Leading the Inclusive School: The Role of the Principal John Price and Marilyn McManus Two building principals will talk about strategies they have used to support successful inclusion in their K 8 buildings. Sessions Three 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Supporting Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms: 10 Ideas for K-12 Classrooms the Autism Support Team at Rockford Public Schools, Illinois Come and get quick and easy ideas that can be implemented across grade levels and across subject areas. We will share several teacher-tested ideas including those that will help with behavior, organization, and the teaching of academic skills. OTs in the Classroom Rachel Hirsch Learn how to get the most from your occupational therapist! Participants will learn about the role of an occupational therapist inside the classroom. Strategies for sensory processing, attention, motor skills, and participation will be discussed. Joyful Learning: Using Active Learning to Reach, Teach & Inspire Paula Kluth In this interactive session, participants will apply principles of differentiation by exploring a number of collaborative, active, and brain-compatible learning techniques aimed at engaging students and making learning joyful. The featured structures can be used to build community, help students study and review, teach wholeclass lessons, and assess student learning. The session is appropriate for teachers in K 12 classrooms and is structured for participants to experience these active techniques through demonstration. Suggestions for connecting these techniques to the Common Core Standards will be provided. Leading the Inclusive School: The Role of the Principal Q & A Session Led by John Price and Marilyn McManus Stick around to chat with John, Marilyn, and other local school administrators. Ask questions in an informal setting and get ideas for planning staff development, growing an inclusive schooling culture, goal setting, designing inclusive curriculum and instruction, and using inclusion as a model for school reform. 5

6 Full Workshop Descriptions, page 3 Friday, May 10 Keynote Address 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Achieving Successful Inclusion William Henderson In this keynote presentation, Bill will share strategies that promote inclusion, focusing on culture, instruction, and staffing with collaboration. Dealing with Challenges Around Inclusion Bill Henderson Bill will address specific challenges around inclusion posed by participants, using an interactive and problemsolving approach. The Beyond Access Model: Frameworks for Educating Students with Autism and Related Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms Michael McSheehan New views of educating students with autism and related disabilities are emerging in research and practice. This session will introduce the audience to five concepts applied in a model for educating students with disabilities in general education classrooms: presumed competence, membership, participation, learning, and collaborative teaming. Some Assembly Required: Inclusive High School and Beyond Barry Wasik and Project CHOICES Barry, a young man who communicates using AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) will share his story of being included in his high school years. Along with the Project CHOICES staff, Barry will share comparisons between his life in self-contained classes and a fully included high school experience. Examples of his classwork will be shared as well as stories about how he participated in extracurricular activities, prom, and life after school. Barry s life after school and his full-time job will also be explored in this session. Leading Proactive High-Achieving Districts for ALL Students Kurt Schneider This session will focus on research and implementation efforts necessary to create high performing districts, schools, and classrooms that are supportive of ALL students. By the end of the session, participants will be knowledgeable about the instructional practices, structural supports, and policies/funding necessary to make high achieving districts a reality for all students. School board members, superintendents, directors, principals, teachers, and families are all encouraged to attend. to 1:00 pm No lunch served there is a restaurant in the hotel lobby and many other dining options directly across the street at the Oak Brook Mall. 6

7 Full Workshop Descriptions, page 4 Friday, May 10 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Dwell in the Possibilities: Living a Full and Inclusive Life Bridget Brown and Nancy Brown Bridget Brown was the first person included in her school district and she had a successful inclusive education from preschool through High School. She is now a young woman who does not let the fact that she has a disability stop her from living a full productive life. Bridget will tell her story and talk about tools and strategies that helped her be successful. Her mother Nancy, an inclusion consultant, will share her advocacy and the essential elements that made inclusion work. She will speak from her own experience as well as her experience working in different school districts in IL and around the country. Inclusion in the Reading Corner, at Centers, and During Playtime: Ideas for Early Childhood and Kindergarten Jennifer Naddeo Can preschool and kindergarten work for a student with autism? Or one with cognitive disabilities? How do you adapt the read aloud? Or learning centers? What kinds of collaborations are necessary? This session will feature a range of adaptations that can be used to support young children in early childhood and kindergarten classrooms. The team will address how skills in the areas of language, preacademic, social/emotional and motor can be addressed in daily activities. Accommodations and supports will be shared in regards to increasing access to whole group activities as well as play based tasks. The integration of related services will also be discussed. AAC in the Inclusive Classroom: Membership, Participation, and Learning for Students with Complex Communication Needs Michael McSheehan Educating students with significant disabilities in general education classrooms involves thoughtful application of instruction, intervention, and supports in several areas of practice. This session will expand on application of instructional planning, augmentative communication, and other strategies to promote membership, participation, and learning by students with significant disabilities. Closing Keynote Address 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Don t We Already Do Inclusion? Improving Inclusive Schools for All Paula Kluth This final keynote presentation will feature stories of success and encouragement for next steps in the inclusive journey. Come to our closing session to learn new ideas for making schools and communities more responsive to differences. **This one-hour presentation will end with our raffle drawing. Don t miss the energetic conclusion to our twoday celebration! 7