Conference on Disabilities & Special Needs

Workshops

Summary of Our Training Topics

2. IDEA 2004
PowerPoint presentation of the revised IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act) An overview of the law itself, subsections on the evaluation process, how a child is referred and at what age, what the evaluation consists of, how often a child is reevaluated. A subsection on IEPs, transitional IEP’s for preschool, what an IEP contains, who should be present, rights of parents if they disagree, special considerations, and a subsection on Least Restrictive Environment, procedural safeguards for parents, private school placement and alternative educational setting. Full workshop is approximately 2 hrs but it can be shortened as requested by removing or shortening specific sections.

3. Is Your Child a Target of Bullying?
This PowerPoint presentation helps parents & educators determine if a child is being bullied, what to do about it, and why children with special needs are often targets. Approximately 1 ½ hrs.

4. Parent and Professional Collaboration-A Cultural Perspective
This PowerPoint discusses how cultural differences can make it difficult to understand behaviors and attitudes and why it is important to understand the culture of others before discussing a child’s behavior or learning difficulties with family members. How our own culture affects the way in which we view behavior in children who are of different cultural backgrounds. Approximately 1-1/2 hrs long.

5. Preparing for School Success
This PowerPoint presentation covers what parents need to know and do - before starting a new school year - to be sure the year is a good one for their child and for the entire family. Approximately 1-1 ½ hrs

6. Crash Course in Special Education
A brief PowerPoint overview of special education services, content of the IEP, who is eligible and how the process of receiving services takes place. This session includes a helpful special education overview handout. Approximately 45 minutes to one hour.

7. Positive Behavioral Interventions
Discusses why behaviors occur and how use of positive behavioral interventions as opposed to punishment can teach new behaviors and includes examples of positive behavioral intervention techniques. Especially helpful for teachers, group child care providers. Approximately 2 hours.

8. Mentoring Positive Parent and School Partnerships
This PowerPoint presentation describes the role of the PTRC Peer Parent Mentors in the IEP process. Approximately 1- 11/2hours.

9. Responsiveness to Intervention (RtI)
Schools are using new ways to identify students with Specific Learning Disabilities. This PowerPoint presentation defines RtI and compares it to Early Intervening Services. This helpful workshop also covers the use of RtI to prevent mislabeling students with learning disabilities. (Helpful to teachers in the elementary grades especially.) Also helpful for parents trying to understand the RTI process. Approximately one hour.

10. Families Are Important – An Early Childhood workshop for Families of Infants and Toddlers with Developmental Delays
This workshop covers services available for infants and toddlers with developmental delays. Attendees will learn who provides the services and how and where they are delivered. Approximately 2 hrs. This PowerPoint is especially helpful for families and providers of child care for infants and toddlers.

11. Solving the Employment Puzzle for Youth with Disabilities
Transition from school to work, services available for adults with disabilities, and how and when to begin to access the services are explained in this PowerPoint presentation. Approximately 1 ½ hrs.

12. Understanding ADHD
This workshop is a comprehensive PowerPoint discussion about the symptoms, causes, treatments and educational recommendations for students with ADHD. Approximately 2 hours.

13. Assistive Technology
This workshop defines and explains assistive technology, where it can be used and how and where to obtain it for use in the classroom and at home. Approximately 1.5 hours

14. Youths with Disabilities and the Juvenile Justice System
An informative PowerPoint presentation that discusses the difficulties faced by children and parents when dealing with a child with a disability and what to do if the child becomes involved with the juvenile justice system. Approximately 1.5 hrs

15. Transition – Leaving the School House Behind (Where do we go from here?)
This PowerPoint covers the key points that need to be considered during transition planning for students with disabilities. Emphasis is put on early planning and bringing the student into the discussion. Approximately 1 hr.

16. Creating Family Friendly Schools
Nurturing parent involvement is important for school success. This PowerPoint presentation provides ideas and suggestions to involve families with local schools and the importance of making families feel welcome. Describes programs implemented by schools across the country to accomplish this goal. Approximately 1.5 hrs.

17. Project REST (Restraint: Efficacy, Safety & Training)
This PowerPoint led workshop touches on key aspects to consider when a student with disabilities is experiencing behavior problems may result in the use of restraint. Topics covered include training, legal issues and appropriate guidelines for managing difficult behavior. Workshop attendees will receive a copy of “Manual of Recommended Practice” on cd. Approximately 1 hour.

18. No Child Left Behind
This comprehensive PowerPoint presentation provides a good overview on this complex legislation and what it really means? The correlation between IDEA and NCLB, and the affect on obtaining services for children with disabilities, is covered in this 2 hour presentation.

19. Accessing Community Resources
Learn what resources are available in Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston Counties to support individuals with disabilities & their families. This PowerPoint presentation provides important information and invites audience members to share their knowledge about community resources. Approximately 1 hour.

20. The Time is Now – Diversity Inclusion for Parent Centers & Advocates
This PowerPoint workshop provides a look at the need for increasing the involvement of diverse families in Parent Center (our PTRC) services. Approximately 1.5 hours

21. ADA Title I: Employment & Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace
Attendees at this PowerPoint presentation will learn how to determine reasonable accommodations and whether the accommodations are being applied in the workplace. Approximately 1 hour.

22. Working for Change: Using the Power of a Personal Story
This curriculum will help parents explore what advocacy is, why changing systems is important, and how to use the power of their personal story to create change. Approximately 1.5 – 2 hours.

23. Skills for Effective Parent Advocacy
This curriculum was developed to help parents be an effective advocate for their child. It will explore what advocacy means, and the skills necessary to be effective. Approximately 1.5 – 2 hours.

24. The Journey to Adulthood: What Parents Need to Know (Sexuality)
This curriculum was designed with input from parents; it is intended to help parents of children with a disability plan how they want to prepare their youth for the changes of puberty and adolescence. Approximately 1.5 – 2 hours.

25. Getting and Keeping the First Job
This workshop was designed to help parents prepare youth with disabilities for employment. A critical component of the transition to adulthood is the building of work skills that can lead to competitive employment. Approximately 1.5 – 2 hours.

The FRC is currently developing a training workshop for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the professionals who serve them. Please contact the office for more information.