Supporting Exceptional Students Through Student-Centered Learning Strategies

Guests
Leslie DiChiara, Assistive Technology Specialist, Instructional Technology Specialist, North Bellmore School District (NY) (@lrdichiara)
Sharon Plante, Chief Technology Integrator, The Southport School (CT) (@iplante)
Ace Parsi, Director of Innovation, National Center for Learning Disabilities (@ncldorg)
Avril Smart Goggans, PhD, Research and Engagement Manager for Future Ready Schools®, Alliance for Excellent Education (@DrAvrilSmart)

Future Ready Schools® (FRS) stands firm in the belief that all students deserve access to learning environments that support personalized learner-centered strategies that meet the diverse needs of various learning styles and learning differences. Students with learning differences often have unique challenges to learning and need the support of personalized learning solutions; however, some educators do not have the capacity to meet those needs.

In this webinar, our guests Sharon Plante and Leslie DiChiara shared how they work with teachers and students across curriculum areas and classrooms to prioritize the learning needs of  students with disabilities. From coaching, mentoring, and coteaching to using adaptive technology hardware and software, educators can personalize learning for their students. Also, joining us was Ace Parsi, a spokesperson for the National Center for Learning Disabilities,who shared how advocacy and research can improve outcomes for people with learning and attention issues and other disabilities. Mr. Parsi offered his perspective about how to shape local and national policy to reduce barriers and ensure opportunity and access for all students.

Our guests explored the following questions:

1. How can educators enhance what they already do to support students with learning disabilities? What new adaptive technology can they incorporate into their current work?
2. What challenges can students with disabilities experience in these environments and how can schools proactively address these challenges?
3. What are some strategies to coach and mentor content-area teachers for supporting students with disabilities?
4. How do content teachers and special education teachers work together to create and implement lessons that support the universal design learning principles?
5. What federal policies should educators keep in mind when they want to increase their knowledge on the rights of students with disabilities?
6. During this time of national crisis, what should educators do to ensure they apply the latest and greatest strategies to support students?

This  webinar was a great opportunity to have one of the most important conversations about remote learning for students with learning disabilities.

This webinar is made possible with the support from Konica Minolta | All Covered. Learn more about the unique opportunities they offer for district partnerships.

Please direct questions concerning the webinar to ldossin@all4ed.org. If you are unable to watch the webinar live, please register to receive the video archive directly in your inbox.

Future Ready Schools® is a project of the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those underperforming and those historically underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. all4ed.org

Follow FRS on Twitter (twitter.com/FutureReady) and Facebook (facebook.com/futurereadyschools) or visit our website at futureready.org.