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Technical Assistance for the New Speech and Language Rules
As a reminder, the rules entitled Exceptional Student Education Eligibility for Students with Speech Impairments and Qualifications and Responsibilities for the Speech-Language Pathologists Providing Speech Services are effective beginning July 1, 2010, and are accessible via the following links: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?ID=6a-6.03012 and https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?ID=6a-6.030121. You can double click the Word file icon to download the official rule language.
As a first step, technical assistance was provided to districts via a series of regional workshops prior to the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Technical assistance papers are currently being finalized. Beginning in August, BEESS is offering a series of conference calls for Speech and Language Program Coordinators to provide an informal forum for posing questions, exchanging perspectives, and sharing resources statewide to support districts in their efforts to implement with fidelity the new speech and language rules. Due to the desired informal nature of these calls, they will not be recorded and agenda items will remain flexible to address the most current district needs for technical assistance.
The Conference Calls for Speech and Language Coordinators will take place the first Friday of each month, August-December, 2010, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (EDT) / 12:00-1:00 p.m. (CDT).
The Khan Academy
The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere. We have 1400+ videos on YouTube covering everything from basic arithmetic and algebra to differential equations, physics, chemistry, biology and finance which have been recorded by Salman Khan. View more at http://www.khanacademy.org/.
Instruction Tools Chart
The National Center on Response to Intervention is pleased to announce the release of the Instruction Tools Chart! This chart represents the results of the first annual review of instructional programs by the Center’s Technical Review Committee (TRC).
The chart provides ratings on the quality of studies demonstrating efficacy for instructional programs used within an RTI context. Additional information on how to implement the programs can be found on the chart as well.
The National Center on RTI publishes this tools chart to assist educators and families in becoming informed consumers who can select instructional programs that best meet their individual needs. Please note that the Center does not endorse or recommend the programs included in the chart.
The Center’s TRC will review instructional programs annually, with the next call for programs being issued in late fall 2010.
View the Instruction Tools Chart at http://www.rti4success.org/chart/instructionTools/.
RtI Leadership Network Applications
The Leadership Network is designed for Principals, superintendents, curriculum directors, RtI coordinators, instructional specialists, psychologists – any district or building leader actively engaged in planning or implementing RtI at any stage, from beginning to advanced. The network provides mentoring from an experienced RtI implementer, free resources, involvement in an online community, and more. This is a unique opportunity for your members to deepen their understanding of RtI as well as sharpen their implementation skills, ultimately leading to more effective RtI implementation in all our schools for all our children. During the 2010 – 2011 school year, the RtI Action Network will be offering an opportunity to 250 building and district leaders, free of charge. Membership is limited and the application process closes July 30, 2010. To submit an application, visit: http://www.rtinetwork.org/connect/leadership-network.
The Florida Council for Exceptional Children (FCEC) Registration 2010
The FCEC is pleased to announce that registration information is now available for the FCEC conference in October. Pre-registration forms postmarked by September 30, 2010, will receive the pre-registration rate. The conference will be held at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort in Clearwater, Florida. This is always a great opportunity to share expertise and learn from others. Please feel free to share this information in your schools and with other colleagues and stakeholders. The cut-off date for a hotel reservation at the reduced rate is September 17, 2010. Contact Holly Boyet, at cec.hollyb@gmail.com.
Person Centered Planning APD Training
During 2008, the APD received a Real Choice Systems Change Grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), titled “Person Centered Planning and Implementation.” The grant was awarded to APD to refocus our service planning and implementation processes using person centered approaches to ensure people we serve and their families are directing the choice and control over the services and supports each person receives. Available data and extensive anecdotal comments from people receiving services, family members, support coordinators and other advocates clearly demonstrate a need to underscore the APD expectations for self-direction in both our planning processes and implementation of services.
The training is designed to enhance the APD system’s ability to ask people about their life expectations, listen and understand the person’s desired outcomes and then construct and put supports and services into practice that honor those personal choices. The training is mandatory for all waiver and general funded support coordinators. It will count toward annual in-service requirements and is required for recertification of support coordinators for the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services Waiver. This will also be a required component of pre-service training for all prospective waiver support coordinators. Each support coordinator is required to participate in a two-day session. Training sessions will be provided statewide and support coordinators can request to attend any session that best fits their personal schedule.
Nothing is more essential to a support coordinator’s role and responsibility than this critical planning method, so the training will begin with this group. While the training and education opportunities is required of some APD stakeholders, they are also open to people receiving services, family members, other advocates, service providers, quality assurance vendors and APD staff. In fact, APD welcomes self-advocates and family members to participate and reinforce the essential need for self-direction in planning and service implementation.
Training facilitators are Todd Ryan from Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and Ashley Mitchell from BRAVO Support Services.
August 9 – 10, 2010
OR
August 11 – 12, 2010
From 9:00am – 5:00pm
Joseph P. D’Alessandro Office Complex Room 165 A
2295 Victoria Avenue
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Please note that multiple sessions are offered, however participants need only attend one two-day session. Registration is required for this training as seating is limited. Please contact Robert Steinhauer at (239)338-1352 or e-mail Robert_Steinhauer@apd.state.fl.us with questions or to register for this training. If you register by e-mail you will receive confirmation.
This is an important step toward fulfilling the APD vision of moving our current service system to one that is directed by the people we support and their families. We appreciate your attendance, participation and work to improve people’s lives – one person at a time.
Language-Reading Connection: Deaf/Hard of Hearing Professional Development Institute (LRC:D/HH)
The Resource Materials and Technology Center for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing is sponsoring a three-day professional development workshop for teachers of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. This workshop will provide in-depth information, resources, and the opportunity for practice and application related to reading instruction for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
August 4 – 6, 2010
Altamonte Springs, FL
Participants will receive assistance with travel expenses including reimbursement of mileage and hotel accommodations. If you have any questions, please contact Carmelina Hollingsworth at hollingswoc@fsdb.k12.fl.us or (800)-356-6731.
Special Education Law and Advocacy Workshops
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities are sponsoring four workshops this summer.
August 3, 2010 – Ft. Lauderdale
August 5, 2010 – Tampa
August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville
August 9, 2010 – Ft. Walton Beach
A lawyer and an advocate from the Advocacy Center will team up to teach you how to be an equal participant in the IEP process. Training will focus on sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 and will include:
- Eligibility and Evaluation
- Universal Education (Inclusion)
- IEP and Advocacy Tips
- School Discipline
- Transition from High School to Post-school activities (work, school)
- Problem Solving (With a Question and Answer Session)
All workshops are free of charge and run from 9am to 4pm. Registration is required for this training. For more information and to register for a workshop go to the FDDC website at http://www.fddc.org/news/special-ed-workshops.
Addressing Social Communication Challenges of Children with Autism: Example Interventions in Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School
Presented by Kathy Thiemann-Bourque, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
This training will provide attendees with knowledge of social communication challenges, goals, and specific tools to plan and implement peer-mediated social intervention programs for students with autism. An emphasis will be placed on clinical applications for enhancing relationships and day-to-day interactions between preschool, elementary, and middle school age students with and without autism. Written-text and picture cues, and other adult and peer prompting strategies will be discussed, modeled, and role-played.
August 9, 2010
8:30 am – 4:00 pm (registration begins at 8:00 am)
Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC)
753 West Boulevard
Chipley, Florida 32428
The following CEU credits will be offered:
- This course offered for .6 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area)
- This course offered for 6 CEUs Limited License Psychologist (General), Psychologist (General), and School Psychologist (General)
- This course offered for 6 CEUs Clinical Social Work Practice by Florida State University College of Social Work
For more information please refer to the online flyer available at http://doepartnership.usf.edu/trainings_09_10/FSU_Thiemann-Bourqueflyer_080910.pdf. Registration is mandatory for this training. Deadline: August 2, 2010. Register online at www.doepartnership.org/training.asp. Registration Capacity: 100. For more questions please contact Kim Welch at CARD ~ (850) 488-3514 or kim.welch@med.fsu.edu. Regional trainings are hosted by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, through the Partnership for effective Programs for Students with Autism (PEPSA).
Autism Endorsement Tuition Support Program
The program provides financial assistance to exceptional student education (ESE) teachers who are teaching students identified as having autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Florida public schools. The tuition support is being advertised by the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services to assist teachers seeking an endorsement in Autism. Please include announcements of these ASD Tuition Support Program in regional notices, listservs, or newsletters for teachers. The application can be found online at http://www.florida-ese.org/asdendorsement/.
