Take a closer look at the major issues you face as a special educator and learn the best strategies to handle each situation while avoiding compliance missteps. In these extended-length Symposiums, nationally recognized experts will explore your biggest concerns, bringing you the case law, research and tools to make a positive impact on your students, your special education programs and your community.
You survived the school closure due to COVID-19 and the return to school for SY 2020-21, now comes the litigation. Attorney Jose Martín will examine the initial spate of litigation following school closures, extract the lessons for public schools, and translate them into proactive approaches to deal with follow-up viral outbreaks, campus closures, and related disruptions.
Through case scenarios and hypotheticals, attorney Rebecca Bailey and special education director Lorin Furlow will divulge vital guidance to help your district make sound decisions regarding Section 504. They'll disclose common pitfalls, poor practices, considerations for health issues during the time of COVID-19, and what to avoid in the evaluation and identification of students under Section 504.
Current administrator and consultant Larry Brunson will provide special education administrators the tools necessary to navigate their unique role as leaders in a post-COVID-19 learning environment. Participants will learn how to develop professional development plans for staff that fit the three most prevalent learning models: distance, in-person, and hybrid instruction. Attendees also will learn how to develop structures to respond to employee performance issues in a post-pandemic world and address accountability and sustainability for special education staff.
Special education administrator and former school psychologist Dr. Derek Ihori will walk you through every aspect of the IEP process — from the importance of starting with a solid assessment to developing and measuring data-based goals, to the art of taking IEP meeting notes, and more. You'll learn common missteps IEP teams make and get practical tips on how to avoid them.
William Zee and Laura Sharp will translate the theory of parental participation into a practical component of every child's IEP by demonstrating how and why a trauma-informed and comprehensive education plan requires parent involvement. Attendees will learn how to incorporate parent training and counseling into students' plans and will recognize the ways in which parental participation can facilitate as well as create barriers to student learning.
Private BCBAs increasingly are advocating for parents and students at IEP meetings. Using her experience in the private- and public-school sectors, Dr. Laura Forkum will discuss the similarities and differences between the provision of behavior services in these settings, plus provide practical tips that IEP teams can use for collaborating with private BCBAs.
Combining her experience as a school psychologist and litigator, Deanna Arivett will share sample tools and resources for developing defensible FBAs and behavior supports that satisfy the Endrew F. standard of FAPE.
With a focus on the multifaceted nature of disparate practices and the impact of school closures, school psychologist Jessica Dirsmith and school attorney Rebecca Heaton Hall will discuss legally compliant and best practices in prevention, intervention, and assessment of students with ED. Participants will take away a clear method to align evaluations to assess all ED characteristics and criteria.
