SPED Ahead is an opportunity for school administrators and special education specialists to catalyze discussions about new ideas and promising practices that help exceptional students achieve. With a series of free interactive online events and related multimedia web-based resources, we will explore answers to tough questions and shape effective leadership strategies for addressing special needs students’ challenges for literacy skills, scholastic achievement and peer relationships.
Managing Workloads in a Caseload-Driven World
The topic of workload strategies and approach isn’t new, but it is clear that special education leaders play a major role in changing the way we approach service delivery. There is a set of guiding principles that SPED leaders should apply when considering the needs of SLPs and students and when we are ready to move toward workload approach. Workload experts Dr. Barbara Moore and Dr. Judy Rudebusch provide leadership strategies.
Online Occupational Therapy: Really?
Special education leaders recognize a growing need for OT (Occupational Therapy) for K-12 students and the need to use technology to enhance delivery of clinical services. OT practitioners and school districts are now poised to benefit from the delivery of OT services online into educational settings. OT researcher Dr. Rondalyn Whitney and occupational therapist Rosemarie Helton present the whens and hows of online OT — really.
Getting to the Core of the Common Core
Oral language skills (communication competence) are foundational to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). For this reason, SPED leaders expect increased demand for Tier II interventions. How will you address reading and social-skills deficiencies given budget cuts and the need to prepare for CCSS? ASHA leader Dr. Barbara Moore leads the discussion with communications disorder expert Maryellen Moreau to answer this important question and more.
Universal Design for Learning & Assistive Technologies: What Do They Have in Common?
The field of Assistive Technology (AT) addresses important principles that help educators create classrooms that serve the needs of all learners. Kathleen Sadao, EdD, and Nancy Robinson, PhD, leading authors and early childhood specialists are experts in AT and Universal Design for Learning. They share practical strategies and affordable solutions that teachers can implement right away.
Speech Telepractice (Online Speech Therapy): Good, Bad or Ugly?
Although the technology to deliver SLP services at a distance has been available for years, cost and complexity limited its adoption. ASHA leader, Dr. Barbara J. Moore and a panel of special education experts explore how simple, inexpensive technology is enabling a growing number of schools to use telepractice to improve outcomes, address critical personnel shortfalls and fill gaps in speech-language services.
The Five Legal Pitfalls District Leaders Must Avoid This Year
The transition to Common Core Standards, the spread of bullying, reauthorization of IDEA, implementation of RTI, and explosive growth in autism could become legal pitfalls for your district this year. You can avoid legal problems by understanding legislative provisions and by knowing how to avoid common mistakes. Special education legal expert Charles Weatherly takes a look at each of these looming pitfalls and provides timely tips to steer clear.
Online Speech Therapy for Virtual School Students: When, Where and How?
Special education services, including speech-language therapy, must be available to all students, including those who attend online schools. Meeting this need is an ongoing challenge facing SPED directors for virtual schools. Special education researcher Dr. Shari Robertson moderates a panel of experts in helping you understand the “when, where and how” of online speech therapy for virtual school students.
Online Speech Therapy for Charter School Students: When, Where and How?
Charter schools offer diverse learning opportunities and instructional approaches, but as in mainstream schools, all students must have access to special education services, including speech-language therapy. Special education researcher Dr. Shari Robertson moderates a panel of charter school leaders as they share first hand about the effectiveness of online speech language therapy and advice for a smooth implementation.
Understanding and Managing the Growing SLP Shortage
The SLP shortage is a persistent problem and a top concern. Though a wide range of recruitment and retention initiatives have been in place for a decade, the shortage is growing. Why do we have this chronic problem? How will you prepare to meet the need for SLP services as we shift to Common Core State Standards? Dr. Shari Robertson unpacks this issue with an expert on this topic, Karen Roth of Arizona State University.
Shift Happens: New IEP Language for a Common Core World
The transition to the Common Core has kept special education administrators busy helping their staff learn to align IEPs with the new standards. So how does an IEP read in our new Common Core world — especially with respect to speech and language goals? How does your staff need to change their work with students? Dr. Judy Montgomery seeks answers from assistant superintendent Dr. Judy Rudebusch and from Perry Flynn of UNC Greensboro.
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