• Are you frequently asked to make accommodations for students with disabilities?
• Do you often feel that you do not have adequate training concerning the impact of student disabilities or the goal of the accommodations?

Without training and understanding, it is difficult for teachers to help their students reach the level of success they are capable of reaching. This workshop is for anyone who works with students with disabilities and will provide a better understand of the many disabilities you are surely going to encounter: ADHD, Bi- Polar Disorder, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Autistm Spectrum Disorder/Asperger’s, Mental Retardation, Learning Disorders, Motor Skills Disorder, and Communication Disorders. Participants will also learn many practical strategies to use with students with disabilities that will also help the entire class.

Esther Williams is a licensed professional counselor who works with clients and schools to help students with disabilities receive the help and accommodations they need to be successful. Esther is a retired teacher and school counselor. She taught students with disabilities as a classroom teacher and would never ask teachers to provide accommodations in the classroom that she was not able to provide herself. She believes that many really successful accommodations are easy to implement and can make a huge difference with student’s self-esteem and academic success. Esther is also the parent of two children who were identified with disabilities in the school system. She has been in numerous IEP and 504 meetings in her roles as classroom teacher, school counselor, therapist, and parent. She brings these experiences to her workshop to provide help and support to everyone involved in the IEP process.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this seminar the participant will be able to:
• Discuss the regular educator’s responsibility in the IEP process.
• Identify the positive and negative aspects of a student with ADHD.
• List strategies to use with students with ADHD.
• Describe strategies to use with students with Bipolar Disorder.
• Explain the characteristics of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger’s.
• Discuss a multi-model treatment plan for students with disabilities.

Agenda and Outline

8:30 The Educator’s Responsibilities in the Classroom
• Review of the Federal Disability Law
• Regular Education Teachers’ Role - Responsibility in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process

Working with ADHD Students
• What is ADHD?
• The ADHD brain and it’s Implications

10:15 - 10:30
Break

10:30 - 11:45
ADHD: What to Do
• Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD
• Developing a Multi-modal Treatment Plan for Students with ADHD
• Providing the appropriate Educational Program for the Student with
ADHD

11:45 - 1:00
Lunch

1:00 - 2:15
Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders/Aspergers: What
They Are and How You Can Help
• Symptoms of and Classroom Strategies for students with Bipolar
Disorder
• Sensory Integration Dysfunction/ Poor Social Skills
• Characteristics of and Classroom Strategies for Students with Autism
Spectrum Disorders/Asperger’s
• Characteristics of student with Mental Retardation, Learning
Disorders, Motor Skills Disorders, and Communication Disorders

2:15 - 3:30 Strategies to Help ALL Students with Disabilities in the Regular Classroom.
• Teaching Nonverbal Communication Skills
• Classroom Management For Students with Disabilities
• Academic and Environmental Accommodation For Students with
Disabilities
• Strategies for the Educator/Student with Disabilities to Deal with
Bullying
• Creating a Positive Classroom Environment for students with
Disabilities

3:30 - 3:45
Evaluations and Adjournment