Participants will learn what print disability is and develop an understanding not all students with print disability receive support through special education services. They will learn about the process of identifying print disability in students and the tools available for supporting students with print disability. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with the accessible materials and assistive technology to support students with print disability.
AKCAM - Grant Coordinator, Alaska Center for Accessible Materials
The Alaska Center for Accessible Materials is a grant that provides alternative formats and assistive technology to students across the state who need support accessing print. These can be students with physical, vision, or processing disabilities. AKCAM also provides support to teams... Read More →
Revolutionize support for at-risk students through a student-centered, collaborative approach that spans all school environments. This talk showcases success stories from rural Alaskan school districts, demonstrating how to transcend isolated interventions and create a holistic, empowering educational experience. Learn how seamless partnerships between general education, special education, and therapy teams can transform learning outcomes. Discover simple yet powerful techniques for building essential skills throughout the school day, fostering a supportive ecosystem within natural learning environments. This innovative approach has yielded impressive results, including accelerated progress in speech development, enhanced sensory regulation, improved fine motor skills, and enriched language acquisition among others. Join us to explore how these proven, adaptable strategies can be tailored to your unique school community, promoting equity and unlocking the full potential of every student for lasting academic achievement.
A deep dive into using multimedia, hands-on projects, and student-led presentations to help neurodivergent students thrive. Emphasizing how creative outlets and tech tools like digital storytelling and game-based learning can engage SPED students.
Have you wondered how to help struggling students in your classroom? Have you wondered what is causing the struggle? In this session, we will explore Executive Function Skills and how they may be dysfunctional for some students whether or not they have an IEP. We will discuss strategies on how to develop these skills for positive outcomes.
Exec. Director / Educational Psychologist, Empowerment Research, LLC
Having spent over three decades in public health and education with an emphasis on pediatric disabilities, I'm an open book. As a parent of a now-adult son with a traumatic brain injury in early childhood and as a severe TBI survivor myself, I have intense passion to share the brain... Read More →
Prepare for an interstellar adventure with the Mars Escape Room, where participants use APH STEM products to solve problems and complete a mission critical to their crew's survival. This workshop focuses on teamwork, communication, and the practical application of STEM principles in a collaborative scenario designed to simulate the challenges faced on Mars.
Objectives: 1. Discover innovative ways to incorporate APH products into the Expanded Core Curriculum, enhancing the educational experiences of students with visual impairments. 2. Identify and discuss the application of UDL principles in classroom activities to enhance accessibility and engagement for all students, particularly those with visual impairments. 3. Develop strategies to guide students using logical reasoning and deduction to solve complex problems, fostering higher-order thinking skills.
Outreach Specialist -Northwest, American Printing House for the Blind
Leslie is the Outreach Specialist for the Northwest Region with APH. Leslie completed her Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and German from the University of Oregon with her first guide dog Cammy. After interning with Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Wesley Foundation... Read More →
This presentation offers educators the opportunity to delve into important values that Alaska Native peoples have held for centuries. Whether you are new, or a seasoned educator you will learn about topics including Historical trauma, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and how tribal support can help your students transitioning out of school, SPED Resources, traditional values, and communication methods. You will learn how the Alaska Native world view will influence your students' progress in the Western world. This presenter will also have an opportunity to interact with Alaska Native arts and artifacts and ask questions about how and why they are an important part of Alaska Native Values.
Dawn is Gwich'in Athabaskan and Aleut from the Native Village of Fort Yukon. She cares passionately about the Alaska Native population and wants everyone she meets to understand the unique challenges students face in Western-style education. Dawn was a licensed foster parent for over... Read More →
Presentation about the recently awarded Disability Innovation Fund grant to Department of Education and Early Development and it’s funding for programs to increase the number of Alaska youth and other individuals with disabilities into competitively integrated employment. Discussion of key activities, partner organizations, goals, and available programs and resources being funded by this grant and where individuals can seek resources to assist youth with disabilities leaving school prepare for the workforce.
Karen Heath is a lifelong Alaskan with a love for everything employment related. She started her journey in the employment field at Fairbanks Resource Agency as one of the first job coaches in the state. In the 90's She obtained her MS in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University... Read More →
This session will focus on supports and strategies in the classroom and program settings for children in the PK-22 arena. There will be interactive activities with work products to be shared among participants.
Exec. Director / Educational Psychologist, Empowerment Research, LLC
Having spent over three decades in public health and education with an emphasis on pediatric disabilities, I'm an open book. As a parent of a now-adult son with a traumatic brain injury in early childhood and as a severe TBI survivor myself, I have intense passion to share the brain... Read More →
Join professors from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), and University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) School of Education for an engaging Q&A panel on behavior management in the classroom. The panelists will discuss effective engagement strategies, cultural influences, ways to foster inclusion, and trauma-responsive behavior techniques. No matter your role in a school, this event offers valuable insights to enhance your approach to behavior management and support diverse learners. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical knowledge and strategies for creating a positive learning environment!
“Using a descriptive style, the teacher mentions and references the context-specific words, then teaches concepts behind the words using high frequency, re-usable, common words” (Van Tatenhove 2009). The teachers explain a term using common words that they know are already in the communicator’s AAC system. Rather than memorizing vocabulary to answer closed ended questions students use core vocabulary to demonstrate understanding of a concept.
My name is Jennifer and I was born and raised in MN. My first teaching job was in Bethel, AK. After that I worked at a residential school for children with autism and then as a teacher for students with multiple disabilities at a school for the Deaf. I returned to AK to work... Read More →
The world of Special Education has many players! An effective IEP Team must understand the unique skills, training, and responsibilities of each related service provider within the school setting. Have you ever wondered why some students are "pulled" from class while others aren't? Or why a child might receive occupational therapy at a clinic but not at school? If you’re looking to enhance your collaboration skills with therapists and itinerant teachers, this session is designed for you!
