INSTRUCTIONAL PARAPROFESSIONAL

TRAINING

Special Education Training AcademyAugust 13, 2012

Focusing Our Efforts

The mission of the GCCISD Special Education

Department is to support the campuses in order to nurture inclusionary environments,

enhance student achievement, and maintain compliant

special education programs.

Guiding Question:

Is this decision for the benefit of the children?

Focusing Our Efforts

Core Philosophies

Today’s Agenda

The ABC’s of Special Education Daily Tasks and Responsibilities Texas Behavior Support Initiative

THE ABC’S OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

What is an “ARD”? IEP TEAM MEETING

It is a meeting of the administrator, teachers and other school staff, the parent, and (sometimes) the student.

This committee makes all decisions about the educational program and services for a student that qualifies for special education services.

IEP Team decisions affect the child and his or her family forever…

Disabilities To receive special education services, a student must

qualify in a disability category.

Disability Categories: Learning Disability

Mental Retardation Intellectual DisabilityAuditory (Hearing) Impairment

AutismEmotional Disability

Orthopedic ImpairmentVisual Impairment

Deaf-BlindOther Health Impaired

Speech ImpairedTraumatic Brain Injury

What Can I Expect?

Some students may have difficulties with… Speech and language Motor skills and coordination Understanding and following directions Vision or hearing Answering questions Memory Social skills or behavior Health/personal care

What about Behavior?!

Special Education students whose behavior interferes with their learning or the learning of others require a Behavior Intervention Plan or BIP.

A BIP identifies the problem behaviors, suggests strategies to change the behaviors, suggests positive consequences to reward the correct behavior as well as negative consequences to decrease the inappropriate behavior.

It also states what kinds of documentation will be kept, such as a behavior log or point sheet, and who is responsible for implementing the plan.

Transportation

Transportation is a Related Service; if the IEP Team determines that the student requires transportation, by law, it cannot be denied.

Commensurate School Day

This means that the Special Education student’s school day (the amount of time he/she is in school) is the same length as students without disabilities.

When a student is (regularly) picked up early, or dropped off late, the amount of time he/she is in school has been changed. This violates the amount of time agreed upon by the IEP Team. Because the IEP Team decision falls under federal law, individuals can be held personally responsible for violations.

Medication

Medication must be in the current pharmacy prescription bottle labeled with the child’s name.

Keep it safe, secure, and confidential! Ask the parent about side effects so you

know what to expect. Report anything unusual to the school

staff and to the parent.

Parent Communication Be sensitive to your

students and to their parents!

You are one of the few professionals working with their child with whom they have daily contact.

Notify your teacher/principal about problems or difficult parents

Sometimes it’s not WHAT you say but HOW you say it!

What is Confidentiality?

Keeping secret information secret

Privacy: Student information is confidential

An ethical principle that protects the personal information of students

The “Need-to-Know” basis guides confidentiality

It applies to conversations as well as written information

The Do’s and Don’ts of Confidentiality

Don’t talk about a student or the student’s family in front of others, such as the students on the bus.

Do be careful when talking about your students: Who else can hear you?

Student information (notes, files, etc.) must be kept in a secure location…

Student Information on Campus

Working copies of IEPs must be maintained in a locked or secure setting.Do not leave student information

(grades, IEPs, monitoring charts, teacher-parent journals, etc.) laying on desks, tables, or in public view when not in use

Why is Confidentiality so Important?

It’s the law! People talk, even when you ask them not

to! Student and parent rights are protected

by law! You can be held liable if you discuss

confidential information with outsiders not relevant to the student’s education.

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities

Know the students’ IEP requirements

Plan with your classroom teacher oEstablish and determine tasks and responsibilitiesDaily TasksWeekly TasksCreate a Calendar

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities

Ask for additional training as neededo Training can be provided by the

classroom teacher o Requests can be made through the

Campus Special Education Services Coordinator

The Bottom Line

If you have questions about Special Education, ask your teacher(s), your Principal, your Campus Special Education Services Coordinator or the Director of Special Education.

Texas Behavior Support Initiative

Texas Behavior Support Initiative

http://esc4.net/

Session ID: 736090