Children with Disabilities Webinar Series 1-7

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Webinar 1

Overview of Disabilities

Date: February 12, 2024

(Monday 6:30-7:30pm)

Fragile X Syndrome: Learn about the characteristics and diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome and resources to support children and families with this inherited genetic disorder.

Spina Bifida: Learn about typical characteristics and the diagnosis of spina bifida, as well as tips for education staff to support
children with spina bifida in inclusive environments.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Learn about possible characteristics and the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), along with tips for education staff serving children with FASD and their families.

Down Syndrome: Learn about common characteristics of Down syndrome. Explore suggestions for evidence-based practices that education staff can use to support infants and toddlers with Down syndrome.

Cerebral Palsy: Learn about characteristics and the diagnosis of cerebral palsy, along with practical tips to support development and positive experiences for children with cerebral palsy.

Webinar 2

Embedded Learning Opportunities

Date: February 17, 2024

(Saturday 10:30am-11:30am)

Embedded learning opportunities give children extra chances to practice the new skills they’re learning. They provide more frequent, focused instruction during the day on a child’s individual learning objective.

This approach to instruction might be used when a child’s learning has stalled or if they are struggling to use a specific skill that’s part of a larger goal. Deliberate and ongoing teaching can help a child make progress toward their learning goals.

This presentation provides resources to learn how to plan for and provide embedded teaching and learning opportunities throughout a child’s daily activities and routines.

Webinar 3

Inclusion Basics: Membership and Belonging

Date: February 19, 2024

(Monday 6:30-7:30pm)

A sense of membership and belonging is an important outcome for all young children. A child’s sense of belonging develops through responsive relationships and supportive environments.

Young children with disabilities can benefit from intentional, individualized support to promote engagement in their environments and to develop relationships with others.

This presentation helps program staff learn strategies to foster membership and a sense of belonging for young children with disabilities in inclusive early childhood settings.

Webinar 4

Social Stories

Date: February 21, 2024

(Wednesday 6:30-7:30pm)

Some young children have difficulties attending to, processing, and understanding information in busy early learning environments.

Social interactions can be especially fast paced and unpredictable for a young child with social and emotional or language delays.

There are many evidence-based practices that can be used to help young children attend to, learn about, and use positive skills and behaviors that will help them navigate social situations.

The Social Story™ is an example of an individualized practice to support social and emotional learning.

Webinar 5

Individualized Instructional Strategies

Date: February 26, 2024

(Monday 6:30-7:30pm)

Intensive, individualized teaching practices are structured, specific, and designed for use with a child who needs extra help to learn a particular skill or concept.

This level of support can be used if a child has a unique goal or is making very slow progress after less intensive strategies, such as curriculum modifications and embedded teaching practices, have been tried. We cover the following six strategies:

Discrete trial
Gestural prompt
Error correction
Graduated guidance
Modeling
Time delay and expectant look

Webinar 6

Supporting Social and Emotional Learning for Children with Disabilities - Section I

Date: February 28, 2024

(Wednesday 6:30-7:30pm)

Developing social and emotional skills are important for all young children! Making and keeping friends, solving social problems, and paying attention to emotions are key skills for children to learn during their early years.

After all, social and emotional development is the foundation for lifelong learning and development. Learning these critical skills is especially important for young children with disabilities and suspected delays.

Many children with disabilities may struggle with these skills, but we know successful social and emotional development leads to future positive outcomes in many different areas.

Webinar 7

Supporting Social and Emotional Learning for Children with Disabilities - Section I

Date: March 4, 2024

(Monday 6:30-7:30pm)

Why do we want to individualize learning and skills? What visual supports do we use? How do you use visual support? How do you know your support is working? Prompting and what does it mean?

Learn powerful practices with descriptive feedback. Your presentation skills on what is being taught and how a child understands and what have they learned.