Trainings

Transition from School to Adult Life: Using the IEP to Create Success This workshop will address the transition planning and services required for youth with disabilities ages 14-22 and will focus on the transition services districts should provide to prepare youth for employment, independent living, and further education. Using case examples, parents and professionals will learn strategies that can help ensure students receive important transition services required by special education law. The workshop will also provide information about the transition to the adult human service system, including Chapter 688, the state law that helps plan for youth with disabilities after they leave school.

Special Education Law: Children with Autism This workshop provides an overview of specific special education requirements that address the unique needs of students with autism. This workshop addresses current trends, legal standards, and evaluation rights. There will be a focus on law and strategies to help ensure children with autism receive the full range of instruction and services necessary to meet their unique needs, and to provide educational opportunities reflecting potential in inclusive settings.

Meeting the Needs of Children with Autism: What professionals need to know about current special education law and writing evaluation reports This workshop provides an overview of specific special education requirements relating to the unique learning needs of children with autism. This workshop will address current trends, legal standards, evaluation rights, writing evaluation reports, and discussion of a case study involving a child with autism. There will be an emphasis on the requirement that children with autism receive educational opportunities which reflect competency and potential in inclusive settings.

Massachusetts Anti-bullying Law: IEP and Schoolwide Strategies to Prevent Bullying of Students with Disabilities This workshop will address best practice based on the state’s anti- bullying prevention law. The training focuses on laws that require both school-wide efforts to create safe and supportive school settings for students with disabilities and laws that require IEP Teams to address bullying of students with disabilities.

Basic Rights in Special Education This workshop will provide an overview of special education law and the supports and services school districts are required to provide so that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This workshop addresses legal standards, the special education process, parent and student participation rights, and evaluation rights.

Navigating the Individualized Education Plan – IEP This workshop will help families and those working with students with disabilities understand the different sections of the IEP, and protections in the law that help ensure children receive necessary services. The workshop also includes discussion on how to prepare for the IEP meeting, how to respond to the IEP, the importance of the students’ voice, the importance of inclusion, the power of “stay put” as well as the role of assessments in the development of the IEP.

Education Rights of Immigrant and Multilingual Students: This workshop begins with discussion of education as a civil right in the United States, leading to discussion about language access rights of immigrant and multilingual students and parents, and equal access to school district programming regardless of immigration status, home language, or disability. Participants will be led through a participatory activity to further combat myths and reinforce knowledge gained from the workshop.