Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC)

Postsecondary Education Options: Resources for Students with Intellectual Disability and Autism

SEAC co-presented this workshop with Darien SEPAC on September 30, 2024.  Chelsea VanHorn Stinnett, Think College National Coordinating Center and Lee Burdette Williams, College Autism Network lead an informative conversation for families and students to explore college programs designed for students with intellectual disability and autism.  From eligibility requirements to the diverse array of support services available, the presentation offered practical advice to empower students and families to make informed decisions about postsecondary education.

• WORKSHOP RECORDING
• RESOURCES Shared During Presentation:
• Think College
• Think Higher. Think College.
• Think College Families Group
• College Autism Network (CAN)
• CAN Autism-Specific College Support Programs
• CAN Autism-Specific Summer Programs

Building an inclusive life with dan and samuel habib

Dan Habib is an award winning documentary filmmaker, has served on the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and has received the Champion of Human and Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association. Above all that, he's a devoted father committed to paving an empowered and inclusive life for his son and others with disabilities. Samuel Habib is a community college student pursuing a career in multimedia storytelling. He uses a wheelchair for communication and uses a communication device (and his voice) to express himself. The workshop series began with a screening of the award-winning film "Including Samuel" and followed up with a presentation that facilitated valuable discussions on family and student engagement and empowerment strategies to set students up for success throughout and beyond their school years.

(Including Samuel Film | Inclusion Resources | "Disabling Segregation" Ted Talk)

A GUIDE TO THE IEP AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING WITH DR. JENNA RUFO

Dr. Rufo is a passionate advocate for inclusive education and was inspired to enter the field of education by her sister, Nina, who is disabled.  Her experience includes roles as a special educator, inclusion facilitator, special education administrator, assistant superintendent and state policy specialist. In this presentation, she reviews students’ rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), particularly focusing on the IEP process and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Dr. Rufo also provided a thorough overview of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how it supports children’s participation in general education, complete with examples at various grade levels. (PowerPoint | Video)

MENTAL HEALTH IN GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS - A PANEL WITH GPS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

The panelists, mental health professionals spanning all school levels, addressed various mental health topics, including anxiety, challenging behaviors, big feelings, and social struggles that children may face. Throughout the presentation, the panelists shared helpful articles, links, and resources within GPS and the broader community. These resources are valuable tools for parents and staff to learn more about mental health issues, find support for their children, and connect with other parents and caregivers who are facing similar challenges. (PowerPoint)

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND WORKING MEMORY WITH DR. LYDIA SOIFER

SEAC’s Executive Functions and Working Memory Workshops The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) and Office of Special Education and Student Supports held a two-part workshop that featured Dr. Lydia Soifer, who discussed executive functions and working memory. For those that missed it, or would like to review it again, please follow the links below for the printed presentations. For further details contact: greenwichseac@gmail.com.

• May 23 (Executive Functions): handout
• June 14 (Working Memory): handout

COLLABORATIVE AND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS - MOVING FROM POWER AND CONTROL TO COLLABORATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING: DR. ROSS GREENE

The CPS model has transformed thinking and practices in countless families, schools, inpatient psychiatry units, and residential and juvenile detention facilities throughout the world, and has been associated with dramatic reductions in adult-child conflict, challenging behaviors, disciplinary referrals, detentions, suspensions, seclusions, and physical, chemical, and mechanical restraints. The model represents a significant departure from discipline-as-usual: it focuses on solving problems rather than on modifying behavior, emphasizes collaborative rather than unilateral solutions, encourages proactive rather than reactive intervention, de-emphasizes diagnostic categories, and provides practical, research-based tools for assessment and intervention. Participants in this workshop series will gain a further understanding of the underpinnings of the model, its refinements over the past 8-10 years, and practical assessment and intervention tools that can be brought back to and used in these diverse settings.

Video Link: https://vimeo.com/491608931