Saturday Sessions
8:15 AM - 9:25 AM Colorado Spotlight
Understanding Race and Bias in Special Education Evaluations
Presented by Rosemarie Allen
Implicit bias and concerns related to racial inequity exist at every level of society. In order to strive towards an increasingly equitable society it is imperative that as educators and supporters of children with disabilities, we examine our own biased lenses through which we see the world. In this interactive webinar, we will analyze the impact of our biases on teaching, learning, and interactions with others.
Learning Objectives:
Define implicit biases and explore how they show up in our consultation work.
Identify acts of bias in special education.
Explore strategies for addressing implicit biases in our work with others.
Identify concrete ways to disrupt bias in the moments we experience them.
The 5 Things for Mental Health
Presented by Kim Bevill
The experts in mental health have missed the mark. You cannot wait until there are symptoms to recognize. The only factor in mental health is to protect it before it wanes. Forget everything you know, there are 5 things in our daily lives that sustain energy & drive mental health.
Setting Rigorous Instructional Goals
Presented by Jon Paul Burden
This presentation will review many current practices regarding the development of IEP goals and will introduce a different perspective on ensuring that IEP goals are not just attainable, but appropriately ambitious in light of the student’s circumstances. Goals will be designed to close achievement gaps and to prepare students to achieve post-secondary goals.
10:20 AM - 11:30 AM Breakout Sessions
Session 33: A Case for Peer-Mediated Interventions
Presented by Frankie Kietzman
"All we need is a para" is not the solution for our special education students and may do more harm than good in building up a student's autonomy and social skills. Peer-Mediated Interventions are beneficial for students with and without disabilities and can reduce the over-reliance on paraeducators. Come learn about different peer-mediated models, the benefits, implementation, and generalization to apply in your setting.
Session 34: Paraprofessional Pipeline: Training, Partnership, and Next Steps
Presented by Dr. Tara Mason & Dr. Jill Choate
This session will provide an overview of a paraprofessional pipeline CEEDAR Grant conducted by Western and Fort Lewis College of 10 paraprofessional and mentor partnerships. This session will discuss the training, materials provided to paraprofessionals, research feedback, and the next steps for partnerships with school districts in CO.
Session 35: Going from Zero to Hero with Emergent Numeracy
Presented by Trude Burnett M.A. Ed & Dana Curton M.Ed.
On your mark, get set, subitize. Explore activities, games and instructional approaches focusing on building strong number sense in students with complex learning needs across all grade levels. Participants will leave with hands-on activities that can be used the next day to create number sense heroes in their classrooms.
Session 36: Got AATAs? Can you justify your transition IEPs?
Presented by Lori Y. Peterson
Quality transition-focused planning begins with conducting comprehensive age-appropriate transition assessments (AATAs). In addition to policy, federal guidance, and best practice recommendations for AATAs, practitioners must consider the findings of litigation surrounding AATAs to provide justification and increase the meaningfulness and accuracy of the transition plan. This presentation will discuss best practices, legislation, and litigation around the process of conducting AATAs. A tool will be provided for conducting AATAs that mitigates the substantive and procedural violations identified in litigation around the IEP and guides the identification of relevant, appropriate transition plans.
Session 37: Unified Theatre: A Community of Inclusion
Presented by Jennifer Moriarty & Jace Smykil
A comprehensive theatrical program that matches students with significant disabilities with students from the general curriculum for mentoring and support while creating a community performance. Unified Theatre provides an opportunity to gain usable skills in communication, adaptive behavior and social imagination to be successful in the "real world".
Session 38: Poverty and Trauma: The Impact on School Performance
Presented by Dr. Scott Schwartz
Children born into poverty are at a higher risk of being exposed to childhood trauma (CT). CT can affect brain development and impact learning and behavior. This presentation will include information on poverty, trauma, the effect on the brain, and strategies to reduce the impact of CT in the schools.
Session 39: “Hands on- Work Based Learning Experiences in The Classroom: Encouraging Career Exploration for All.”
Presented by Melissa Crawford, MA
Learn about Hands on Work Based Learning Experiences (WBLE) while participating in WBLEs - Participants complete Work Based Learning Experiences while learning the benefits for all students!
Session 40: Behavior Support for Students with Developmental Delay
Presented by Kathryn Archer & Kristin Duncan
Prepping K-2 teachers to use behavior strategies to support students with developmental delay in the general education classroom.
Session 41: Working Together in EC: Inter-Professional Education
Presented by Jeanine Coleman, Gloria Miller, & Rashida Banerjee
How do we work together, when we are training separately? Faculty from different programs that prepare early childhood special education and school psychologists will discuss a new model of graduate training designed to foster competence in interprofessional collaboration and teaming.
Session 42: PERA Pre-Retirement Planning
Presented by PERA
This presentation is created for folks about 5-10 years from retirement, but all are welcome! In this workshop we’ll think about budgeting and planning for retirement. We’ll discuss how to turn ideas about retirement income and expenses into numbers you can plan with, and we’ll also cover actions you can take now to be prepared later.
11:45 AM - 12:55 PM Breakout Sessions
Session 43: Keeping Kids in School: Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline
Presented by Dr. Jacque Phillips & Stacey Holland
This session includes multiple strategies for handling students with disabilities that are being considered for suspension/expulsion. Alternative options that are implemented and effective will be shared. Legal requirements for removing students from school are included. But mostly, the focus is on keeping kids in school.
Session 44: An Educator’s Search For Meaning: Reframing & Resetting Expectations
Presented by Philippe Ernewein, MA
What is our operating system to create the best learning environment for our students? What mindsets, reconstruction, and innovation must we support in order to create the world we want for our students? From his experience as a student newly arrived in America relegated to riding the short bus to elementary school, through his journey as an educational leader, Philippe Ernewein will share lessons learned in creating and supporting partnerships within the educational model to make sure all may learn. This session will combine theory, practice, and life experiences, and offer four clear lessons that can help us navigate the path forward.
Session 45: 3 School Wide Systems for Inclusive Practices
Presented by Robert Frantum-Allen
There are three critical school wide systems needed to transform your school to embrace inclusive practices. First, there must be a shared vision for inclusion. Second, there must be a school wide schedule that allows for meaningful
collaboration during the entire teaching cycle. Finally, there must be a dedicated time on professional development that is focused on inclusive practices.
Session 46: Best Supports for Paraprofessionals
Presented by Samantha Richardson
I will discuss with participants the best supports to be provided to paraprofessionals from trained professionals and states.
Session 47: Assisting Students Who Have Been Bullied: Support for Teachers
Presented by Tina Herring & Tami Urbanek
Educators and others who work with children and adolescents are in a unique position to identify and support children suffering from bullying if given the proper supports. This presentation will outline the risks, signs and symptoms of bullying to help educators identify and assist these children in need.
Session 48: Inclusive Literacy Practices for young DLLs with language impairment
Presented by Ekta Ghosh
There is limited published systematic research synthesis focused on evidence-based language interventions for young dual language learners who have language delays or disability, in the past 20 years. This presentation provides recommended early literacy strategies focusing on inclusive literacy and language practices for young, DLLs. Results of our study reveal emerging trends that can provide support for effective interventions for both children with LI and those at risk for LI. Scopes for discussions and further recommendations are provided.
Session 49: Innovate to Elevate - Transforming Education for Sw/D
Presented by Amanda Ferguson & Gina Trujillo
To integrate innovative technologies like Misty robots into all special education center-based classrooms so that our students will reach a higher level of engagement, access and generalization of social skills. Through this, they will increase their self-regulation, self-determination, communication and social skills.
Session 50: Using Alternative Standards to Facilitate Inclusion
Presented by Sarah Covey & Karen Davidson
This session will explore different ways to engage with alternative standards to facilitate inclusive practices within the middle and high school setting. Attendees will learn the purpose and benefits of Extended Evidence Outcomes and Parallel standards as well as workshop an upcoming standard which they will be teaching.
Session 51: Working with Children Adopted Internationally with Disabilities
Presented by Jessica B. Hovland
This session provides information and strategies for language and literacy development in children with disabilities who were adopted internationally. Topics covered include the long-term impact of international adoption and trauma, collaboration and communication with families, the special education evaluation process, and instructional
strategies and recommendations.
Session 52: Boost Engagement & Collaboration In Every Math Lesson
Presented by Juliana Tapper
You’ll learn the 4-step Math Wars Method, an approach to delivering 6-12th grade math content that combines gradual release of responsibility, purposeful collaboration, and the ability to easily gather immediate formative feedback in real time to ensure each and every student is understanding the material. Made for students who struggle.
Session 53: Picking Up EdTech
Presented by Mollie Pitrone
Access to tools which support students' quest for knowledge while you become the curator of their independent exploration. Time for iteration and innovation now can provide so much success in their future.