Text-to-speech software Dictation software Software to work math problems w/o paper and

pencil Sometimes free; generally available for under

$100

Power Point: Assistive Technology to Support Students with Special Needs available on the NCPD website…

o Go to www.ncpd.org/webinars. Click on High School webinar’s web page link to find this downloadable PowerPoint.

Learning Consultants compensation is funded from regular operating revenueo8 students admitted and

retained on average covers the expenses for one LC

All students pay the same tuitionoStudents with special needs are

treated the same as any other studentoAll students benefit from the Learning Consultant

helping teachers expand their instructional variety

Begin with supports whose cost is negligible (under $100). These include:oStudent Assistance TeamsoAssistive TechnologyoAccommodations

Some students will be retained using the above methods who otherwise would fail out – use these saved tuition monies to look at funding a Learning Consultant or other specialized faculty member.

Parents in your area may be interested in starting a support organization such as we have in the Archdioceses of Washington and Baltimore –

More information at www.ccse-maryland.org

“No additional fees model” used by Archdiocese of St. Louis

Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education (F.I.R.E.) in the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph

Knights of Columbus in Virginia (KOVAR)

Why assume academic excellence is undermined by students with special needs?

Academic performance varies among students, whether with or without disabilities. Many excel, or could with proper supports.

Students with common special needs are already in every school, whether the school acknowledges their presence or not.

Students with common special needs:oMay initially perform well because they are bright

and hard workersoCan encounter stress and difficult choices in high

school if they do not receive support• miss out on extracurricular activities• take courses that are too easy

Identifying students and providing them with the supports to succeed enhances a school’s academic standing, rather than detracts from it.

Of course, schools are rightly concerned about being academically excellent. In fact, isn’t that just what we as a society ask them to do?

The problem becomes when a school feels that the only way to academic excellence is

“one-size-fits-all.”

Visual impairment, deafness or intellectual disabilities are not that common in adolescents. However, the educational needs of students with these and other less common conditions may be well met at their local Catholic high school.

Physical accessibility may also need to be considered.

There is a great deal of support available for such students. Knowledge of these supports may aid in making admissions decisions. For example…

Students who sign will receive the free services of a sign language interpreter under the Zobrest decision.

Students with intellectual disabilities are successfully attending many Catholic high schools and can go to college. (See links on the NCPD website regarding location of programs and research supporting their effectiveness.)

Assistive technology now allows visually impaired students to have seamless access to reading and producing written text.

What are specific adaptations for this student to succeed?

Can my school provide these?

The Options Program serves students with intellectual disabilities and significant learning disabilities. A primary goal for each student is to be as fully integrated as possible into the total life of the school community.

For more information on the Paul VI Catholic High School Options Program, contact Mrs. Chris Desmarais @ 703-352-0925 Ext 333 or visit www.paulvi.net/academics/departments/options.

 

Keys to successful transition include: Starting early and planning

individually Self-advocacy skills Realistic post-high school

plans Connection with government

and community agencies

Upcoming NCPD Webinars

Advanced Considerations on Children and Youth with Mental Illness,

May 2010

Advanced Considerations on Catechesis and Children and Youth with Disabilities

July/August 2010

Advanced Considerations on Threats to the Life of People with Disabilities: Part. 1, Pre-Natal Diagnosis

October 2010

Thank YOU for joining us. May God bless your efforts to teach all of His children.

Thanks to all who supported this NCPD and USCCB webinar:

Our partner, National Conference for Catechetical Leadership And collaborators,

National Catholic Educational AssociationNational Catholic Office for the Deaf

National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry

For a schedule of upcoming 2010 webinars

For a replay of this and archived webinars

Select a webinar under the “Webinars” navigation button and scroll to the bottom of the page to access the Resources

Did You Know?—that NCPD serves some 14 million Catholics with a disability, by supporting the work at the (arch) diocesan and parish levels?

And that NCPD does this on a budget funded only from donations from affiliate member (arch) dioceses, grants and individual sponsors?

Help grow our ministry, and bless our work.  Donate to NCPD by clicking on the icon on the front page of our website, www.ncpd.org.