The first workshop I attended was on IPads and Social Stories for special needs students. I learned about some really cool apps but the two best take aways from this workshop were...
1) Learning about the Endeavour program. The Endeavour program is held at the Place Cartier Adult Education Centre and provides a training and social integration program for special needs adults (persons over 16 years). As it is under the Lester B. Pearson school board it is free tuition. It is a growing program and led by a wonderful team of teachers!
2) Learning about Misunderstood Minds. The website is based on a documentary called Misunderstood Minds and is a great compilation of information. The best part of this website is it lets you EXPERIENCE a disability. If you click on any one of their categories (Attention, Reading, Writing or Mathematics), you will see close to the top a bar labelled "Experience Firsthand". There are a number of activities you can can try and it definitely gave me a new perspective.
The second workshop I attended was "Dyslexia Does Not Spell Disability/School Success with Disabilities". I went to this workshop because I had taught Christopher Simeone, one of the speakers, Secondary 4 Science and was excited to hear his story. I grew prouder and prouder as I listened to Chris speak. He is resilient, perseverant and has not let his disability define him. Rather he has come to understand his disability thereby learning coping skills and has risen to maximize his strengths. It was so rewarding to know I played a small part in this child's life. Check out Christopher's story here.
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