This program is designed for educators, school districts and countries that are struggling with providing an equal opportunity and first-rate education for students with disabilities. The program focuses on maximizing student learning potential regardless of deficit or disability. For early learners, the focus is to attain grade level performance (GLP) within a two-year time frame (in most cases). Once GLP is attained, students and educators are provided with the tools and skillset necessary to maintain productivity and grade appropriate success. For higher grades, the program has a broader focus to allow for a wider achievement gap and, therefore, can require additional time to attain and maintain GLP. First, the program identifies student deficit(s) and any other contributing factors that may impact student achievement and academic growth. Next, a correlation is made between student deficit, developmental milestones (for early learners), curriculum, and standards. Thereafter, a plan-of-action is developed based on student disability, present level of performance, and the implementation of research-based practices aligned to learning targets and/or grade-level standards. Other key components considered and addressed are the availability of necessary resources, staffing challenges, ongoing professional development, cultural imperatives and any other hindrances that impede a student’s ability to be “ready to learn”.

Speaker: Claudia DeSilva

Published in: World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE-2021)

• Date of Conference: 22-24 November 2021
• DOI: 10.20533/WCSNE.2021.0006
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-43-3
• Conference Location: Virtual (London, UK)