EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION FOR ALL ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS
INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS

HELPING OUR STUDENTS SEE THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY

SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS INITIATIVE

Sturomski & Associates
in Collaboration with
Payne & Associates

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Introduction Letter

Texas LEARNS is entering into the third year of a great professional development training opportunity for adult education teachers in Texas.

Adult education programs serve adult students with physical disabilities and adults with special learning needs. Many adult educators in our state have been through Bridges to Practice training, which is a great professional development foundation and an introduction to the issue of disabilities and special learning needs.  Texas LEARNS chose the collaboration of national consultants in the field of learning disabilities, Neil Sturomski and Nancie Payne, to train our state in ”Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students Including Those with Special Learning Needs”.  Neil and Nancie have worked with teachers in other states, such as North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois and Mississippi to implement this training. These states have raved that the training has been a wonderful and life changing experience for the teachers and students alike.  Thus far, 85 adult educators in Texas have been trained and the results of the training is becoming evident by improved performance measures for the teachers along with empowering teachers to help students who struggle to progress despite many hours of instruction. Between Neil and Nancie, they have over 30 years of experience in educating adults with disabilities and special learning needs. Neil was one of the original Bridges to Practice developers.

Please review the application packet to get an understanding of what the training will cover and the timeline. Texas LEARNS along with TCALL will pay the participant registration fees for the 4 training sessions. All trainings will be in Houston. The local sponsoring program will cover the travel costs and applicable per diem for the participant.

Tracy Hendrix is the Grant Services Manager in charge of the project. Please feel free to call Tracy with any questions that you may have about this training opportunity. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance immediately.

Sincerely,

Joanie Rethlake, Director
Texas LEARNS

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Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist Institute

Successful completion of the Institute will result in a credential of Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist as issued from the project. A Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist will learn the following:

• Understanding adults with Learning Disabilities/Special Learning Needs and their characteristics
• Recognizing self-esteem and social skill issues of adults in adult education programs and providing ways to foster development in these areas
• Understanding the differences between assessment, diagnosis and screening
• Recognizing what screening can and cannot accomplish
• Applying screening and learning style inventories to improve practice
• How to use the Basic Skills Education version of the Payne Learning Needs Inventory
• Using effective instructional practices for all adult education students including those with Special Learning Needs and English as Second Language (ESL) Learners
• Understanding how to empower students to become their own advocates and lifelong learners
• Utilizing specific techniques and instructional strategies
• Understanding the difference between accommodations and accommodated instruction/learning for individuals diagnosed with a disability
• Understanding the importance of technology and how to implement its use for all adult education students including those with special learning needs
• Knowing the various national and state resources available
• Evaluating the appropriateness of all the tools used with adult education students including those with special learning needs
• Understanding hands on, practical methodologies to implement when working with all adult education students

Trainings will be conducted by Sturomski & Associates in Collaboration with Payne & Associates, National Consultants in Learning Disabilities and Adult Education Students with Special Learning Needs.

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Criteria for Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist

Texas LEARNS will accept the 40 applications on a first come, first served basis. However, if more than 40 applications are received, the applicants may be asked to describe why they want to become Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist for their program based on the following criteria:

• Be able to attend all workshop sessions which will include 4 trainings of 3 days each during the 2009-2010 year on the following dates in Houston from 9am – 4pm:
  • 1st Training: September 23-25, 2009
  • 2nd Training: November 11-13, 2009
  • 3rd Training: January 27-29, 2010
  • 4th Training: April 21-23, 2010
• Possess the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within their programs
• Be active classroom teachers, have at least two years of experience teaching adults, and be a teacher of record in TEAMS
• Be willing to administer screenings/inventories and to serve as resources for administrators and instructors in their local programs
• Be willing to complete assignments and homework in the classroom with students
• Be willing to be a “leader” at the local program
• Must have recommendation and sponsorship from a local Adult Education or EL Civics Program
• Anticipate continued employment within local program and/or in the adult education field
• Must possess a minimum of a Bachelors Degree
• Must submit application to Texas LEARNS by the deadline

Participants must be recommended and sponsored by program administrators. No individual applications will be considered.

*Special Note: This Institute represents basic specialist training and will not prepare participants to be trainers or diagnosticians.

Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist Application Packet ***
Deadline for application submission September 15, 2009

*** Microsoft Word document. Download Microsoft® Word Reader

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Training Calendar for 2009-2010

Houston, Texas

• 1st Training: September 23-25, 2009
• 2nd Training: November 11-13, 2009
• 3rd Training: January 27-29, 2010
• 4th Training: April 21-23, 2010

Regional Trainings will be posted as they are scheduled on the TCALL Calendar website at: http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/confrence.htm

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Contact Person for this Project:

Tracy Hendrix
Grant Services Manager
Texas LEARNS
State Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy
6005 Westview Drive
Houston, Texas 77055
713-696-0717
thendrix@hcde-texas.org

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Local Programs With a Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist

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Trainers

Trainers - Certified Trainers for Special Learning Needs Training for Texas

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Special Learning Needs Resource List

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
www.aapd-dc.org

Association for Higher Education and Disability
www.ahead.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
www.addresources.org

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
www.chadd.org or www.help4adhd.org

GED Testing Service
www.gedtest.org

Getting Hired – where people with disabilities gather, network & find work
www.gettinghired.com

Learning Disabilities Association of America
www.ldanatl.org

LD Online
www.ldonline.org

Job Accommodation Network
www.jan.wvu.edu

Learning Disabilities Association of Texas
http://www.ldat.org/

National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Disabilities; HEATH Resource Center
askheath@heath.gwu.edu or www.heath.gwu.edu

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
www.nichcy.org

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
www.ncld.org

Office of Disability Employment Policy: Workforce, Opportunity, Leadership
http://www.dol.gov/odep

ThinkFinity (Verizon Foundation-Lesson Plans)
http://www.thinkfinity.org

Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning
http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/roadmaps/lddmap.html