“Reading, Writing and Research-based Interventions”
Friday, April 19, 2013
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus

Featured Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Suzanne Carreker
Neuhaus Education Center

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Conference Details:

8 – 9 a.m.
Registration begins/Continental breakfast
O’Shaughnessy Education Center, Auditorium Lobby

9 a.m.
Conference Keynote
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction: The Necessary Pieces for Critical Reading
Dr. Suzanne Carreker

10:15 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Tracks Begin
(includes lunch/annual meeting, afternoon break)
Choose One of Five (5) All-day Tracks:

Track 1:  Reading Comprehension 
Dr. Suzanne Carreker

Track 2:  After the Diagnosis: Getting Children the Help They Need
Legal Rights and Procedures for School Supports
 Amy Goetz & Toni Haraldsen, School Law Center
Deciphering the Tests & Writing an Effective IEP
 Ray Boyd & Zachary Eakman, Groves Academy
Reading Instruction That Works
Jeanie Munsterman

Track 3:  Writing Matters: Developing Sentence Skills in Students Who Struggle
William Van Cleave
Recommended track materials: Writing Matters: Developing Sentence Skills in Students of All Ages by William Van Cleave and concept cards. Special conference price: $50/package. CLICK HERE to request yours.

Track 4:  Unraveling Dyslexia for Those New to the Diagnosis
Jean Osman, Amy Basnyat, Fay Van Vliet, Cindy Russell, The Reading Center/Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota

Track 5:  Assistive Technology for Reading, Writing and Note-taking
Simon Technology Center Staff, PACER Center

Registration fees:
IDA Members          $100
Nonmembers          $150
Students                   $50
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Scholarships:
Scholarships are available to all attendees. IDA-UMB provides scholarships to anyone interested in attending the conference, based on need. The June Stern Family Foundation also provides scholarships for attendees to our conferences who are K-3 educators and meet certain qualifications.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IDA-UMB SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
CLICK HERE TO GO TO JSFF SCHOLARSHIP SITE

For more information, phone 612.486.4242 or email [email protected].

Sponsored in part by The June Stern Family Foundation

DYSLEXIA:  WHAT A PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW

In this workshop students will learn the definition of dyslexia and reading difficulties including signs/symptoms, accommodations, 504 plans vs. the IEP, and the importance of the paper trail.  Discussion will also include current research, assessment, remediation, and assistive technology.

Location: Denfeld High School                                                                                          When:    Tues., Jan. 29th  ~   6:30-8:30 PM                                                                Cost:      $15.00

To register contact:  Deb Dwyer – 218-340-7393 – [email protected]  or http://www.duluthcommunityed.org/

Dysgraphia Workshop –  Tuesday, Feb. 5th

DYSGRAPHIA:  WHAT A PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW

This workshop is designed to give parents basic information to help their children succeed in writing.  Dysgraphia, sometimes called disorder of written expression, is a neurology disorder.  We will discuss how to signs/symptoms, assessment, types of remediation, accommodations and technology.  Bring a sample of your child’s writing to class.

Location: Denfeld High School                                                                                       When:    Tues. Oct. 16 ~  6:30-8:30 PM                                                                        Cost:      $15.00

To register contact:  Deb Dwyer – 218-340-7393 – [email protected] or http://www.duluthcommunityed.org/

Dyslexia is an island of weakness surrounded by a sea of strength!
Sally Shaywitz MD – Director of Yale Center for Creativity and Dyslexia

From my friend Tammy…..What am I after? Awareness. With awareness come change. With change, comes hope for every child struggling with dyslexia to get the help they need early on. Many don’t even know they have it. My hope for the future is that everyone understands what dyslexia really is so they can catch it early. The HBO documentary on dyslexia is on October 29th at 7pm. Please watch! Even if your child does not struggle, your neighbors child might. 🙂

A couple weeks ago, a 3rd grader I volunteer with looked at me and said…

“You you you will ch ch change my life, you will will will will te te teach me to read.”

What an enormous responsibility tutors have.  I hope he’s right.  He works so hard with me, jumping up when I walk into the classroom, never looking at the clock or trying to redirect my efforts.  I’ve had to cut back on my volunteering, which is heart breaking for me, so now I often work with two boys at the same time.  They support and guide one another and have become comrades of accomplishments.  This is why, I do, what I do.

Justice Dept. Sues LSAC for Withholding Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is intended to ensure that high stakes standardized test such as those necessary for college admission, credentialing and certification are offered in an accessible manner.  The law and associated regulations focus on ensuring that the test is accessible so that the resulting grade reflects the individual’s ability rather than his/her disability. Many applicants find that the process of requesting and applying for accommodations is extremely burdensome and often ends without the applicant receiving the necessary accommodations. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has, in its Press Release, announced that it is committed to enforcing the law, that it will take action, and that it will protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Justice Department Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Law School Admission Council to Protect Rights of Individuals with Disabilities

The Justice Department announced today that it seeks to intervene in a class action lawsuit against the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) in federal court in San Francisco to remedy violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   The lawsuit, The Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. LSAC, Inc., et al., charges LSAC with widespread and systemic deficiencies in the way it processes requests by people with disabilities for testing accommodations for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).   As a result, the lawsuit alleges, LSAC fails to provide accommodations where needed to best ensure that those test takers can demonstrate their aptitude and achievement level rather than their disability.

The department’s proposed complaint identifies additional victims of LSAC’s discriminatory policies and details LSAC’s routine denial of accommodation requests, even in cases where applicants have submitted thorough supporting documentation from qualified professionals and demonstrated a history of testing accommodations.

The department further alleges that LSAC discriminates against prospective law students with disabilities by unnecessarily “flagging” test scores obtained with certain testing accommodations in a way that identifies the test taker as a person with a disability and discloses otherwise confidential disability-related information to law schools during the admissions process.   LSAC’s practice of singling out persons with disabilities by flagging their scores – essentially announcing to law schools that examinees who exercise their civil right to the testing accommodation of extended time may not deserve the scores they received – is discrimination prohibited by the ADA.   The department’s proposed complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory damages and a civil penalty against LSAC.

“Credentialing examinations, such as the LSAT, are increasingly the gateway to educational and employment opportunities, and the ADA demands that each individual with a disability have the opportunity to fairly demonstrate their abilities so they can pursue their dreams,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.   “The Justice Department’s participation in this action is critical to protecting the public interest in the important issues raised in this case.”

One of the victims identified in the complaint, for example, has severe visual impairments and previously received special education services at a school for people who are blind.   Even though she provided LSAC with extensive medical documentation of her conditions, as well as proof that she had received testing accommodations since kindergarten, LSAC denied nearly all her requested accommodations, and even refused to provide her a large print test book.   When she tried to appeal the denial, LSAC informed her that she had missed the deadline for reconsideration.   She then reapplied two more times for testing accommodations, resubmitting all the information previously provided to LSAC, as well as additional medical documentation.   Despite her extensive history of receiving the very same testing accommodations throughout her educational career and on standardized tests, and in disregard of the recommendations of a qualified professional, LSAC refused her requested testing accommodations on three separate occasions.

“The action taken in this case demonstrates the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to ensuring equal access to educational opportunities for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and by entities that offer examinations or courses related to applications, licensing, certification, or credentialing for secondary or postsecondary education, professional, or trade purposes.   The ADA mandates that testing entities administer examinations in an accessible manner.   This requires testing entities to administer examinations, such as the LSAT, so as to best ensure that, when the examination is administered to a person with a disability, the examination results accurately reflect his or her aptitude or achievement level, or whatever other factor the examination purports to measure, rather than the individual’s disability.   In addition, Title V of the ADA prohibits any entity from coercing, intimidating, threatening, or interfering with an individual’s exercise or enjoyment of a right granted by the ADA.

Those interested in finding out more about federal disability rights laws may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov.  ADA complaints may be filed by email to [email protected].