Minnesota Conference for parents, students and teachers

Fall Symposium

LDA’s 6th Annual Fall Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Groves Academy in St. Louis Park. The theme this year is: Empowered to Learn & Grow: ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Other Learning-Based Life Barriers

 

Symposium Details

Title: Empowered to Learn & Grow: ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Other Learning-Based Life Barriers

Date: Saturday, November 8, 2014

Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Location: Groves Academy, 3200 Highway 100 South, St. Louis Park, MN

Registration: $50 for individuals; $40 for students (student ID required)


Symposium Schedule

8:00-8:30  Registration/Check-in

8:30-9:00  Continental breakfast

9:00-10:30  Keynote Presentation: Information Processing Differences: A Fresh Perspecitve on Learning Disabilities,Dr. Gary Johnson and Dr. Chris Bedford, Clinic for Attention, Learning and Memory 

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-11:45  Breakout Session I: Student Panel: Learning Disabilities and ADHD From a Student Perspective; Implementing a Literacy Framework that Works; and Study Skills & School Support at Home

11:45-12:30  Lunch

12:30-1:30  Breakout Session II: Practicing Mindfulness; Developing Successful Programs for 18-21 Year Old Students with a Variety of Disabilities; and Love Without Boundaries: Children and Adolescents with Disabilities and Grief

1:30-1:40  Break

1:40-2:40  Breakout Session III: Self Advocacy and Self Determination: Know Your Rights; Individualizing Instruction and Curriculum Based Assessment; and The Good, the Challenging and the Useful: Raising a Child with ADHD

2:40-3:00  Closing Remarks

Parents Advocating for Student Success in EDucation

Lunch Gathering @ Noon

Wed., Nov. 20, 2013

Vineyard Church ~ 1533 W. Arrowhead Rd ~ Duluth, MN 5581

This group meets monthly to share ideas and support one another.  If your child struggled last year in school this may be a good opportunity to hear what others in our community are doing to ensure their children’s success in learning.   Occasionally, a speaker joins the group to cover a specific topic.  All  families are welcome.

A variety of six inch subs, chips, cookies are available, with a suggested donation of $5.00.   You are free to bring your own.  Coffee, tea and water are available.

We also have a monthly evening gathering at Barnes and Noble 7PM.  The next meeting for that is Dec. 12th.

Our lunch gatherings are usually the third Wednesday of the month and the evening meetings are usually on the first or second Thursday of the month.  Email [email protected] if you’d like more information.

School is just around the corner…

Going places others don't always even try.

Always looking forward from a little different perspective.

With school just around the corner, it’s time to reread your children’s IEP or 504.  Could a 504 with appropriate accommodations make for a more successful year?  The following is from NCLD.org  by Laura Kaloe, NCLD Public Policy Director

Is a 504 Plan Right for My Child?

When you are making a decision about how to seek support for your child at school it’s important to know your options to request help under the federal law. There are two laws for K-12 students in public school that may offer supports and services: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Schools that receive federal funding are obligated to serve students under Section 504; however, no federal funds are provided to directly support offering Section 504 services.This article focuses on whether seeking a 504 plan might be the right solution to helping your child be successful in school. 504 plans are developed by school teams and parents to support the educational needs of a K-12 student with a disability that “substantially limits one or more major life activity” such as: learning, speaking, listening, reading, writing, concentrating, caring for oneself, etc. A 504 plan is a good option for a K-12 student if:

  • The child has an identified learning disability (LD) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) but does not meet the requirements of IDEA for special education services and supports
  • The child is currently receiving informal accommodations or ongoing support at school

504 Option: When Your Child Does Not Meet the Requirements of IDEA

The IDEA law requires that your child must meet two prongs of the law in order to be served by special education:

  1. the child must have one (or more) of the 13 disabilities listed in IDEA which includes learning disabilities and attention disorders; and,
  2. as a result of the disability, the child needs special education to make progress in school in order to benefit from the general education program.

This legal requirement essentially says that some kids with LD or AD/HD may not meet the state or district requirementsof the second prong. While the student may have a disability, it may not be impacting their learning in ways that qualify them for special education services. These students however, because they have an LD or AD/HD, may meet the requirement to have a 504 plan if their disability “substantially limits them in performing one or more major life activity.”

Effective January 2009, eligibility for protection under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act became broader. Some students who did not qualify in the past may now qualify for Section 504 plans. Students with Section 504 plans may now qualify for additional supports, services, auxiliary aids, and/or accommodations in public schools.disabilities.For the rest of the article visit ncld.org and search 504 plans.