PaLA SCC workshop – Serving people with learning differences

Providing Lifelong Library Services for those Affected by Learning Differences
2012 Annual Meeting and Workshop, Thursday, May 10th from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

The South Central Chapter of Pennsylvania Library Association is holding a workshop in partnership with the Janus School in Mount Joy. You will come away from this workshop with tools valuable in serving clients of all ages and abilities who are affected by learning differences.

Pathfinders and contact lists will be provided to all attendees along with guides for working with volunteers and employees affected by learning differences.

In addition to detailed sessions a panel discussion will be held featuring individuals living with and professionals who work with people with learning differences.

The Autism Resource Center at Lancaster Public Library and Pennsylvania ASERT: Pennsylvania Autism Services – Education, Resources, Training will be present along with representatives from other organizations that serve people with special needs.

A special gift will be presented to each attendee and there will be several door prizes awarded during the lunch break.

Seating is limited so please – register soon! 4 hours of Act 48 credits are available for this workshop.

Here’s the registration form: Registration Form 2012 PaLA SCC

Session details are on this flyer and below: sccmeeting2012

Navigating the Maze of Services
This reference-based session will focus on the educational, occupational, and social services available to children on the Autism Spectrum. Though many specific programs serve moderate to severe individuals and other programs change with available funding, there remains an array of resources to support these individuals and their families. This will include information from an occupational therapist, speech/language therapist, and social worker. Learn from a panel of service providers and take home a reference and contact list for you and your organizations’ use.

Assistive Technology
Assistive technology, by definition, is any technology that helps a person with disabilities participate in activities as independently as possible. Here at The Janus School, we focus on assistive technologies that help our students become independent learners. Primarily we use software that assists students with their expressive and receptive language difficulties. This session will focus on demonstrating Don Johnston’s SOLO 6 software suite, text-to-speech software Kurzweil 3000, speech-to-text software Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and some iPad apps and accessibility options.

Make and Take – Adapting Books for Emergent Readers
This make and take session will give an overview of how to use adapted books with emergent readers. Each participant will make an adapted book that can be used with individuals or in small groups. Steps will be shown that will enable the student to go from matching pictures to identifying specific words. This technique is excellent for working with children at all cognitive levels and with a wide range of disabilities. Adapted books can be used with children who are verbal or nonverbal.

Transitioning the Student from school to life
Graduating from high school is a big milestone for any student. For a student with Aspergers, it can be a time of monumental change. Parents want to make sure that supports are in place as their student transitions from high school to post-secondary education or career. It is important that the student understand what supports are available to them, as well as how to access those supports as they move on from high school. Presenters include representatives from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Mercyhurst College, Keystone Autism Services and Lancaster HACC.

Grand Session from 11:15 – 11:45 Panel Discussion
Join a panel of students, parents, educators, and other professionals who are facing the day to day challenges of living and dealing with Aspergers, part of the autism spectrum. It’s an opportunity to discuss concerns, joys, and strategies in this interactive session. Please list specific questions and/or areas of interest on the registration form.