Sean J. Smith

Happy #WorldDownSyndromeDay from our family to yours!

Learning how to sign World Down Syndrome Day using BSL - a great way to honor #WorldDownSyndromeDay!

For those attending next week's CEC convention, I'll be presenting on how AI, mixed reality, and other forms of technology can be used to engage students and families. Looking forward to connecting with other presenters and attendees! #CEC2024

Folks living with Down syndrome can do anything they set their mind to. Ahead of #worlddownsyndromeday, I'm reflecting on how important it is to include individuals like Nolan in all facets of life, including in spaces of higher education. (Photo from his graduation, May 2023)

This is a must read - washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08…

#SpedOnlineLearning Closing Thoughts - also focus on the big ideas for the child and family. If it is to reduce behavior i the home - that's the focus. Might need to delay academic for other priorities. Big Ideas of learning will offer focus as well for future instruction.

#SpedOnlineLearning Closing thoughts - new normal offers chance to further home-school connection - digital tools, when available, offer additional options for all learners - look to use digital tools in a way to support learners beyond access

@alessa_ed @educationweek The idea is that teacher empowered mom to assist her to support her son with Autism at home...without support Mom is really struggling with the child's behavior, need for structure, and support that he is missing from school...

@seanjsmith @educationweek and in some cases we need to recognize that "empowering" parents to take on the full set of IEP service roles for their child is contraindicated for the mental health and well being of the entire family #SpedOnlineLearning

#SpedOnlineLearning A3 Communicate: 1. Roles 2. What parents/family members can do at home to support their child. 3. Teacher model and teach parents to assist/support 4. Parent communicate what is occurring, challenges, and needs to problem solve.

@alessa_ed @educationweek I agree but here is an example - parent of a child with Autism (non-verbal etc) looking for ways to support at home. Teacher develops materials for the home, records video model for parent to try at home, and then zooms to problem solve with single mom.

#Spedonlinelearning A4 there are also other tools that address accessibility of digital text including snapandread.com - texthelp.com...there are also resources out there that can be used to reduce learning requirements - tarheelreader.org

#SpedOnlineLearning A4 there are also digital resources that have ben created to foster accessibility for students with print impairment and Bookshare would be the example - bookshare.org/cms/

#SpedOnlineLearning A4 for educators that are thinking of accessibility - there are some resources available and one center that is out there to empower educators on issues of accessibility is - aem.cast.org

@alessa_ed @educationweek I agree 100%...my thought is that educators need to appreciate the role of the parent/adult in the home and look for ways to potentially empower and support. Often times we focus solely on the learner and in the new normal, we as educators need to support the adult in the home

@seanjsmith Remember some parents will be incredibly overwhelmed with taking on role of SpEd teacher, paraprofessional, & all the other service providers their child gets in school. It's not as simple as saying: "model and teach parents to assist/support" their kids #SpedOnlineLearning

#SpedOnlineLearning A4 the idea is you are planning and designing for student options. So accessibility would be providing more than digital print. Instead of the digital text book offer videos, podcasts, graphic organizers, images to represent ideas....

#SpedOnlineLearning A4 as a follow-up to A3...accessibility has to go beyond sensory and physical access...it has to think of availability. This is important for learning and attention needs. One framework would be UDL - udlguidelines.cast.org

#SpedOnlineLearning A3 another challenge is using the digital resources - we have educators that want to use the digital resource but how. Need to take the digital tool and apply it to good instruction..one way is through the UDL Framework - udlguidelines.cast.org

#SpedOnlineLearning A3 communication...the needs to communicate between home and school and school and home is critical. The role of the adult in the home is critical and educators need to communicate to further empower.

#SpedOnlineLearning A2 for example practicing one's "S" and "Z" sounds might be the focus of a goal and thus, the student records video of this pronunciation, the movement of their mouth...SLP watches, records back models

#SpedOnlineLearning A2 - there are also ways to facilitate some of this therapy where by the student records their speech, posts it to a safe server, allowing the SLP to review and give feedback