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Show #14 It ‘s NOT “Business As Usual”- Tips for heading back-to-school after COVID-19.

Show #14 It 's NOT "Business As Usual"- Tips for heading back-to-school after COVID-19.

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician, Dr. Roby Marcou, and I discuss the developmental and behavioral impact of the Covid 19 experiences on children, adolescents, families and educators. What should teachers do to help their students adjust? What are some strategies families can use if their child is experiencing anxiety about returning? And, what should schools be focusing on during their first few months back? Hint: It ‘s not “Business as usual.” Make sure to forward this on to your school counselors and administrators so everyone comes back to school on the same page.

Bio

Dr Roby Marcou is an American Board Certified Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician with practices in Singapore and the Washington DC area. She has practiced in Asia for 27 years and has worked with children, adolescents, parents and schools throughout the region.

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Resources from Today’s Show

Show #15 Learning Forward

Show #15 Learning Forward

Dr. Choy Sook Kuen is a mother of two sons Aaron and Joshua,  and founder of Oasis Place in Kuala Lumpur,  Malaysia ‘s first and largest multi-disciplinary intervention centre for children and adults with learning differences. Oasis Place was born out of a mother ‘s love for her differently-abled son. 

Today, Sook Kuen tells her story of how she and her family  “learned forward” by connecting with other families and professionals to help them paint the picture ahead. 

Sook Kuen is an advocate through and through and a true inspiration.

Bio

Dr. Choy Sook Kuen is the founder and Mother of Oasis Place -Malaysia ‘s first and largest multi-disciplinary intervention centre for children and adults with learning differences. Dr Choy holds a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery Degree from St George ‘s Hospital University of London and a Masters in Business Administration (Finance) from City University, London. Since opening their doors in 2014, Oasis Place has grown into a thriving community of professional health providers specialising in therapies including sensory integration occupational, speech and music therapy, psychological assessments and intervention. Oasis Place continues to make its mark to provide a platform for continuous education and professional development in Autism and learning differences.

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Show #16 It ‘s Movie Time!

Show #16 It 's Movie Time!

Inclusion is essential in all areas of life, and Roland Benzon has invented a way for people who are deaf or blind to enjoy their favorite movies, TV shows, or podcasts. While not an educator, Roland has a personal connection to the special needs community and set out to find a way to help solve a problem. How could he help people in the deaf and blind community experience media in an engaging way? He started Wika Media and the possibilities for how this can be used are endless. 

Bio

Roland Benzon has over 30 years of experience in IT, media, and telecommunications. A serial entrepreneur, Roland has patented over half a dozen inventions, including his latest innovations for the inclusion of people with hearing and/or visual disabilities. Roland is one of the cofounders of Wika Media. 

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Show #17 Advocate, Teacher, Mother, Leader

Show #17 Advocate, Teacher, Mother, Leader

Dominique Blue is a special educator working in China. Like many of you, she has worked in schools where there is no official special education program. Does that mean there are no learning needs inthese schools? Of course not. So Dominique gives us some tips on how we can support struggling learners in our schools without programs. But that ‘s not all! Dominique tells us about raising her son who has 1p36 Deletion Syndrome. And she tells of her very important work as a member of AIELOC and their mission to dismantle structural racism in international schools. An educator, a mother, and a leader, Dominque Blue is an uber advocate.

Bio

Dominique Blue is a Learning Support Coordinator based in China. Wife and mother to a son with 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, you will also find her putting in work to dismantle the structural racism present in international schools as an AIELOC Council Member.

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Resources from Today’s Show

Show #18 The Language We Use

Show #18 The Language We Use

Dr. Nicole Sparapani is an Assistant Professor at the University of California Davis and a faculty member of the MIND Institute The UC Davis MIND Institute is a collaborative international research center, committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, and treatment of the challenges associated with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Nicole has been working with Autistic individuals for many years and is now leading research studies about the importance of the language we use when working with students on the spectrum. Today we discuss her study and discover how much has changed in this field since she first started. In an ever-evolving field, we all have a lot to learn.

Bio

Nicole Sparapani is an assistant professor in the school of education and faculty member at the UC Davis MIND Institute. She is an SLP by discipline and specializes in programming for students with ASD in classrooms. Her research and clinical practice go hand-in-hand. I study the engagement and learning of students with ASD in the classroom and the factors that impact this (ie, teachers ‘ language).

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Show #19 Technology Possibilities in a Diverse Classroom

Show #19 Technology Possibilities in a Diverse Classroom

On our podcast today we speak with Greg O ‘Connor, a long-time friend of SENIA, who has spoken at many of our conferences and has taught us so much about how we can use technology to best support our students who need it. For over 30 years Greg has been actively involved in all levels of education, supporting the learning of ALL students as a classroom teacher, school executive, education department manager and technology consultant. He is currently a member of the Asia Pacific Texthelp Team, supporting technology innovation and implementation across the region.

Bio

For over 30 years Greg has been actively involved in all levels of education, supporting the learning of ALL students as a classroom teacher, school executive, education department manager and technology consultant. He is currently a member of the Asia Pacific Texthelp Team, supporting technology innovation and implementation across the region.

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Resources from Today’s Show

Read&Write for Google Chromeâ„¢

Show #20 The Key Feature of Executive Function

Show #20 The Key Feature of Executive Function

Sarah Ward has over 25 years of experience in the treatment of executive dysfunction.

We had a great conversation as Sarah helped me understand the key feature of Executive Functioning and how students go from the intention of completing a task to actually doing said task. We discussed the word lazy and ways to support students during remote learning. I am confident you’ll take a lot away from today’s show, just as I did.

Bio

Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP has over 25 years of experience in the treatment of executive dysfunction. Sarah is an internationally recognized expert on executive function and presents seminars on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. She has presented to over 1400 public and private schools in the United States, Canada and Europe.

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Resources from Today’s Show

Upcoming webinar: Facilitating Executive Function Skills during Remote Instruction

Recommended Reading:

Video capture mechanisms recommended:

Show #21 Opportunity Before Ability

Show #21 Opportunity Before Ability

Today I had the great honor of speaking with Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Klift.

Norm and Emma have been Keynote speakers at past SENIA events and will be our keynotes again at our upcoming conference in December.

Norman was born with cerebral palsy and initially attended a segregated school for children with physical disabilities; At the age 13, he was integrated into a regular school. From there, he went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and a Master of Science degree in Family Therapy.  

Emma is Autistic and is active in the Neurodiversity movement. She initially worked with non-profit agencies that support individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has since completed a Master ‘s degree in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University and is certified both as a mediator and a negotiator through the Justice Institute in Vancouver.   

Norman and Emma are married and live in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Stay tuned for a glimpse into what their keynote will address at SENIA 2020. Hint: Focus on opportunity before determining ability. 

Bio

Although Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Klift are well known speakers and advocates within the disability rights community, they prefer to think of themselves as modern day storytellers, continuing the long held tradition of using humour and narrative to initiate self-reflection and social change.  

Norman and Emma travel extensively throughout North America and abroad providing in-service and training in the areas of inclusive education, employment equity, conflict resolution, and other disability rights issues. Norman and Emma have a book, several journal articles, and four book chapters to their credit. They also have developed and operate “Conversations that Matter,” an online values training platform consisting of more than 120 video segments of conversations with the leading voices in field of disability rights and inclusive education.  

Norman was born with cerebral palsy and initially attended a segregated school for children with physical disabilities; At the age 13, he was integrated into a regular school. From there, he went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and a Master of Science degree in Family Therapy.  

Emma is Autistic and is active in the Neurodiversity movement. She initially worked with non-profit agencies that support individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has since completed a Master ‘s degree in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University and is certified both as a mediator and a negotiator through the Justice Institute in Vancouver.   

Norman and Emma are married and live in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Show #22 MTSS Online Forum Series

Show #22 MTSS Online Forum Series

Today I speak with Dr. Joan Schumann who is just beginning a new position as Director of Professional Learning and Instruction at International School Beijing. Prior to this she served as the Director of Student Support Services at Stamford American School in Singapore. 

Dr. Schumann and fellow K-12 Directors are passionate about strengthening evidenced-based practices within the international school system. She has helped to spearhead the International MTSS professional learning event and hopes it will translate to improved instructional practice and increased student learning.

And this exciting event is what we ‘ll be discussing today.

Bio

Today I speak with Dr. Joan Schumann who is just beginning a new position as Director of Professional Learning and Instruction at International School Beijing. Prior to this she served as the Director of Student Support Services at Stamford American School in Singapore. 

Dr. Schumann and fellow K-12 Directors are passionate about strengthening evidenced-based practices within the international school system. She has helped to spearhead the International MTSS professional learning event and hopes it will translate to improved instructional practice and increased student learning.

And this exciting event is what we ‘ll be discussing today.

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Show #23 Creating Sustainable Change in Schools.

Show #23 Creating Sustainable Change in Schools.

Today I speak with Patricia Padorsek, a Director of Teaching and Learning formerly of International School of Kuala Lumpur and now on her way to International School Nido de Aguilas in Chile. 

Our topic today is an important one. So many of us want to create and sustain change in our schools, especially in terms of inclusion and other issues we, as people who advocate for differently-abled individuals hold so dear. Patricia shares how we can help to create sustainable change in schools and ideas for us to try when the idea is not received well by others.

Patricia will also be a speaker at our upcoming speaker event where she and her colleague will discuss Universal Design for Learning, another important topic for us all.

Bio

Patricia is passionate about bringing high quality teaching and learning to every child. She admits to being a geek when it comes to conversations around such riveting topics as assessment, inquiry, design, and the future of learning. She hails from Michigan originally, and has lived and worked in Ecuador, Kenya, India, Malaysia, and Chile. She loves food and believes there can never be too much garlic in a recipe.

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Resources from Today’s Show

Grading From the Inside Out by Tom Schimmer