2012 Special Education Conference

Iowans who are committed to making dramatic improvements for students with disabilities joined forces at the first-ever statewide special education conference hosted by the Iowa Department of Education on June 11-12 in Des Moines.

Watch video from the first day of the conference.

Iowa ranks near the bottom of the pack nationally for a gap in achievement between students with and without disabilities. This is despite research that shows the vast majority of students with disabilities can achieve at the same level as their non-disabled peers.

The conference is an opportunity to learn about efforts statewide to eliminate the achievement gap, to hear about evidence-based practices in special education, and to network with special education teachers, parents, students, researchers and policymakers.

More than 1,200 participants filled Hy-Vee Hall on the first day, which included a performance from New Vision Dancers, a troupe for children with disabilities; a panel discussion about safe and supportive schools; and presentations from:

University of Minnesota Professor Scott McConnell, who spoke about the importance of serving young children with special needs as part of a larger commitment to preparing all children for school.
David Richards, an Austin, TX attorney who specializes in special education law, who discussed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s high expectations for children with disabilities and the tools the law provides to help parents and schools reach those goals.
Tyler Greene, a college student who spoke about the adults who saw past his disabilities when he was a child. As a high school sophomore in Iowa, Tyler made a DVD about adults with “ability awareness,” which is recognizing that what a person can do is much more important than what a person can’t do. Tyler made the DVD for schools across Iowa, but the requests came in from across the world. Find the video at http://www.imtyler.org/.

Find photos from the first day of the conference here.

icon Conference Program

icon Pursuing the Promise - 2012 Statewide Special Education Conference Brochure

Day 1 Presenter Materials and Video

Day 1 Presenter Materials

School Readiness and Early Childhood Special Education: Ready Children and Ready Schools
Scott McConnell, Ph.D., Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota

Watch the video.

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Developing Safe and Supportive Schools
Panel Session: Moderator - Paul Kesner.
Panelists/Presenters: Barb Anderson, Penny Bisignano, Cyndy Erickson, Molly Hammer, Ph.D., Barbara Ohlund, Ph.D., Ryan Roemerman.

Watch the video.

Students With Disabilities Achieving at High Levels: Access to and Progress in the General Curriculum
David Richards, Attorney at Law, Richards Lindsay & Martin, L.L.P.

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Day 1 Presenter Materials

9:15 a.m.

Academics

Learning Supports - Mental Health; Bullying and Harassment

Legal

Secondary Transition

10:45 a.m.

Academics

Learning Supports - Mental Health; Bullying and Harassment

Legal

Secondary Transition

1:15 p.m.

Academics

Learning Supports - Mental Health; Bullying and Harassment

Legal

Secondary Transition

2:45 p.m.

Academics

Learning Supports - Mental Health; Bullying and Harassment

Legal

Secondary Transition

Peggy Akins

Tammy Ales

Yvette Bardol

Evette Edminster

Antonio Fierro

Julie Freed

Jennifer Garrett

Sarah Hetrick

Judy Janson

Sherry Kingston

David Koppenhaver

Susie Lund

Rochelle Maxfield

Louisa Moats

Karen Miller

Jean Peters

Maggie Pickett

Daniel Reschly

Amy Staples

Emily Thatcher

Bridget Thompson

Kristi Wickre