Speak Up for Ability 2021: Event Schedule and Session Descriptions
Saturday, April 24, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm on Zoom (join anytime during the event)
Please Note: Speak Up for Ability will NOT be recorded. Please ensure you register to get the Zoom link and attend any of the sessions you are interested in.
Register for Speak Up for Ability 2021: Online Parents Forum here: Eventbrite Registration
Topic: Catching Up and Moving Forward in Education and Mental Health for Students with Learning Disabilities
Event Schedule:
10:30 - 10:45 am: Introduction from the LDAK
10:45 - 11:25 am: Learning Disabilities and Mental Health - Parent/Caregiver Session from the Integra Program at CDI (Child Development Institute)
11:25 - 11:35 am: Break
11:35 am - 12:15 pm: Learning Disabilities and Mental Health - Youth Session from the Integra Program at CDI (Child Development Institute)
12:15 - 12:45 pm: Lunch / Screen Break
12:45 - 1:25 pm: Limestone District School Board Learning Disabilities Support Programs
1:30 - 2:10 pm: Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board Reaching Every Reader
2:10 - 2:20 pm: Break
2:20 - 3:20 pm: Panel Discussion 3:20 - 3:30 pm: Closing Remarks from the LDAK
Session Descriptions:
Learning Disabilities and Mental Health - the Integra Program at CDI
In this session, a Child and Family Clinician (RSW) in the Integra Program at the Child Development Institute in Toronto and MSW student will be exploring the relationship between Learning Disabilities and Mental Health. They will consider what mental health issues may look like for young people and explore supportive strategies that parents/caregivers can implement. The second half of the session will be tailored towards students/youth and focus on normalizing complex emotions and developing self-care strategies.
Limestone District School Board Learning Disabilities Support Programs
The LDSB Learning Disability Support Program provides Tier Three intensive literacy intervention and self-advocacy instruction to students with learning disabilities in grades four and five. Join one LD Support Program Teacher for an overview of the Program application requirements and process. This session will also look at the types of literacy intervention for targeted reading instruction, comprehension strategies, writing strategies and advocacy instruction offered.
Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board Reaching Every Reader Initiative
This presentation will explain "Reaching Every Reader", the multi-year literacy plan launched in 2020 at the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. Join a Speech Language Pathologist to learn the key points behind Reaching Every Reader and how parents/caregivers can support their children who are learning to read.
Panel Discussion
In this open session, our panel will address the question, “What is the greatest challenge facing students with learning disabilities since Covid-19 and what strategy would you recommend for helping close the gaps?” Speakers include: Lockhart George Literacy, teacher, parent, school Psychologist and Mental Health Lead. From their unique perspectives, the panelists will discuss key themes related to the forum topic: Catching Up and Moving Forward in Education and Mental Health for Students with Learning Disabilities. Participants in the forum are invited to share comments and submit questions to the panelists in advance (via Eventbrite registration) and during the session (written in the Chat and via optional video/microphone).
