Assistive Technology

1. Assistive Technology • Text-to-speech software • Dictation software • Software to work math problems w/o paper and pencil • Sometimes free; generally available for under $100

2. Assistive Technology, cont. Power Point: Assistive Technology to Support Students with Special Needs available on the NCPD website… Go to www.ncpd.org/webinars. Click on High School webinar’s web page link to find this downloadable PowerPoint.

3. Funding Considerations • Learning Consultants compensation is funded from regular operating revenue • 8 students admitted and retained on average covers the expenses for one LC • All students pay the same tuition • Students with special needs are treated the same as any other student • All students benefit from the Learning Consultant helping teachers expand their instructional variety

4. Funding Considerations, cont. • Begin with supports whose cost is negligible (under $100). These include: • Student Assistance Teams • Assistive Technology • Accommodations • Some students will be retained using the above methods who otherwise would fail out – use these saved tuition monies to look at funding a Learning Consultant or other specialized faculty member.

5. Funding Considerations, cont. Parents in your area may be interested in starting a support organization such as we have in the Archdioceses of Washington and Baltimore – More information at www.ccse-maryland.org

6. Additional Examples of Funding Approaches • “No additional fees model” used by Archdiocese of St. Louis • Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education (F.I.R.E.) in the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph • Knights of Columbus in Virginia (KOVAR)

7. Academic Excellence • Why assume academic excellence is undermined by students with special needs? • Academic performance varies among students, whether with or without disabilities. Many excel, or could with proper supports. • Students with common special needs are already in every school, whether the school acknowledges their presence or not.

8. Academic Excellence, cont. • Students with common special needs: • May initially perform well because they are bright and hard workers • Can encounter stress and difficult choices in high school if they do not receive support • miss out on extracurricular activities • take courses that are too easy Identifying students and providing them with the supports to succeed enhances a school’s academic standing, rather than detracts from it.

9. Academic Excellence, cont. • Of course, schools are rightly concerned about being academically excellent. In fact, isn’t that just what we as a society ask them to do? The problem becomes when a school feels that the only way to academic excellence is “one-size-fits-all.”

10. Addressing Uncommon Special Needs • Visual impairment, deafness or intellectual disabilities are not that common in adolescents. However, the educational needs of students with these and other less common conditions may be well met at their local Catholic high school. • Physical accessibility may also need to be considered. • There is a great deal of support available for such students. Knowledge of these supports may aid in making admissions decisions. For example…

11. Addressing Uncommon Special Needs, cont. • Students who sign will receive the free services of a sign language interpreter under the Zobrest decision. • Students with intellectual disabilitiesare successfully attending many Catholic high schools and can go to college. (See links on the NCPD website regarding location of programs and research supporting their effectiveness.) • Assistive technology now allows visually impaired students to have seamless access to reading and producing written text.

12. Addressing Uncommon Special Needs, cont. • What are specific adaptations for this student to succeed? • Can my school provide these?

13. Paul VI High School- Options Program • The Options Programserves students with intellectual disabilities and significant learning disabilities. A primary goal for each student is to be as fully integrated as possible into the total life of the school community. • For more information on the Paul VI Catholic High School Options Program, contact Mrs. Chris Desmarais @ 703-352-0925 Ext 333 or visit www.paulvi.net/academics/departments/options.

14. Preparation for Life After High School Keys to successful transition include: • Starting early and planning individually • Self-advocacy skills • Realistic post-high school plans • Connection with government and community agencies

15. Upcoming NCPD Webinars Advanced Considerations on Children and Youth with Mental Illness, May 2010 Advanced Considerations on Catechesis and Children and Youth with DisabilitiesJuly/August 2010 Advanced Considerations on Threats to the Life of People with Disabilities: Part. 1, Pre-Natal DiagnosisOctober 2010

16. Thank You! Thank YOU for joining us. May God bless your efforts to teach all of His children. Thanks to all who supported this NCPD and USCCB webinar: Our partner, National Conference for Catechetical LeadershipAnd collaborators, National Catholic Educational Association National Catholic Office for the DeafNational Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry

17. Visit the NCPD Website at www.ncpd.org • For a schedule of upcoming 2010 webinars • For a replay of this and archived webinars • Select a webinar under the “Webinars” navigation button and scroll to the bottom of the page to access the Resources

18. Support NCPD • Did You Know?—that NCPD serves some 14 million Catholics with a disability, by supporting the work at the (arch) diocesan and parish levels? • And that NCPD does this on a budget funded only from donations from affiliate member (arch) dioceses, grants and individual sponsors? • Help grow our ministry, and bless our work.  Donate to NCPD by clicking on the icon on the front page of our website, www.ncpd.org.