“unstupify them”

1. “unstupify them” LEAD (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

2. Agenda • Self-advocacy exercise • Defining LEAD • Components of a LEAD group • How to start a LEAD group • Q&A • Discussion (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

3. LEAD • Cathy Manus • Educational Strategist • Claudia Lowe, J.D. • Juris Doctor Special Education • Educational Strategist & Consultant • Transition Coach & Transition Specialist (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

4. LEAD • Learning and Education About Disabilities • A community-based program for youth with IEPs and 504 plans • Learning, Education, Advocacy, Direction • LEAD Students of America (LSA) • LEAD • Club LEAD (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

5. LEAD • LEAD is an educational program for students with disabilities that impact learning with a focus on transitions. • LEAD students have organized a support group whose goals include educating themselves and others about disabilities that impact learning, what it is like to learn differently, and how to be successful with those differences. (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

6. LEAD • The purpose of LEAD shall be to educate and inform others about disabilities that impact learning, to educate ourselves about disabilities and how they impact our learning, to develop effective and skillful communication and self-advocacy skills, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character. (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

7. LEAD • “To educate and inform others about disabilities that impact learning.” • Educating for Equality • Advocating for Cognitive Diversity (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

8. LEAD • LEAD is a motivating force behind positive changes for students with disabilities working together to promote educational best practices for special education IEPs and Section 504 plans. (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

9. LEAD • Negative stigmas of disabilities can be the most limiting features of having a disability. • Not all disabilities are visible • No one is perfect!!! (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

10. LEAD • “We are students who have adopted a mission to educate ourselves and others with respect to the social, academic, and emotional aspects of disabilities, as well as the rights of those with disabilities.” (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

11. LEAD • But most of all LEAD is about letting people know that students with disabilities can and do learn, effectively and with purpose, in their own way. (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

12. LEAD • Program Basics • Mission, Purpose • Students, Advisors, Parents • Meetings • Projects, Activities (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

13. LEAD Students • Who they are • Where and how do you find them • They are LEAD!!! (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

14. LEAD Advisors • Who they are • Important qualities to make the program work • They are not LEAD!!! (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

15. LEAD Parents • How to assist them • What they can do to support LEAD • They are not LEAD!!! (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

16. LEAD Meetings • Types of meeting formats • Regular- have a preset format with a particular focus/issue, handouts • Planning- behind the scenes development of LEAD and LEAD meetings with student leadership positions • Special- free workshops, performances, speakers, community projects (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

17. LEAD: skill development • Advocacy • Communication skills • Learning how you learn • Autonomy and transitions • Self-determination (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

18. LEAD: skill development • Socialization • Executive function • Public speaking • Working in groups (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

19. LEAD materials • K-12 CAMS • CDE Transition Manual • Question of the day • www.myleadgroup.com • www.ldcan.com (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

20. Starting a LEAD group • Make sure this is what you want to do and that you have the appropriate supports and resources • Begin slowly and deliberately • Review the suggested resources • Know your community of students and your school culture (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

21. Starting a LEAD group • Jump start by having a community workshop or school in-service provided by LDCAN (www.ldcan.com): simulations, exercises, lecture, discussion, demonstrations, promotional ideas, skill development, lots of handouts, and more… (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

22. Websites • www.ClaudiaLoweJD.com • www.CathyManus.com • www.section504online.com • www.ldcan.com • www.myleadgroup.com • www.talconline.net • www.findingcommonground. teach-nology.com (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

23. Contact • Cathy Manus - educationalstrategies@yahoo.com www.CathyManus.com • Claudia Lowe, B.S.L., J.D. • ourorhskids@yahoo.com • ClaudiaLowJD.com (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

24. Educational Strategist & Consultant • Counsels students and their families on educational strategies and provisions for an appropriate IEP or 504 plan and Transition plan based on the student’s unique needs, individual learning and work styles, strengths, abilities, talents, and potential. (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

25. Favorite Quotes • “If you wouldn’t do it to an adult, don’t do it to a child.” Rick LaVoie • “Children do well if they can.” Ross Greene • “I am not your response.” Claudia Lowe (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

26. Workshops • “K-12 CAMS for Students” A one-day workshop that can be presented to students, teachers, or parents on how to effectively use K-12 CAMS for school work, home work, and to make educational progress. Presenters: Claudia Lowe, B.S.L., J.D. and Cathy Manus, E.S. • "If You Don't Teach Me the Way I Learn, You Are Not Teaching Me" A one-day workshop with facilitated discussion and simulations to acquire skills and strategies to educate and engage students with disabilities that impact learning. Presenters: Claudia Lowe, B.S.L., J.D. and Cathy Manus, E.S. (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.

27. K-12 CAMS K-12 CAMS Fact Sheets: • Attention/Concentration • Reasoning/Processing • Memory • Executive Function • Interpersonal Skills • Emotional Maturity • Coordination/Motor Function • Communication • Reading • Writing/Spelling • Math Calculation/Application (c) 2002 Claudia Lowe, J.D.