7 B Response to Kathryn Meleky

your paper touched me tremendously, this semester I was diagnosed with anxiety. And I have had the worst time coping, this paper helps me fully understand all the characteristics and ways to cope. All my anxiety must be deemed from moving to a new area, new school and new program. The most important thing that I've realized is that I can not do it alone.

Jamie Diemert response to Megan Giesen

I found your paper very interesting. It wasn't until the classes I had this semester I realized that assistive technology didn't have to be "technology". I wish I would of had your paper to read awhile ago. I knew there were things like pencil grips, large face computers and calculators and such but did not realize those would be considered assistive technology. It is great to see how these types of aides can be used in daily instruction and life without making individuals feel "different" from their peers. I use dojo in my classroom everyday and love how it can be used equally with all students for positive and negative behaviors. I love how parents are involved with daily activities and have recently learned that I can send pictures included in messages to show parents what is going on in the classroom. We are now using it to help a parent gather data and evidence that her son may have a disability. I am able to capture behaviors and not only give written examples but I can show her too. The things that computers can do for students with hearing or visual problems is amazing. It makes nothing seem impossible to help build inclusive classrooms. Thank you for doing your research and I hope if people are more like me and don't know that much about the assistive technology they can read more papers like yours.

7B - Candel Response to Giesen

Megan,

I was especially interested in your topic due to my involvement in our assistive technology (AT) programming at the center where I am employed. Although I have historically only delved into the electronic portion of AT planning for students, such as setting up iPads, desktop computers, and devices like the Dynavox, I hadn't really considered how far-reaching assistive technology could extend. As you put it, "Assistive Technology is any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." In that case, we are surrounded by AT, right? From the reminders on our phones we receive every day all day, to Google maps to help us get from one city to the next, we are being "assisted" by technology. Consider not having something like Caller ID on your phone? Now, that would be disabling to millions of people! That's the thing I come away with after reading your paper. It's so incredible all of the amazing things that have been created to help those people who truly would not have been able to accomplish them otherwise. However, I also wonder if the advancements have left some of our neuro-typical society just a bit lazier than they might have been 10 - 20 years ago? What do you think? Great paper!

Tony

7B: Kathryn Meleky Response to Amanda Johnson

I am going to begin my personal reflection and response to Amanda's Johnson"s Critical Task research by answering the questions. I will conclude my response with reflections on both personal thoughts and professional experiences while I read over her research paper and also power point.
1.) What are the characteristics of collaboration? To begin with, empowerment and collaboration with families, colleagues, and communities are key components. Collaboration is voluntary, requiring direct interaction between at least two coequal parties with shared decision making in order to work toward a common goal. There needs to be parity among participants working towards shared responsibility, resources, and accountability and have the development of trust, respect, and a sense of community. The components of collaboration include; personal commitment, communication skills, interaction processes, programs or services, and context.
2.) What are some ways an educator can beat some stressors caused by overwhelming collaboration? An effective tool that educators can relieve stressors with overwhelming collaboration is to look into and set realistic and flexible goals, focus on the student's learning, establish priorities, celebrate accomplishments, and utilize outside resources and support. 
3.) What is the most used practice of collaboration in today's schools? Describe it? The most practiced use of collaboration is "Response to Intervention (RTI). Response to Intervention originated in special education law to be implemented in general education regularly. RTI is an alternative procedure for identifying students as having a learning disability. RTI calls for a high degree of collaboration that assists with extents of effective procedures in which a team of professionals come together in order to evaluate a student's needs and to design teaching that will assist with accelerate learning, which the results being better ideas, increase in learning, and less need for a more organized and control service of special education. 
4.) What networks are available for families with a child with ELNs? Community collaboration should begin by focusing on the diversity of all community members and to provide opportunities for all members to learn from in order for the ELN child to reach their potential. The networks are community-based and offer integrated services include mentoring programs, extended schooling for at-risk students,vocational training, and student transitional programs. The program networks can also include parent training and information centers, community parent resource centers, parent-to-parent programs, and family-to-family health information centers
5.) What are the three questions that educators should ask when participating in a transition planning team/meeting? The treatment plan team meeting is important so that the student will be provided with necessary skills to transition into adult life. The questions include: What is the student's long-term goal in the area of Post secondary Education or Training? What is the student's long term goal in the area of Employment? and What is the student's long term goal in the area of Independent Living/Community Participation?
6.) What is the most important factor a student can hold when it comes to transitioning? ELN students that have a high level of self-determination can guide them to a smooth level of transitioning. Person-centered planing guides along with self-determination toward reaching equal participation and active collaboration.

Amanda, I found your research and power point to be a valuable assist toward furthering my education with becoming a Intervention Specialist Mild/Moderate. Collaboration among everyone is extreme important and I have seen that first hand while employed as a Therapeutic Staff Worker. It only takes one person to sway then the educational goals for the student is not effective. I will utilize and apply all the information that you provided that also included Transitioning skills when the ELN student is prepared to go into the world as an adult. 

7B - Ashley Forbes Response to Kathryn Meleky

I really enjoyed reading your paper and all of the information that you have provided with detailed research! I think that one of the reasons why this topic flowed so easily is because I was able to compare it to my own life and some of the students that I see on a regular basis. I went through a period of time as an adult suffering from anxiety disorders. I always felt frightened or uneasy about practically everything. There was even a time when I had myself believing that I had a form of cancer. I was unable to perform in college courses because it was just too stressful. Looking at that situation, it is difficult to even think about how that scenario would apply to a young child who not only suffered from anxieties but who also had special needs or an underlying disability. Often times, especially in the city schools it is not uncommon for students to worry a lot about the health and wellbeing of their family members because they are also a provider or supporter.

 It is sometimes tricky to identify these students as having anxiety disorders. That is where your paper really did a great job at breaking down the identification process. I didn’t know that questionnaires were a form of identification for these students. This was something that was extremely interesting to me and I’m happy that you discussed it among other parts of the process. I also found it important when you said that classroom teachers make many observations throughout the day. I think that because teachers spend so much time throughout the day with each of their students, there should be a specific binder with files kept in it that provides this type of information. Sometimes parents are aware of odd behaviors or changes within their child but aren’t fully ready to pursue it in any way. For example, a child may have signs/symptoms of generalized anxiety but the parents aren’t certain. They may just allow the behaviors to continue because they don’t want to assume that anything is wrong. Acceptance was a large part of my stress relief counseling sessions that I took when I suffered from anxiety. 

I feel like this paper has enough information to provide a classroom teacher in both regular and special education with the foundation to begin to monitor and support these students. The entire section on cognitive behavior will become something that I will reference in the near future. I genuinely enjoyed reading and found it difficult to choose just one part to respond to because there’s so much great information! I hope others read too! 

7B - Amanda Johnson Respones to Tim Calhoun

Technology, unfortunately, plays a majority role in my daily life. Whether it be for my morning alarm, means of communication, my calendar/to-do list, social media, source of information (current and past), and use of entertainment. All of these can be found on the common 'smartphone' nowadays, impressive.m Technology in the classroom helps educators prepare students for the real world environment. As stated about we are a technology-dependent world. Children at young ages are becoming more and more tech-savvy. Technology can help prepare students for their future careers, if implemented and used correctly.


I am a huge fan of the idea of Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD). Technology among child is very common in their home lives. Children are learning how to use iPhone, iPads, computers, tablets, etc. at a young age.  Students with exceptional learning needs may use technology as a main resource for communication at home so why not allow these students to bring them into school as a means of learning and communication as well. This guarantees the student is familiar/expert with the device as well as connection school with their home life.  Integrating technology into the classroom will enhance diversity in learning styles. School would have to define and enhance the rules for the technology use during school (no games, YouTube, etc.). With BYOD you also have to take in consideration of equal access to technology for all students. Grants and insurance should play a huge factor in this minor set-back.

Technology is a world that has endless amounts of room to explore. Technology in the classroom will help students become more independent and responsible. Students are able to take more control over their own learning and communication with the real world.

7B Trisha Amato-Response to Ashley Forbes

Ashley,

               To be honest when I chose to read your paper, I did it for totally selfish reasons. I was hoping that it would help me to prepare for the comps that are coming up next week. I was wanting for it to give me some ideas on the court cases that helped shape the education system as it is today. There were many ideas in there and I thank you for that.

               As I read through your paper, some of the ideas that were presented were not clear as we went through them in class, but thank you for clarifying these ideas. I understand more of what it was. I have gone to other sources to try and clarify things and this helped greatly.

               I am not in the teaching field and as I sit in these classes with you and other teachers I have to do background research to understand some of the material and if I would have had your paper in the beginning it may have been a little bit easier. You made things clear and concise and the paper flowed very nicely. Thank you for your paper and the insight behind it.