Denver Dyslexia Awareness

Technology Trot – run/walk event to benefit grants for educational Assistive Technology

Lucinda Greene — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:44:04 +0000

Help students who learn differently find the ramp they need to access their educational materials. Join us September 16, 2012 for the 1st Annual Technology Trot: Raising Funds for Assistive Technology One Step at a Time! This run-walk event at Stapleton Park will hep raise money to fund grants for educational assistive technolgy in Colorado schools. Detailed registration information to follow. Stay tuned!

Grant application deadline September 15, 2012

Lucinda Greene — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:46:44 +0000

We are pleased to announce that applications for grants for assistive technology tools are now being accepted from qualified educational institutions in Colorado. Please click on the grants page for more information about specific criteria and application procedures. The deadline for grant application is September 15, 2012.

We want you to attend the Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference!

Lucinda Greene — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:05:42 +0000

We are offering an attendance ticket for free to one adult! Please contact us through the website, and tell us about yourself, your connection to educational disabilities, and why you would benefit from attending this conference. One person will be selected to attend.

The Listening to Learn Guild is pleased to be a sponsor of the Wrightslaw Special Education Conference on Thursday, April 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Summit Conference and Event Center, 411 Sable Boulevard, Aurora 80011.

The Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference features:

Special education law, rights and responsibilities
Tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
Introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy
To see agenda CLICK HERE

The conference features Pete Wright, co-found for Wrightslaw and the country’s foremost expert on issues relating to special education law. Wrightslaw programs are not disability specific and are designed to meet the needs of parents, advocates, educators, atorneys, and health care providers who touch the lives of students with disabilities.

We want to hear from you!

Choose your own ADDventure conference

Lucinda Greene — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:26:51 +0000

The Choose your own ADDventure Conference is expanding to a two-day format this year. David Flink, the co-founder and executive director of Project Eye-To- Eye will be joining the Student Life Division of the University of Denver for a two day professional education and conference event. On April 13, 2012 in the afternoon, a professional development event will be hosted at Grant Middle School. On Saturday, April 14, 2012, David will be the keynote speaker for a conference that will include numerous breakout and informational sessions hosted by local professionals within the LD/ADHD community. Please contact Nathaniel Ellison, M.A., at 303-871-4149 or nathaniel.ellison@studentlife.du.edu for more information.

The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses

Lucinda Greene — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:26:40 +0000

This beautiful series of books, written by Barbara Esham, illustrated by Mike & Carl Gordon, and published by Mainstream Connections, Perry Hall, MD, landed on our desk today, thanks to Project Eye-To-Eye. The books share real-life situations for young students, who don’t understand why the world of school can sometimes be so difficult. Last to Finish is “A Story about the Smartest Boy in Math Class” (who had trouble with timed math-facts tests). Fancy-Smancy Cursive Handwriting” is about a young lady who is encouraged by her teacher’s words: “Ideas, thoughts, and feelings are the most important parts of what we write. Without the important parts, we just have a bunch of slants, and curves.” Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the “Wiggle Fidgets” highlights a young man, who says, “Every day I do something that upsets Mrs. Gorski. I never mean to do it, but it happens anyway. Like the time we had our first fire drill. I really made her mad that day……” If You’re So Smart, How Come You Can’t Spell Mississippi?” is a story about Katie, who observes that even though her dad is one of the busiest lawyers in Chicago, he can’t help her practice her spelling test word, ”Mississippi.” Katie notices that her dad is just like Mark Twingle in class! Please click here to access the website for Everyday Geniuses, and find links about learning and literacy. These books are endorsed by professors at Purdue University, Duke University, the University of Virginia, and the College of New Rochelle.

Did you miss us?

Jim — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:27:55 +0000

We had a great turnout for last night’s Mobile Devices presentation at Denver Academy. We heard from students who have been directly impacted by their use of assistive technology. Click the link below to access the handout Jim Sandstrum prepared with his recommendations for apps that help students. They include apps for reading , writing, and organizational activities, as well as apps to support creativity. Check out that free whiteboarding app! Thanks Jim! http://db.tt/WheIkiZP

Mobile Devices: A Literacy Toolbox in your Pocket

Lucinda Greene — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:58:24 +0000

Everyone, especially the teenagers, already own a terrific Assistive Technology device. The cellphone! Jim Sandstrum, MA, CCC-SLP, of Assistive Technology Partners will share strategies to empower your student with great apps and downloads that are readily available from a variety of mobile devices. Join us for this informative and hands-on presentation to learn how to empower your student with great AT help. Wednesday, February 29, 2012 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Denver Academy. 4400 E. Iliff Avenue, Denver 80222. The event is free. Reservations are suggested. Please click here to make your reservation. Or visit http://literacyinyourpocket.eventbrite.com/ for more information.

How much documentation is enough?

Lucinda Greene — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:42:24 +0000

Because the law governing disabilities changes from high school to college, it is a good idea to be well-informed about what you need in order to obtain accommodations. Colleges typically use your student’s age, the evaluator’s assessment approach, and the level of detail provided in the last eligibility evaluation to determine the level of support she will receive at the college level. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which is the primary enforcement agency for college access under Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), makes the following points about documentation in their booklet Students with Disabilities Preparing for Post Secondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities:

“Schools may set reasonable standards for documentation. Some schools require more documentation than others. They may require you to provide documentation prepared by an appropriate professional, such as a medical doctor, psychologist, or other qualified diagnostician. The required documentation may include one or more of the following: a diagnosis of your current disability, the date of the diagnosis, how the diagnosis was reached, the credentials of the professional, how your disability affects a major life activity, and how the disability affects your academic performance. The documentation should provide enough information for you and your school to decide what is an appropriate academic adjustment.”

“Although an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan, if you have one, may help in identify services that have been effective for you, it generally is not sufficient documentation. This is because post-secondary education presents different demands than high school education, and what you need to meet these new demands may be different. Also, in some cases, the nature of a disability may change.If the documentation that you have does not meet the postsecondary school’s requirements, a school official must tell you in a timely manner what additional documentation you need to provide. You may need a new evaluation in order to provide the required documentation.”

You like us, you really, really like us!

Lucinda Greene — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:55:32 +0000

Show us the love this Valentine’s Day. Please help us spread the word about the mission of The Listening to Learn Guild, Inc. by “liking us” on Facebook. We need just a few more “likes” to become an easily visible page! Help us help thousands of students in the Denver metro area who learn differently with the gift of assistive technology solutions. We can’t do it without you!

Great resources and FAQs for college transition.

Lucinda Greene — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:49:53 +0000

Once a student graduates from high school, the legal rights arena changes significantly. Accommodations that may have been available in high school may not be available in college. Check out the website for the Association on Higher Education and Disability. This site offers a very good transition resource list for students, as well as concise FAQ’s for parents and students about the change in laws that govern education and disabilities in higher education.

http://www.ahead.org/students-parents