Effective and Inclusive Practices for Emergent Writers With Disabilities

Inclusive writing practices increase student access to and participation in quality opportunities to learn. Inclusive writing practices are not based in classroom placement but rather the means by which student differences are recognized and valued in instructional content, methods, and assessments. In this workshop, we will focus on inclusive writing practices that center instruction on helping students achieve increasingly independent and clear communication. These practices include supporting students in selecting their own writing topics, responding effectively to student writing attempts (including refusals or inability to write independently), teaching independent revision strategies, and writing to communicate with varied real audiences. Attendees will participate in a variety of mini-lessons throughout the day focused on diagnosing student needs, experiencing inclusive methods, and employing assistive technologies.

This workshop is appropriate to anyone interested in or responsible for improving written communication in emergent and beginning writers with a wide range of disabilities including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, communication disorders, or severe and multiple disabilities.

LOCATIONS: Dr. Koppenhaver will be presenting in-person at Northwest Education Services in Traverse City, MI. The presentation will be broadcast to other locations around the state including:

• Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona ESD (Alpena, MI)
• Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD (Indian River, MI)
• Char-Em ISD (Charlevoix, MI)
• Clare-Gladwin RESD (Clare, MI)
• Eaton RESA (Charlotte, MI)
• Iosco RESA (Tawas City, MI)
• Marquette-Alger RESA (Marquette, MI)
• Muskegon Area ISD (Muskegon, MI)
• Wexford-Missaukee ISD (Cadillac, MI).

There will be a host at each location to facilitate hands on learning and exploration and to support the asking of questions and sharing of information with the group as a whole.

LUNCH: Lunch is included in the cost of registration and will be served on-site at each location.

SCECHs and/or certificates of completion will be available. Bring your PIC numer in order to receive SCECHs! Sign in/out required.

David A. Koppenhaver, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus in the Department of Child Development, Special Education, and Literacy at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. He has devoted his 35-year career to improving the literacy education of students with a wide variety of severe and multiple disabilities. He began his career in 1987, collaborating with David Yoder in early explorations of reading and writing instruction for children who use augmentative and alternative communication. The two co-founded the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (CLDS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1990, and he began a lifelong collaboration soon after with Karen Erickson, now the director of the CLDS. He has conducted more than 600 workshops, short courses, and conference presentations on literacy and students with disabilities and is the co-author of the widely used Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Disabilities to Read and Write.

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