March 19: 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. CT (10:00-11:30 am EST)
Preparing Students with Disabilities for Successful College Transition
Presented by Elizabeth Hamblet, Learning Disability Consultant

A brief overview of topics relevant to college transition: shifting laws, what accommodations are/aren’t commonly available, documentation needed, skills students need, levels of college disability service.

Session Sponsored by Wilson Language Training

March 19: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT (12:00-1:30 pm EST)
Multisensory Math: What Intervention Should Look Like
Presented by Marilyn Zecher

This presentation endeavors to offer some unique ideas and a possible path forward for changing the way we address the gaps and misconceptions that prevent students with disabilities from succeeding in mathematics. By approaching math through a vertical lens and employing a conceptual rather than a procedural approach to math, we can utilize evidence-based strategies and differentiation to support our unique learners. We will focus on the “Big Ideas” of math as we employ best practices, along with hands-on instruction and differentiation to meet the needs of students who struggle. Strategies for teaching foundation skills and weaving them through middle grade content and secondary math instruction will be demonstrated. Ideas and strategies for designing intervention activities and models for addressing student needs in a diagnostic prescriptive manner will be included.

Session Sponsored by Currey Ingram Academy

Elizabeth C. Hamblet has worked as a learning specialist in disability services offices at the college level for nearly 20 years after starting her career in the field as a high school special education teacher and case manager. Having recognized the information gap that left professionals and parents unaware of how to prepare students for success at college, she created programs to educate professionals and families about how to help students make a smooth transition to postsecondary education. Hamblet makes presentations locally and at national conferences to educate professionals, parents, and students about the changes students will find at college and how to best prepare them for success there. In addition to her book, she has published numerous articles on this topic in a variety of journals and platforms, including Understood.org, where she is a college expert. Hamblet also continues to do what she loves most – working with students as a part-time learning specialist/consultant at a university’s disability services office. Ms. Hamblet offers advice and information on her website at www.LDadvisory.com.

A nationally certified Academic Language Therapist and former public-school classroom/demonstration teacher, Ms. Zecher is a specialist in applying multisensory strategies to a variety of content areas. Her graduate level Multisensory Math courses have been used as methods courses at the university level and she is a frequent speaker at national, international, and local conferences. Ms. Zecher specializes in evidence-based methods and interventions for all students but which are especially effective with students who have learning challenges. She is well known for her work in the fields of mathematics, literacy strategies for older learners and study skills. Her presentations and professional development for teachers incorporates general multisensory instructional strategies, Orton-Gillingham strategies, the principles of UDL, and recommendations from the NCTM, The What Works Clearinghouse and the Common Core State Standards.