We conduct a variety of training workshops that can be tailor made to suit the needs of the personnel in your school district. Below is a list of some of the workshops that we present
As there is a proportionally high incidence of learners with little or no functional speech in schools, much focus is placed on training teachers to communicate with those learners. A variety of strategies are identified and the implementation of augmented language stimulation is stressed as a strategy for inclusive education. AAC devices are demonstrated and educators get the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the low and high technology. The importance of communication for learning is emphasized and practical solutions developed for the use of AAC in the classroom.
As the South African education system becomes more inclusive in nature, it is imperative to empower the educators (who work in these diverse classrooms). In this workshop educators will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge in coping with multi – age, multi – level and multi – lingual issues within their classrooms. Further, the necessity for effective preparation and planning is vital for the success of the adaptation of OBE into both the regular classroom programmes as well into the vocational and life skill areas.
The South African education system is in the process of establishing an inclusive education and training system for all its learners, so that each and everyone may develop their full potential as well as participate as an equal member of society. In order for educators and therapists to assist the Minister in her commitment for an Inclusive Education System, it is vitally important for them to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the White Paper 6: Special Needs in Education. This will assist them in their conversion to resource centres, which will then provide support to neighbourhood schools.
During this workshop educators will make materials to assist them to improve their classroom management and organisation. Schedule boards to establish a routine in the classroom, song boards to give all the learners in the class an opportunity to participate etc., will be made (this specific workshop will be tailor made for the educators who participate).
Life skills are those skills, which enable people to function as independently as possible in their own environment. This will facilitate the integration of people with disabilities into society. The core life skill areas are: self-care, home skills, community skills, interpersonal skills, leisure skills, and work skills. In this workshop the educators learn about the importance of life skills as well as how to facilitate the development of skills in learners with disability.
Everybody wants to work, but for a person with a disability certain adaptations should be made so that they can work as independently as possible. To get people with disabilities employed you have to go through a process of establishing employment opportunities. This workshop covers the following aspects: the development of pre-vocational and vocational skills, vocational rehabilitation, and process of employment, different employment options, and barriers to employment.
One of the most neglected areas is the transition process from school to the adult world is individualized plans for youth in coping with the process. Teachers, parents/caregivers, and therapists have to be educated on how to go through this process with success. Specific topics to be addressed include: the development of pre-vocational skills, how to develop an individualized transitional plan for learners, planning for employment, placement in employment as situational training as well as follow-up sessions.
Many people with disabilities have little or no functional speech. It therefore becomes important to make appropriate accommodations for them in the work place. Topics to be addressed in this workshop are: Designing a communication system that is appropriate for the individual in his/her context, assessment of communication needs, development of relevant vocabulary, selection of communication methods that would match the person’s abilities, training in AAC strategies and training the communication partners.
The job coach is a person that would assist a person with a disability to find and keep a job. This is a very important person in the process of employing people with disabilities. They are the people who are directly involved with the employer and employee. The coach could assist in planning together with the family and teachers for the learner's future employment. This workshop will teach the coach to assist the person with a disability with the necessary adaptations so that he/she can be independent at work, as well as how to maintain constant follow-up sessions with the employer and employee after placement.
Leadership is viewed within a context of teams working together. Leadership within teams includes aspects like participation and collaboration, while providing guidance to individual team members to enable them to function effectively within the team. Strategies for educators are discussed and practiced in this workshop as well as evaluation and monitoring of the team's progress and how to encourage colleagues to sustain a good work performance within a special school context.
This approach has been broadly accepted as most effective in managing services for people with disabilities. In this workshop we assist transdisciplinary team members to work together towards common goals. Guidelines and strategies are provided of how to assist the child with a disability to cope better in the school environment by making the necessary adaptations and accommodations.
If there are any other areas you feel you would like further training in e.g. listening and reading skills and challenging behaviour we would be pleased to design a workshop to suit your needs.
We know that these tenders have assisted educators from various districts to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence. For more information of how we can adapt these training workshops to meet your specific needs please do not hesitate to contact us.
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